The Clock Was Wrong

Andy needed to steal a little extra time or Father Time would knock his clock off.

Contest Prompt

"The Writer's Cramp"  Title: The clock was wrong . Make mystery one of the genre.'

"She wants me to do it. I'm not ready. I need a little extra time to figure things out." Andy Turner didn't usually talk to himself, but he was facing a life altering event. Andy enjoyed his freedom. Cynthia Andrews was pushing marriage.

The little shop on the shadowy corner was called ‘Time Machines’. “Cute,” said Andy Turner. Featured inside the shop window was a clock. The alarm clock was wrong. It revealed thirteen hours instead of the standard twelve.

Rain began misting the air around him. Cold fingers of wind plucked and pushed him towards the entrance offering escape. Above him the shop sign swung and creaked its offering shop motto. Andy’s wet, cold lips read it aloud, “Have the time of your life.”

He pushed the door open and flung himself inside. It was hot, dry, welcome relief flooded Andy’s veins. “Can I help you, young man?”

It was just a voice. Andy hugged himself warm. “The clock in the window, why thirteen hours instead of twelve?”

“You don’t waste time, do you, young man?” The voice held a hint of laughter as it flung the question Andy’s way.

“I try not to.” Andy walked towards the sound of the voice. “You do work here, don’t you?”

“I think of myself as Father Time. I am at your command.” An elderly, bearded man carrying a scythe with an hourglass hanging from it edged his way into view.

“You certainly look the part,” Andy felt a nervous chuckle escape his mouth.

“You are my first customer of the day,” Father Time raised the sharp blade of the scythe, preparing to swing it at Andy’s head. “I have time to kill and your time is up.”

“Wait!” screamed Andy, his arms suddenly finding themselves raised to protect himself.

The scythe stopped in midair. “A moment is all you’ve got. I’m curious. What is it that you want that you haven’t yet gotten out of life?”

Andy’s mind rushed desperately for an answer that would keep him alive. “Wait. I want to buy some extra time. What do I have to do to purchase the thirteen hour clock?”

“Right as rain,” Father Time lowered the scythe to turn the hourglass upside down. “The future is yours, for the time being you can borrow some time. You’ll be answering for it when your time runs out.”

Andy found himself pushed back outside into the storm. The clock was gone from the window. His heart beat heavily in his chest, measuring his life away. The tick-tock rhythm felt reflected in each lunging breath, a reminder that time was passing on.

Thirteen, Andy thought, hunching his head into his shoulders, is an unlucky number. His curiosity about it had almost killed him. “It’s time to make something of myself. There’s no time to lose.”

Andy decided it was time to propose to Cynthia. It would be the commitment of a lifetime, but nearly losing his life made her loving embrace feel so much more precious. Andy darted inside the flower shop. Love was worth giving up his freedom for. "What was I going to do with it? Waste time, that's what." The mystery of life had resolved itself.

“Good lad. Time is precious.” Father Time watched Andy through his shop window as the flower shop engulfed Andy. “A little warning now and again and they’ll find the time they need to complete unfinished business. Eternal love is the only answer death cannot conquer.”

Wc 581