The Gold Watch Read online

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  The golden sunlight shown brightly through the small window announcing dawn, “Mmmmmm,” Mary stretched as long as she could to loosen her tight muscles. For the first time in a long time she felt really good.

  “Good Morning,” she sang cheerfully as she came into the small kitchen.

  “Here, have an egg,” exclaimed her mother, she handed Mary an already shelled hard-boiled egg.

  “Why are you so happy?” her younger brother raised an eyebrow

  “I don’t know. I just have a good feeling about today”

  Grabbing her basket, Mary skipped out of the house and headed down the tree lined winging path toward town.

  She stopped abruptly as a small breeze blew the smell of burning wood directly into her nostrils; the smile fell from her pretty face

  “Oh No” she muttered as her eyes gazed upon a stream of smoke drifting towards the sky above the trees.

  Mary ran as fast as her legs could carry her towards the village her mind reeling; was the village attacked? Did a fire just get out if control? Was anyone injured?

  The entire village had gathered in the square surrounding the scene.

  “What happened?” she asked a woman in the back of the crowd.

  “It looks like this merchant was killed by a wild animal and someone lit his wagon ablaze.”

  “HUH”

  Why would an animal kill someone in town? And why would someone lit the wagon on fire.

  “Excuse me,” Mary pushed her way to the front of the crowd to get a better look.

  She recognized the wagon that was still smoldering; it was the one she stopped at yesterday to look at the golden pocket watch. The bloodied body, she guessed, could only belong to the traveling merchant; it was dismembered so badly she couldn’t recognize it.

  Holding one hand to her stomach, the other to her mouth Mary shoved her way back through the crowd, nearly falling as she tumbled hard into a woman. The smell of the blood and half burning flesh had gotten to be too much for her. She fled into the woods running until her jelly legs could carry her no farther, falling to her knees, tears running down her cheek Mary vomited against a large oak tree.

  “WHY”

  She slammed her fist hard against the tree.

  “Owe”

  Pain radiated throughout her hand, a small trickle of blood was seeping from a scratch. Mary sat weeping holding her hand against her chest for what seemed like hours. She glanced at the small basket still on its side where she dropped it.

  I have to get the strawberries for mom

  She forced her legs to stand, using the tree to steadying herself. Slowly, she made her way to the berry patch using the occasional tree when she felt as if he were going to fall again. During the walk she desperately tried to wipe the image of the mauled body from her mind but it would not leave her.

  Like a mindless zombie she picked strawberries, not even checking for bad spots, until her basket was full. Mary ignored the animals scurrying about as she walked through the woods heading for the stream near her home to wash the berries.

  As she neared the stream something glimmered in a small hint of sunlight that wound its way through the trees temporarily blinding her.

  “Huh! what’s that? It wasn’t here yesterday”

  Kneeling down she picked up the object and gasped…It was the golden watch from the traveling merchants stand.

  How did this get here?

  Slowly turning the watch over in her hands Mary once again traced the strange symbol etched onto the cover with her finger; not at all surprised to find the watch was still warm despite resting on the cool ground.

  I wonder what this symbol means?

  Mary knew she should get rid of the watch after all; the merchant was killed and his stand burnt down but the temptation was too great.

  She pushed in the little button on the side; the lid popped open effortlessly.

  “WOW”

  The numbers were beautifully etched behind the glass faceplate.

  “Wait this isn’t right”

  Taking a closer look, the second hand was moving counter clockwise. Mary stared at it 5…4…3…2…1 the minute hand also moved backwards.

  “I guess it’s broken”

  She gently placed the watch on the ground while rinsing off the berries in the stream. Mary turned to leave the stream but a little voice in her head told her to take the watch along. Hesitantly, she picked up the warm watch looking it over one more time she walked the short distance home.

  “Here are your strawberries”

  “Put them in the kitchen dear”

  Mary did as she was told before heading to her room. She once again opened the golden watch partially still wondering how it came to be in her back yard but also extremely happy it did. This was the only thing she wanted for her birthday. The slow ticking filled her silent room as the second hand continued to move backwards. She stared at it mesmerized.

