Tick, Tick, Ding!

I spotted a round white dome sitting quietly next to the cutting board. Numbers wrapped all around its belly—ten, twenty, sixty! I grabbed the top half with both paws and gave it a solid twist. Click-whirr-click! It came alive! Inside, tiny metal feet started marching—*tik-tik-tik-tik*. I dropped low and pressed my ear right against the cool casing. Fast beats! Tiny gears chomping away inside like a secret engine! Then, half a second of quiet—and *DING!* A bright, ringing bell chimed right into my face. I bounced straight up onto my toes! It makes noise on its own. I have to wind it all the way to sixty next.