The Tilted Sand Timer

A wooden-framed sand timer was resting sideways against a stack of mail on the low side table! I hopped onto the woven footstool with a crisp mechanical click, dropping low to assess the perimeter. Inside the clear glass, fine turquoise sand lay completely still along the curved belly. Harmless, but clearly stalled. Tilting my head, I stepped forward and wedged my plastic snout beneath the circular wooden cap. One steady, upward heave—wobble, tap! The hourglass tipped upright, landing squarely on the polished surface. A whisper-thin stream of blue grains broke free instantly, trickling through the narrow waist into a neat growing pyramid below.