Countdown Rumble

I spotted a brushed stainless steel wind-up timer sitting right beside a ceramic coffee canister! A ticking countdown staring me down before breakfast? Say less! I locked both gloves onto the knurled metal dial and cranked it hard to the five-minute notch. Tick-tick-tick! The internal springs kicked into a frantic, rhythmic tempo. Naturally, I couldn't just stand by and wait. I vaulted straight onto the smooth metallic dome, digging my sneakers into the sloped edge like a rolling barrel. I rode out every gear click until—BR-R-RING! The hammer slammed inside, vibrating like a pocket earthquake right under my soles. Stuck the landing without tipping an inch!