The Time Machine
My name is Clocky.
My name is Clocky.
I am a small clock on Professor Tim's desk.
I am a small clock on Professor Tim's desk.
Every day, I watch him work on his big machine.
Every day, I watch him work on his big machine.
He talks to me sometimes.
He talks to me sometimes.
"Clocky, I will travel through time!"
"Clocky, I will travel through time!"
he says.
he says.
"I will see the future!"
"I will see the future!"
I tick and tock.
I tick and tock.
I know about time.
I know about time.
Time moves forward.
Time moves forward.
Always forward.
Always forward.
But Professor Tim wants to jump through time like a rabbit.
But Professor Tim wants to jump through time like a rabbit.
One day, his machine is ready.
One day, his machine is ready.
It looks like a chair with many lights and wheels.
It looks like a chair with many lights and wheels.
Professor Tim sits in it.
Professor Tim sits in it.
He pushes a button.
He pushes a button.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
The machine disappears!
The machine disappears!
I am alone on the desk.
I am alone on the desk.
I feel sad.
I feel sad.
Where is my friend?
Where is my friend?
Many hours pass.
Many hours pass.
Then WHOOSH!
Then WHOOSH!
The machine comes back.
The machine comes back.
But Professor Tim looks scared.
But Professor Tim looks scared.
His hair is messy.
His hair is messy.
His clothes are dirty.
His clothes are dirty.
"Clocky!"
"Clocky!"
he says.
he says.
"I saw terrible things!"
"I saw terrible things!"
"In the future, people live underground."
"In the future, people live underground."
"They are small and weak."
"They are small and weak."
"Big monsters eat them!"
"Big monsters eat them!"
I tick faster.
I tick faster.
This sounds bad.
This sounds bad.
"The sun is red and dying,"
"The sun is red and dying,"
he says.
he says.
"The world is cold and dark."
"The world is cold and dark."
"Time is not kind to humans."
"Time is not kind to humans."
Professor Tim breaks his machine with a hammer.
Professor Tim breaks his machine with a hammer.
CRASH!
CRASH!
BANG!
BANG!
"Some things should not be seen,"
"Some things should not be seen,"
he says.
he says.
Now I understand.
Now I understand.
Time is like a river.
Time is like a river.
We can only swim with it, not against it.
We can only swim with it, not against it.
The future will come when it comes.
The future will come when it comes.
Professor Tim pets me gently.
Professor Tim pets me gently.
"Thank you for staying here, Clocky."
"Thank you for staying here, Clocky."
"The present is the best place to be."
"The present is the best place to be."
I tick happily. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
I tick happily. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
Right now is good enough.
Right now is good enough.