Free Sneaks by B Button Page A

bright red wallpaper and small yellow designs. I thought the pattern could make me seasick if I looked at it too long.
    “Not to worry, young lady. The clock hasn’t ticked for a long time. A few more days didn’t matter. Did you fix it then?” He asked as he looked up and over the top of his glasses. He was old and hunched over. His third wife died a year earlier and he told the Govment he was finished getting married. He always smelled like peanut butter and he bought candy on the black market, which is how he heard about me.
    “Yes, it is working perfectly.”
    “Delightful! Delightful! Come, bring it into the front room and we’ll put it on the mantle. How much do I owe you?” He shuffled toward the front room. I pulled the clock out from under the towels.
    "I have a different idea for a fee this time, Mr. Bellini. Can I talk to you about it?”
    “Certainly. Yes, put it there, have a seat. Do you want some chocolate?” He held out a piece of wrapped candy.
    “Yes, please.” I opened it, popped it in my mouth and savored the melting sweetness. I hadn't had chocolate in almost six months. I wanted another piece, but I didn't want to be rude.
    “Good, good. Now,” he sat down in a chair across from me, “you’ve turned sixteen. What was the Decision?”
    “Divorced or widowed.”
    “That’s not so bad. Maybe you’ll find someone young. I was young the first time I lost a wife. I was considered quite the catch at that time. Anyway, enough of that talk. You still have two years. Don't worry about it too soon.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Oh, look at that – listen to that. It is ticking.” Mr. Bellini pointed at the clock and tears filled his eyes. I got that reaction a lot. That’s probably why I kept fixing them.
    “It should work for a long time.”
    “Oh, Kally, thank you so much. It reminds me of my parents and my grandparents. They are all long gone, of course, but this clock was part of my childhood. I’m afraid it’s all I have left from that time. Everything else is gone or has been taken.”
    I put my hand to my throat. “Maybe not everything, Mr. Bellini.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I found this inside the clock.” I leaned forward so he could see it better.
    “That is lovely, very lovely, but I have no memory of it. Are you sure you found it in my clock?”
    “Positive.”
    “Huh.
    “I was wondering. Well, the second I saw it, I loved it. I was wondering if I could buy it from you.”
    “How about you take it for your fee for fixing the clock.”
    “It’s worth more than the fee. Here, look, the globe is from before the quakes. It’s the way the continents used to be. That has to make it valuable.”
    “Really? Can you take it off so I can look at it?”
    “I’m afraid to.”
    “Why, for goodness’ sake?”
    “I want to tell you, but I’m afraid you’ll think I’m crazy.”
    “Oooh, this sounds good. How about I promise not to think such a thing?”
    “It’s hard to believe.”
    “Even better. It’s been ages since I’ve heard something fanciful and fabulous. Please tell me everything.”
    I told him, just like I told my mom. I didn’t leave out any detail. Part way through he started crying, but told me to continue, and to ignore him. He begged me to tell it all again, so I did.
    When I finished, I wasn’t sure who was more exhausted; him or me.
    “You must keep it, and figure out how to use it,” Mr. Bellini said as he wiped his eyes with his big handkerchief.
    “Thank you,” I said, happy and relieved at his offer. “Why did it make you cry?”
    “My mamma, my mamma always told me she wasn’t from here but she could never tell me where she came from. My pappa told me that she was ‘from another time’ but I didn’t know what he meant. I’m sad that I’ll never really know. You must promise to tell your children if you have any. Promise me, Kally, that you'll tell them about your travels. I wish I'd known. I wish my mamma could have told me all about