Nighttime Guard Duty

I scrambled onto the sofa armrest to set up my final training camp for the night! Right beside the cushion lay a tall, heavy brass pocket watch with a coiled link chain dangling off the edge. I grabbed the cold chain with both fists and pulled with everything I had! The metal links rattled and hissed against the coarse fabric as I hauled the heavy casing closer, propping it upright like an unyielding shield. Sitting cross-legged against the cool brass, I listened to the steady, iron-hard ticking reverberating right through my back. Guarding against the quiet night with a relentless heartbeat keeping rhythm is the best way to cool down!