twist
12-18-2012, 09:44 PM
Justin was always late. He was late for school and dawdled on the way back. His dinner was cold by the time he appeared at the table and all the washing up was done by the time he finished. Even his watch was slow. No matter how his parents or teachers told him off for his tardiness, nothing worked. He wasn't a little boy any more either. On his next birthday he was going to be ten. Justin had a lot of catching up to do but acting like a tortoise for so long wasn't going to make it easy. His father owned a clock shop which had been in the family for three generations. His parents were always on time as was Justine, his little sister. Justin was the only member of the Time family who simply couldn't be on time.
One morning on his way to school, his watch strap broke. He accidentally trod on his watch and smashed it. Well, it was his birthday on Saturday morning. He would ask his parents for a new watch.
Saturday morning came and he was late as usual getting up. He walked downstairs slowly and opened the kitchen door. "Happy birthday, Justin!" chorused his family.
There was a big square parcel wrapped up in blue and silver wrapping paper. A smaller rectangular one lay next to it. He carefully opened the smaller one first to reveal a shiny, silver watch with a stopwatch feature. The larger present was a blue wall clock with his name on the face.
What he didn't know was that his dad had set the time ten minutes fast. Justin was very pleased with his new watch and put it on straight away.
His birthday party was a very quiet one as had given out the invitations late and everyone seemed to have made other plans. Poor Justin did feel deflated. After all it wasn't every day one turned ten. It would be a whole year before he had another birthday.
To cheer him up, his father took him to the clock shop as he hadn't been there for some months. There were clocks of all sizes and shapes. One clock had wings and the words 'time flies' on its face. There were grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks and carriage clocks. There were clocks in the shape of ornaments. They all chimed in unison like an orchestra. There seemed something magical in the shop just then. In that moment, Justin realized how precious time was and he didn't want to waste another second.
That night as Justin lay in bed he really wished he could be much faster at doing things. He woke up the next morning feeling more energetic than he usually did and went downstairs for his breakfast. His mother had just made his breakfast and was surprised to see him up so early. She didn't say anything but had the feeling that changing the time was a good idea.
More surprisingly, Justin reached school earlier than any of his friends. He looked at his watch. Funny, they must all be late. Eventually his friends arrived and asked him all about his birthday. He felt embarrassed saying none of his friends came and went a little red.
Justin was like a different boy from that day. His hand shot up before anyone else's to answer the teacher's questions. On his way home he timed himself on his stopwatch to see how fast he could walk home.
He was now the first to be ready for dinner and lay the table. He went to bed on time too. His father read him the story 'The hare and the tortoise' that night. He knew his son was going to win the race now, but just to be sure, he decided to leave his watch and clock fast for another week. On Sports Day Justin won just about every race. Everyone was amazed as he was always last before. He really was the tortoise who had won the race.
Justin was a changed boy. That night his father changed his watch and clock back to real time.
"Sleep well, Justin Time. Your great grandfather would be very proud you," he whispered as he kissed him good night.
One morning on his way to school, his watch strap broke. He accidentally trod on his watch and smashed it. Well, it was his birthday on Saturday morning. He would ask his parents for a new watch.
Saturday morning came and he was late as usual getting up. He walked downstairs slowly and opened the kitchen door. "Happy birthday, Justin!" chorused his family.
There was a big square parcel wrapped up in blue and silver wrapping paper. A smaller rectangular one lay next to it. He carefully opened the smaller one first to reveal a shiny, silver watch with a stopwatch feature. The larger present was a blue wall clock with his name on the face.
What he didn't know was that his dad had set the time ten minutes fast. Justin was very pleased with his new watch and put it on straight away.
His birthday party was a very quiet one as had given out the invitations late and everyone seemed to have made other plans. Poor Justin did feel deflated. After all it wasn't every day one turned ten. It would be a whole year before he had another birthday.
To cheer him up, his father took him to the clock shop as he hadn't been there for some months. There were clocks of all sizes and shapes. One clock had wings and the words 'time flies' on its face. There were grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks and carriage clocks. There were clocks in the shape of ornaments. They all chimed in unison like an orchestra. There seemed something magical in the shop just then. In that moment, Justin realized how precious time was and he didn't want to waste another second.
That night as Justin lay in bed he really wished he could be much faster at doing things. He woke up the next morning feeling more energetic than he usually did and went downstairs for his breakfast. His mother had just made his breakfast and was surprised to see him up so early. She didn't say anything but had the feeling that changing the time was a good idea.
More surprisingly, Justin reached school earlier than any of his friends. He looked at his watch. Funny, they must all be late. Eventually his friends arrived and asked him all about his birthday. He felt embarrassed saying none of his friends came and went a little red.
Justin was like a different boy from that day. His hand shot up before anyone else's to answer the teacher's questions. On his way home he timed himself on his stopwatch to see how fast he could walk home.
He was now the first to be ready for dinner and lay the table. He went to bed on time too. His father read him the story 'The hare and the tortoise' that night. He knew his son was going to win the race now, but just to be sure, he decided to leave his watch and clock fast for another week. On Sports Day Justin won just about every race. Everyone was amazed as he was always last before. He really was the tortoise who had won the race.
Justin was a changed boy. That night his father changed his watch and clock back to real time.
"Sleep well, Justin Time. Your great grandfather would be very proud you," he whispered as he kissed him good night.