A Silent Countdown

The house had turned completely quiet after the magazine rack matter. I shuffled over to the sideboard to avoid looking at anything else that might be crooked. Right at eye level on the microwave panel, someone had set a digital kitchen timer. The green numbers were stepping downward: 48, 47, 46. Exactly one second between each digit, ticking down without sound or vibration. I backed up slightly and wedged my flat base against a heavy ceramic sugar canister. The numbers marched down in immaculate sequence. No objects slipping, no friction to correct. I simply rested and let the counter reach zero.