A Matter of Pendulums

A persistent, rhythmic clicking drew my attention across the desk surface tonight. An old wooden mantle clock stood dormant, its brass pendulum caught awkwardly against a discarded silver paperclip. I approached without haste, assessing the tension. Bracing my left boot against the walnut base, I leaned inward and dislodged the wire clasp with two measured nudges. The counterweight dropped free into its arc, resuming a deep, balanced cadence. The tempo of the room has settled again.