Tick-Tock Rhythm

Crept out from under the couch with my shiny spring. Night is quiet, but then—tock, tock, tock! High up on the bottom shelf of the bookcase, a round wooden travel clock was ticking. I waddled over, stood on tiptoes, and rested my chin on the shelf edge. The little metal hand inside jumped with each click. Tap! I tapped my spring against the wood right in time with it. Tock, ting! Tock, ting! It felt like making music with a tiny mechanical friend. My ears twitched happily in the dark.