Written for Muse on Monday where David
asks us to write a story about the Christmas
holidays where the conflict is something
different from a normal holiday story.
Here’s were the prompt took me.
Christmas Eve and Detective Maggie O’Brien should have been home; instead, she was staring at the evidence board. Six break-ins this month. Same MO: elderly victims, daytime entries, nothing stolen.
Nothing stolen. That was the problem.
Mrs. Flagler called again. “He came back! Fixed my leaking faucet this time!”
Maggie drove to the latest scene. Mr. Patel answered, confused. “I was going to call you. Someone broke in yesterday.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing. But my furnace …. it’s working again. Been broken for weeks.”
Maggie checked the basement. Professional repair work. She found a business card wedged behind the furnace: Davidson Home Repair – Closed Due to Illness.
Two hours later, she knocked on James Davidson’s door. The elderly man answered, oxygen tank beside him.
“Emphysema,” he said quietly. “Six months ago, I had to close my business. Forty years of helping people, and I’m useless now.”
“Breaking and entering is still illegal, Mr. Davidson.”
“I know.” He smiled. “But I can’t fix anything anymore, Detective. Except maybe one last Christmas.”
Maggie looked at her handcuffs, then pictured all Davidson’s “victims.” She put the cuffs away.
“Merry Christmas, Mr. Davidson.”
NAR©2025
This is “Duct Tape Heart” by Barenaked Ladies
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
What an excellent story, it reminds me of something my Mom said that if someone ever broke into our house they would leave money. I grew up quite poor but never realizing it until much, much later.
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What a cleverly written and uplifting story, Nancy.
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Thanks, Eugi. So pleased to know you enjoyed my story.
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You’re welcome, Nancy.
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Great story Nancy, The video is cool too.
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Thanks so much, Ernie. I’m glad to know you enjoyed my story and this song. I wasn’t having any luck finding songs about plumbers so I went with a plumber’s best friend …. duct tape! 🤣
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Wonderful story, Nancy.
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Thanks, Jim. I’m very glad you enjoyed it. I wish our plumber would be more like Mr. Davidson! 😊
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Break-ins to fix what’s broken. This is the best! Good for Mr Davidson. You have a heart of gold, Maggie. 💛
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I think if Maggie had dragged poor Mr. Davidson down to the cop shop, I would’ve been booed off WordPress! 😂 Thanks so much, Lois.
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haha! I think you are right! 😂
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Well done!!!!
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Thank you Dylan. A little quasi-Robin Hood story.
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Thank you, dear sister. The prompter asked for something different and I tried my best. A little take on Robin Hood, sort of.
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uplifting tale, nice
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Good to know. We need more uplifting tales. Thanks, Dylan.
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Now that is a different kind of story Nance! I love it! X
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Well, our prompter asked for something different and I was happy to oblige. Thanks very much, CA.
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Now that is a real feel-good Christmas tale!
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Thanks, Jodi. That’s what I was going for!
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Lovely story, and I really liked the song too 👍
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Thanks very much, Clive. I’ve never heard that song before and I thought it was really good for my story. I’m glad you liked both story and song.
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Nor had I, but it was a very good fit.
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I’ve gotten to that point where finding new songs and coming up with titles for my stories are actually more difficult than writing the stories themselves! 😆
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Another very relatable story … my old tradesman’s bones are too weary and fragile to help my loyal clients out anymore … best you handcuff me now, detective Maggie, before I get myself into trouble …
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HDdFIIFJVOI?feature=share
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Well, now you’re a famous, published poet and you don’t need to be fixing people’s pipes! 😂 Thank you for that lovely video. I think Christmas crackers is a fabulous idea and I wish we had that tradition here in the states. 🎉
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Not quite famous but published is a dream come true my friend 💕📖🐶🎶😍
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I’m very happy for you, my friend. 🥰
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This is absolutely brilliant. 💜💜💜
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Thanks for your lovely and very sweet comments, dear Willow 💜
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A good smile from me as well as a bit of a bop around
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Brian, I’m not totally sure what a “bop around” is but it sounds like something I would enjoy! 😂 I’m glad my little story gave you a smile. Thank you.
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You would enjoy a good bop around Nancy 😁 You can do it anywhere, even sitting down
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I after looking up the meaning of bop around, I have to agree with you! 😊
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💃🏼🕺🏼😁
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