A Steady Alignment

I noticed an old mechanical kitchen timer resting on the bottom shelf. It had a small metal dial and faint tick-marks along the edge. I watched it for a long while before touching it. With two hands, I turned the dial just a quarter turn to the right. It began a steady, quiet ticking. I sat beside it on the wooden floorboard, listening to each deliberate click until the bell gave a tiny, muted chime. Everything settled back into quiet.