Flipping the Hourglass

I spotted a wooden hourglass resting right beside a stack of notebooks on the desk! Inside the clear glass bulbs, a pile of fine golden sand sat completely motionless. I didn't hesitate—I clamped both hands onto the smooth wooden pillars, braced my boots against the oak surface, and gave the whole frame a clean, upside-down flip! Instantly, a soft hissing rustle started up as a thin stream of sand poured straight through the narrow neck. I dropped into a low squat and leaned close against the glass, watching the grains tumble down into a growing pyramid. It's like having a tiny, contained sandstorm running right on schedule!