The City Beneath the Clock

Henry has always been fond of the old clock tower, and its deep chime reaches his bedroom every hour. On a rainy afternoon he pushes open the heavy door and climbs the winding stone stair, his silver pocket watch ticking against his chest. A warm golden light draws him into Gearville, a tiny city inside the clock's heart, where houses are built from gears and bridges of springs cross oil-can rivers. There he meets Tick, the head gear-keeper in a thimble hat, Cog with her lists and brass goggles, and Pip, who polishes the clock's hands.

When Tick falls ill and can no longer oil the gears, the workers try to take over his job, but nobody knows the gears as well as he does, and the clock begins to slow. Henry suggests sharing the work, with everyone taking one small task from Cog's schedule. He then notices the smallest gear of all, untouched and stuck. This gentle tale by Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN explores teamwork, responsibility and the value of every contribution, and it can be read on Online Masal.