The Clockmaker

The Clockmaker

In the faraway kingdom of Tempus, there lived a young clockmaker named Simon. He filled his shop with wondrous clocks, watches, and other magnificent timepieces to dazzle the mind. Every day you could find him in the back of his shop, tinkering away on his newest project, utterly unaware of how little business he had. Occasionally, someone from the city would come in and have him fix a clock, but those times were few.

Simon spent most of his days working on clocks and staring out his shop window, watching the citizens of the land walk by in all their finery. Soon after, he grew depressed when he realized in his impoverished state, how he could never compare to the wealthy. Simon wished to dress in such extravagance and be able to dine on priceless china covered with spiced meats and desserts galore. Weary of his lot and more than aware of his hunger, he walked to his root cellar.

Walking down the dark steps, Simon sighed at the abysmal sight. Shelves stood empty except for dust and cobwebs, which the builders had long since abandoned because of lack of food. To his delight, he saw a small bulb in the corner and snatched it up. His gleeful smile turned to a frown as he held up an onion to the light. Looks like another night of onion soup, he thought to himself with a shrug.

Feeling something rub against him, he noticed Mr. Copper, his cat, who, unlike others of its breed, purred with the sound of metal gears turning within its body as it walked around Simon. It was a clockwork body built by Simon months ago as a companion to ease his loneliness. Every morning, Simon wound up the mechanical animal and beamed with joy as his companion puttered to life.

“At least I don’t have to feed you. Heaven forbid I have two mouths to feed!” he exclaimed. “Such is life. Eventually, I’ll get the money needed to get you a fur coat made. We will be set for life.”

The ringing sound of his shop door echoed throughout the store. Simon paused, wondering who could possibly want to buy something. He hadn’t had a sale in weeks, and rarely did anyone need a clock fixed. Most would buy new ones from expensive merchants before coming to his humble shop.

He hurried up to the shop and set this onion on his work desk. Looking around, he saw an old crone admiring his wares. Simon might have been poor, but his parents raised him right and knew not to judge a book by its cover. Many of the few customers he helped were well beyond their youth.

“Greetings, old one,” Simon beamed. “How can I help you.”

The old crone spun toward Simon and gave him a wide toothless grin. Reaching into her shawl, she pulled out some papyrus. Her rickety arms shook as she handed the papyrus sheets to Simon. He glanced at them and felt his face blush with excitement.

“I need you to build me this clock, young man. It must get built quickly and by a certain time,” she replied with a cackle.

“How soon do you need it, old one?” Simon asked. His curiosity rose with the idea of a specific deadline.

“I need it by the eve of Beltaine,” she replied cryptically.

“So soon? Beltaine is only a week away!” Simon exclaimed.

“If you can’t do it, I will find another clockmaker. I’m sure the others in the city can do it easily,” she said.

“No. I can do it. But why do you need it so soon?” Simon asked.

“I need it to break my curse,” the old woman replied.

“A curse?” Simon asked. He never got involved in many things concerning the other side or magic, but he believed in them. Even curses were well-known in this land. “I shall get to work on it right away.”

“We haven’t discussed payment,” the crone replied.

“If it releases you from a curse, that will be payment enough,” Simon said.

“You are too kind, young man. I will reward you. The address to deliver it is on the papyrus,” she said before walking out the door.

For days and nights, Simon worked on the clock. He slept little and only enough to keep him going so the crone could have her clock by the eve of Beltaine. After Simon finished the clock, it was close to sundown. Loading the clock onto his wagon, he set off on his delivery with Mr. Copper by his side.

Simon pulled up to a set of wrought iron gates, which barred a cobblestone path to a glorious small castle that sat north of the kingdom. When he’d seen the address for the first time, he’d thought the crone crazy but realized pondering questions would take time away from his project. A guard stood at the gate and glared at him.

“What are you doing here, peasant?” the guard asked.

“I’m here to deliver a clock on this eve of Beltaine,” Simon replied. He learned early in life to ignore the insults of the wealthy. His mother told him riches couldn’t buy class.

“So, you are the clockmaker?” the guard asked incredulously. “Come in quickly. Madam Anastacia is waiting.”

Simon wondered about the name and remembered he never got the old crone’s name. It didn’t matter as long as her curse disappeared. He didn’t know how the clock he built would help, but he assumed magic would come into play.

“You have arrived on time! How wonderful to see you kept your word,” Madam Anastacia said.

“I labored hard to make sure everything in the plans you gave worked. Where shall I put it?” Simon asked.

“I’ll have someone fetch it. I shall reward you. Enter, young man, for you will witness a curse broken and a woman freed!” she bellowed.

Simon followed her into the castle. She led him and the guards who carried the clock into a large ballroom. Other men and women, standing around in extravagant finery, hushed as Simon and the old crone entered. The old crone stood in the center as torches from around the room were lit in honor of Beltaine.

“Simon, come stand with me to witness this,” the old crone said. Confused how she knew his name, he stood in front of her.

The clock he made struck midnight, and its chimes rung throughout the ballroom and guests gasped as their wine glasses broke from the sound. A warm yet pleasant feeling came over Simon, and he saw the old crone change. As he watched, her skin lost the wrinkles, and her posture became straighter. Before him stood a beautiful woman his age. Her hair was no longer gray, but a brilliant red and her eyes were a crystal green. Simon marveled at her beauty and knew his heart belonged to her instinctively.

Anastacia reached out to him, and Simon took her hand. Even in the clothes of a crone, Anastacia’s beauty shone brighter than the lights in the ballroom. Stricken with love and overcome by the emotion, he knelt down on one knee and stared up at Anastacia.

“There is no need to kneel before me, Simon. You saved me from the curse and certain death. For that, I can’t repay you, but I can move your shop to the castle, and here you will have everything you need,” Anastacia said.

“If only I can find love,” Simon replied as he stood up.

“I am sure in time you will find that here,” Anastacia said with a knowing smirk.

In the following months, Simon found love. On his wedding day to Queen Anastacia, he looked at the clock and noticed the hands were moving backward. After their vows, first kiss, and the celebration, he stood alone in front of the clock. Mr. Copper brushed against his leg. He picked the mechanical cat up and held it. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Anastacia walking toward him.

“Why do the hands move backward?” Simon asked.

“It is to stave off the curse. As long as the hands move backward, the curse can no longer work its evil enchantments,” Anastacia replied. “I have one final gift for you, Simon.”

“What is that?” Simon asked.

“Close your eyes, Simon,” Anastacia whispered.

Simon shut his eyes, awaiting whatever gift Anastacia wanted to give him. As a clockmaker, he was patient. A wiggle in his arms startled him, and he figured it was Mr. Copper’s gears working while he held his mechanical cat.

“Now open them, Simon,” Anastacia said.

Simon opened his eyes and burst with joy as he saw Mr. Copper was alive and as fluffy as he wanted the cat to be. Mr. Copper snuggled in his arms, and Simon leaned over to kiss Anastacia.

“Thank you,” he said. “No more onion soup for us, huh, Mr. Copper. We’re gonna have to give you a real meal now.”

“After the guests. We have all the time in the world Simon.”

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