Hall Of Fame January 2000

The Hall of Fame - January 2000

Time
By Corinne Britt
Fiction 010

     It was almost midnight, the turn of the century and Frederick had good reason to worry. Once that clock rang in the new millennium, it was doom for his wife Matilda, and their family. He had to stop that clock and make sure 12 o’clock never came or it would crush them in more ways then one. The hands
already pointed to 10 PM December 31, 1999 making the impending peril even more pressing. He appealed to the keeper of clocks, placing his case before him, but Father Time would not compromise. He said that was not his problem, was unimpressed and refused to help. Time had march on as planned and Frederick was forced to find a solution on his own.
     Silly people everywhere were fretting about the turn of the century. What did they have to fear? It wouldn’t kill their families, although some of them thought it would. He didn’t understand them, as they feared the dumbest things. Most of them don't even know what Y2K stands for, much less know what it will do. They are stocking water, canned goods, bullets and money, thinking that
will help them. He let out a sigh.
     He glanced at the clock that held his family's fate in its hands. It was already 10:10 PM and he had to do something. Anything, but what could he do? He couldn‘t just stand there watching his life and family go down the drain.
     The only person he knew that might be able to help, was his cousin’s friend, Carl. He thought, all this hype of Y2K is hogwash, but Carl might have an answer. He is a true exception to the common people. He knows what is important and what isn’t. He has a good head on him, where most of the people I know don’t make much sense. Frederick decided to ask him, but he
wasn’t sure even Carl could solve this dilemma. It was that clock or his family, so Frederick had no choice.
     It took him 45 minutes to run into Sydney where Carl lived. Thank goodness he was home, sitting at his computer as usual. Carl smiled when he saw his visitor.
     "Well, hello Frederick! Long time no see! How’s it goin, fellow?".
     "I need your help! I need your help! Please hurry, there is no time," Frederick answered frantically. He didn’t have time for chit chat. Carl’s computer blinked 11:01 PM reminding him of his problem.
     "Woe, Frederick!" Carl held his hand up. "Slow down, mate! What’s your hurry?"
     Frederick tried to get hold of himself, to speak slowly and explain the situation but by the time he finished the computer’s clock was screaming at him. It was now 11:10 PM.
     "OK! I understand." Carl asked puzzled, "So what can I do to help?"
     "I trust you. Come help me hold back the hands of the clock."
     "Well," Carl though a moment. "I’ll try! But if its the clock you say it is, I doubt being able to help much. Come on let’s get on my motorcycle and ride out there to see what we can do."
     Frederick climbed on the front of the big bike and the two friends tooled out of town while Frederick spouted directions. In no time they were there at the secreted clock. It was hidden well, beneath a hill and Carl had a hard time trying to even get close to it. He was far too large to enter the hole, even his hand wouldn’t fit.
     When Matilda decided they would make their home there, they didn’t even know where they were. It was all a crazy accident. Other clocks didn’t matter, only this one. This was the clock that actually controlled things in the world. This was the true "Time" clock. But now he had to stop it, somehow, as Matilda was ensconced and couldn’t move even if she wanted to. He wished she hadn’t chosen this place with all his heart, but what can you say to a pregnant lady when she is set on a place to have babies.
     Frederick was frantic, it was now 11:45 PM and the clock would strike 12 PM. soon. "Think of something! Please Carl! Please!" he pleaded.
     Suddenly, Carl had an idea. He could see the face of the clock but couldn’t reach it. He took a pencil from his pocket and tried to push the hands back in time. It didn’t work.
     "Oh my, oh my! What are we going to do?" Frederick shouted. "I am about to lose my wife and family! Please do something quick!"
     Carl scratched his head, went back to his motorcycle, and got out a pair of needle nose pliers. He tried using them to grab the hands of the clock, but they wouldn’t budge. He was at a loss as to what he could do to help his friends. The clock ticked closer to midnight. It was now 11:50 PM.
     All of a sudden Carl had a grand thought. He broke the eraser off his pencil and handed it to Frederick. He explained that the eraser had to be placed between the cogs inside the gearbox mechanism of the clock.
     Frederick thought, it just might work. He had to try. Down the hole he ran with the eraser and placed it. It fit! But the rubber was bending, and he knew, it wouldn't hold. It was now 11:53PM.
     In a frenzy, he ran back to Carl. His beady little black eyes, big rounded ears, and little pointed nose twitched madly. It was panic time. He screeched frantically "Do something, Do something!" What could they do to stop the time?
     Ah ha! At last Carl had an idea. He reached into his pocket and took out a toothpick. " Here little buddy!" he said handing it to his friend. "Stick this in the works. This just might hold it for a little while."
     Down the hole Frederick went and jammed the wooden stick into the whirling wheels. The clock stopped dead at 11:59PM, just as Frederick heard Matilda squeal.
     The birth had started. Once the babies were born, all eight of them, they rushed to get them out before the toothpick broke. The proud parents brought each tiny little body out of the hole one at a time. Carl found an empty box close by and gently placed the newborns in it. He was amazed, as never knew there were so many variety of colors for house mice. They were white, cinnamon, gray and multicolored.
     Now his brood were safe and sound, Frederick went back inside the clock. He chewed the toothpick with his sharp teeth, until the wood finally broke. The little clock began to ring in the witching hour of midnight. Now, he thought, The humans can have their new year.
     "Thank you, my friend." He said, "I couldn’t have saved my family without you. I guess that people are not all as bad as I thought they were." He smiled and stuck his tiny brown mouse paw out to shake hands with Carl.
     "Glad to be of service, matey! Your cousin kept me company when I was all alone and needed someone. It’s the least I can do to repay the favor. I have to run now. Take care of your wonderful little family." He waved goodbye to his little friends, got on his bike and shouted as he rode away into the
night, "You have a Happy New Year, you hear!"

A Viking Lullaby
By W. Shaw
Poetry 103

Hush, babe. Your daddy's gone viking,
For to win you a sword, for to make your own way.
Sleep babe. There's no need for crying.
Though the gods are a-dying at the end of the day.

Sleep, warrior babe.

Hush, child, though you long to be sailing,
And you follow your father to the edge of the sea.
Sleep, child, and grant me this moment,
Ere you're over the waves in a ship, far from me.

Sleep, warrior babe.

Hush, young man, though you long to be fighting,
And you polish your sword till it shines like the day.
Sleep, young man. All too soon you'll be dying,
And the Valkyrie coming for to take you away.

Sleep, warrior babe.

The Hall of Fame - January 2000

Time By Corinne Britt Fiction 010

A Viking Lullaby By W. Shaw Poetry 103

Time
By Corinne Britt
Fiction 010

A Viking Lullaby
By W. Shaw
Poetry 103