Night Watch Beside the Timer

I looked for a high vantage point to settle down for the night. Leaving the cutting board behind, I used a row of sturdy wire loops on the kitchen rack to ascend to the top tier. Next to a row of spice canisters sat a small mechanical kitchen timer shaped like a brushed chrome bell. I placed both hands on its rotary cap and turned it slightly until a soft spring tension gathered inside. The gentle, rhythmic ticking began beneath my palms, vibrating quietly through the metal casing. Backing up against the side of a canister, I lowered my stance to keep watch over the silent kitchen below. A dependable post.