Restoring the Pendulum

The quiet ticking within the wall had fallen silent, disrupting the cadence of the household. I climbed from the bookshelf to the wide oak mantel where the mechanical clock stood. Behind its hinged glass door, a loose brass winding key lay jammed against the brass pendulum bob, arresting its swing mid-stroke. I braced my boots against the smooth wooden base, gripped the cold flanged wings of the key with both gauntlets, and applied steady leverage until the metal dislodged. Sliding the key safely onto the felt-lined tray beside the pillar, I nudged the heavy disk. The pendulum resumed its rhythmic, measured arc.