  “I wonder if someone in the village can fix it?”

  She jumped off her bed.

  “Going out”

  “Don’t forget your chores”

  “I know”

  She pulled the thick wooden door closed behind her. When have I ever forgotten my chores? She rolled her eyes at the thought.

  Mary ran back to the village, stealing a glance at where the body of the merchant had been hours before. All that was left were scorch marks and some blood mixed with dirt. Shuddering, she continued on. The sound of metal hitting metal made her ears ring as she neared the blacksmith’s stand

  “Excuse me sir,” The muscular man looked at her for a moment before approaching her.

  “Could you fix this?” she asked the blacksmith holding out the watch for him to see

  The old man looked at Mary studying her before he took the watch in one calloused hand looking it over carefully

  “Where did you get this? Is this the watch that belong to the traveling merchant?”

  “Uh…um…No sir it was given to me…um…by my father”

  She tried not to sound guilty

  How could I be so stupid? Of course people in the village will recognize the watch.

  “Y…Your father,” stammered the blacksmith

  He quickly tossed the watch back to her as if it were burning his hands. Without another word the blacksmith turned and walked to the back of his stand. He began working on his prior project. Loud clanging once again filled the air around her.

  Mary watched him another moment clenching her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. Sometimes she really did wish that her father had cursed the town at least then her family would be respected even if it were through fear.

  She headed back home, dust from the dirt path kicked up around her. The sounds of the birds chirping, the wings of various insects buzzing all around her, would usually make her happy today they had no affect. She couldn’t stop thinking about the circumstances of the merchants’ death, the strange watch and how the blacksmith refused to help her because of her father.

  She proceeded to complete her chores as if on autopilot not even taking notice when one of the chickens pecked her hand leaving a scratch, which oozed a small amount of blood.

  Even the vegetable soup her mother prepared for dinner tasted bland due to the preoccupying thoughts floating around in her head.

  “Night,” she called after her evening ritual of cleaning the dishes then laying them out to dry. The house was silent as she slipped into her room; the sun had mostly gone down leaving her room dark. Instinctively, she reached for the candle she kept on a small wooden stand next to the door. Striking a match she lit it; flames shivered in the small breeze coming from the window. Mary pulled the straw curtain across the window to negate the breeze. Shadows, caused by the candlelight, danced on the wall giving her room an eerie feel.

  Placing the candle by her bed, she lay looking at the golden watch stil
l pondering her earlier questions. No matter how hard she tried answers always eluded her. The numbers on the watch were difficult to read in the eerie candlelight, she could barley make out that it was 1:45. Closing the watch she laid it down next to her head. After blowing out the candle, she closed her eyes to get some sleep it was going to be an early morning since it was her duty to milk the cow.

  The light was getting brighter nearly penetrating her eyes. Squinting Mary sat up. The watch was glowing, hovering over the spot on the bed where she placed it. Not wanting to wake up her mother or brother Mary held back a scream; she scrambled out of bed pressing up against the wooden wall as far as she could.

  Moving on its own the watch popped open, even from the distance she could tell the time on the watch was now exactly midnight. The light continued enveloping everything around it growing more intense it got so bright Mary had to shield her eyes.

  “What’s going on?”

  Her voice no more than an whisper but still she hoped someone would answer her. Fear clung to her heart making it beat more rapidly.

  Slowly, the light began to die down she removed her hands from in front of her eyes.

  “AAAAHHHHHH”

  Mary NOW wanted to wake someone up.

  In the middle of the room stood a monster whose sharp horns protruded from its head nearly striking the ceiling. Its long razor sharp tail swished back and forth creating gashes in the wooden stand by her bed.

  Its glowing red eyes stared at Mary penetrating her as if it could see her very soul. The entire house shook as it took a monstrous step toward her.

  Mary wanted to run she was only a foot from the door but fear froze her in place. The monster lowered its head even with