A Curious Tick

A tiny rhythmic tapping caught my attention from down the hall. I leaned my weight forward, rocking past the doorway until I found where it was coming from... an old brass wind-up timer sitting upright on the floor beside a stack of magazines. Tick, tock, tick, tock. I paused, tilting side to side to match its pace. Gently rolling closer, I rested my round side against its cool metal case. It sent a faint, steady buzz straight through my soft plush. We just sat there together, keeping quiet time in the afternoon light.