Nighttime Clockwork Tick

A tiny click caught my ear in the quiet room! I tiptoed past the sofa legs and climbed onto a low wooden stool, then scrambled onto the end table. There it was—a brass wind-up alarm clock ticking away! I reached out with my balloon stick and tapped the little round bell on top. Tink! The vibration made my whole hand buzz! When the metal hands shifted with a soft snick, I ducked down and peeked through the glass face, watching tiny gear teeth nibble each second away in the shadows. He-he, what a neat little beat to end the day!