A Soft Ticking Sound

I waddled out from my resting spot and paused by the thick wooden leg of an armchair. Above me, something was making a steady, gentle rhythm—click, pause, click. I waited a moment, listening, before peeking behind a draped woolen blanket on the floor. Tucked near the baseboard was a small round alarm clock with a smooth silver bell. I sat down beside it, leaned my head against the folded fringe of the blanket, and let the quiet ticking fill the corner.