The Clock Shop (ORIGINAL VERSION)

4

Thursday wasn't very special either, besides the fact one person showed up while I was working there.

     It was a man probably in his 40s or 50s, and he was just looking around. When I asked him if he wanted help he didn't answer me, which was a little strange. After a few minutes, he left and purchased not a single clock. I felt defeated by this man.

***

On Friday I made a post on a social media app about my new job there and about the store in general, hoping someone might show up. I would've been especially happy if someone I knew showed up.

     This time three people showed up, counting the mother and son that came in together. When I asked if they wanted help finding a clock or about prices and origin, the little boy was the most curious.

     He asked if I made the clocks, to which I replied 'no', and he had a look of disappointment. The mom chuckled and then they left. I didn't know her, so I doubt she came from the post I made.

     The other person was an older woman, around her 60's or 70's. She did buy one! But not before telling the story of why she wanted to buy one.

     She had an antique clock that was given to her by her grandmother. The problem was, it stopped working, and when she looked for someone to repair it, there was no antique clock repairman that could come to her house. She explained how she had asked Mr. Clifton to fix it for her but he declined saying he can't work with clocks like he used to. She also said she kept it but would like to have another one that worked.

      She got one that Mr. Clifton got on one of his trips to Germany, a German cuckoo clock, the same one that was in my dream with the living bird. Of course, the one in this one wasn't living, that I knew of.

     I proudly sold her the clock, and told her about my dream, since she had told her story.

     She let out a little laugh, "Maybe it'll keep me a little company."

     I just smiled because I didn't know what to say to that. She was a taller woman with an older style, and I could tell she felt lonely; I'm glad I got to keep her company while she was at The Clock Shop.

     She came in pretty late, so after she left, I started to clean up the store. While I was doing so I saw that one of the grandfather clocks against the back wall seemed attached to the wall in some way.

     This grandfather clock was standing taller than most of the other grandfather clocks and had a very intricate design on the front. There were flowers carved into the wood along with the faces of cats. Lots of the other clocks had designs carved into them like this one, but it was still very unique.

     I was not about to deal with something mysterious for the whole weekend, so I left it alone and locked up the shop for the weekend.

***

Since the shop isn't open on the weekends I decided to have a fun weekend but every time I walked by the shop I couldn't help but glance at that grandfather clock in the back.

     It stood there mysteriously, calling my name every time. "Hannah... don't you want to know what I'm hiding?"

     I would try my best to ignore it, but it felt like a demon trying to lure me to commit a sin. Is it a sin to be curious, God?

     It might not be nice to look at someone's private property, but I'm an employee, so I deserve to know, right?

     I made it through the boring, long weekend, patiently awaiting for Monday to come so I could find out what Mr. Clifton is hiding.