The Exceptional Clockwork Journey of The Perpetually Alone Hugo Gerard (NaNoWriMo 2012)

Chapter 1

I'd just like to dedicate this to all my teachers that have helped me create this and to Alyce, who is my inspirtation. I knew her on my other account, and I'm sure she has no utter idea who I am, but thank you so much Alyce! :)

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Chapter 1

"Bonjour, Hugo," the clockmaker looked up from the pocket watch settling in his hand and into the golden eyes of the boy in front of him.

"Jacques," Hugo responded, shuffling his hands deep into his pockets and grasping the golden pocket watch that always seemed to reappear, no matter how many times he hid it under the house. It was a sad memory, something to be forgotten, not one to be resurfaced.

"Can you come here and look at this?" the Frenchman looked into the boy's eyes and raised the pocket watch that he had been working on into his hands, presenting it to Hugo.

"Of course," Hugo curtly nodded once, taking a step forward and delicately removing it from Jacques' wrinkled hands, observing it carefully.

"What is wrong with it?" Hugo pried open the cover and starred in curiosity at the moving hands on the face of the watch.

"It can't keep time, it isn't continuous," Jacques replied, motioning for the boy to attempt to fix it.

Instead of unscrewing the back as expected, Hugo looked up in confusion. "But Jacques, if this watch is to keep time continuously, it most certainly must be in the hands of a professional clock maker. I am not one, however highly you may think of me."

Jacques chuckled lightly, then threw his head back and let out a deep laugh that only confused Hugo more. "Oh Hugo, you are so oblivious. You have no idea the way you have with the timekeepers, my boy."

“I can try,” Hugo assured, flipping over the pocket watch and unscrewing the back palate with his nail, looking at the gears as they turned. After a few seconds of watching them, he realized that they were in fact off key, turning every two seconds instead of one. “Jacques, all you needed to do was tighten the rear left gear slightly and it should of been fine, why did you give this to me?”

“Because, Hugo, I now own your father’s business, and I would like you to work here, with me. You are an exceptional clockmaker, your mother has already agreed.”

Hugo snapped the pocket watch shut, eyes widening. “You are hiring me? Why Jacques, I’m not even of eighteen yet!”

“Hugo, I know you and your mother need the money. Take the apprenticeship,” Jacques glanced at the boy reassuringly.

“I will think about it,” Hugo stepped forward and gently set the chronograph into the old man’s open hand.

“Goodnight Hugo, I will see you tomorrow,” Jacques called as the boy turned his back to him and opened the door of the old shop, breathing in the deep gust of cold breeze that could only belong to Paris, France.

“Goodnight,” Hugo murmured, tearing his hat off of the rack and placing it firmly on his head, stepping out onto the cobblestone and closing the door behind him, hearing the ring of the bell above the door as he did so.

Hugo briefly observed his surroundings, specifically the light dusting of frost that had begun to collect on the doorframes of all the surrounding shops. The boy tipped his hat, thrust his hands back deep into his pockets, and set out to his home.

-

“Mother, I’m home!” Hugo called into the dark cottage, taking off his hat and coat and placing them on the rack.

“Ah, Hugo! I am in the kitchen,” his mother replied before the sound of metal hitting against wood rung in his ears. Hugo smiled softly and traveled through the house, arriving in the family kitchen.