Once upon a time

Watchmaker

Christmas 19...

It snowed all night. Large white snowflakes stuck to every surface they touched. By morning, everything was covered with ice. The streets were no different from the sidewalks and other surfaces, only the roofs of the houses peeked out from the white curtain. Smoke wafted from the chimney, which said that there was life in the icy silence.

In the interior of one of the snow-covered houses there was an unusual liveliness. Dozens of people seemed to be talking simultaneously in one of the rooms. The unusual noise did not stop for a single second. A gray head peeked through the window. The old man moved the heavy curtain aside and looked out. Since nothing was moving, he retreated from the window into the interior of the room. He was a dedica, dry-haired, with gray hair and a beard. Under bushy white eyebrows, two extremely lively eyes of an unusual blue color were hidden. The eyes, which were in contrast with the rest of his being, hid some secret.

He approached the fireplace and moved a log with a metal poker so that the fire started. He first looked at the walls of the room, which were filled with all kinds of clocks and clocks, and they all worked and showed different times. Then he took out his pocket watch, which was attached to his waistcoat pocket by a gold chain. His thin lips stretched into a smile and his cobalt blue eyes sparkled.

- It's time. - he muttered and put the watch back in his pocket.

He brought out a tray from the wooden sideboard, on which were two porcelain teacups, a sugar bowl and a plate of Christmas cookies. He placed the tray on the small table between the two armchairs facing the fireplace and then brought a teapot from the kitchen from which tea was smoked. He poured both cups and sat back contentedly in one of the armchairs. Now he just had to wait.

A noise was heard from somewhere in the house itself, as if the wall was being opened. The icy air swept into the room bringing a swirl of snowflakes.

As it appeared, it disappeared, and in the middle of the white swirl stood a young man. He brushed the snowflakes off his coat and took off his hat to shake them off.

- What an icy element.- was the first thing he said. Then he looked up at his grandfather who was smiling contentedly in his armchair. Under a tuft of disheveled brown hair, two blue eyes shone. Cobalt blue like the old man. The only difference was in the spark that was alive in the young man, while it slowly died out in the grandfather. A wide smile on his lips said that he didn't mind the storm at all and that he was happy about this meeting. He approached the armchair where the grandfather was sitting and before the old man could get up, he bent down and hugged him tightly.

- I am glad to see that you are well.-

- Come on, take off your coat and help yourself, you must be freezing. - the old man looked at him with a lot of love -

I'm glad you were able to make it.-

- Well, this is the only night when the whole world stops for a moment, it would be stupid not to take advantage of it.- he smiled as he sat down in another armchair and helped himself to tea and biscuits. -

- In the last 86 years. - the old man corrected him. - Are you ready? -

- I will not be more ready - he answered. For a moment he was silently looking at the fire - What are you going to do now?-

The old man smiled, his eyes sparkling

- I'm going on a long-delayed vacation. I will come to visit you now and then.-

- He will go to the inspection sooner. - and the young man smiled

- Well, someone has to do that too.- with a smile on his face, staring at the restless flames, he brought the cup to his lips and took a satisfied sip.

They sat for a while in silence. The clocks began to chime, harmonized in one sound and all showing the same time. They looked at each other

- It's time - said the old man. The young man nodded in response.

The old man handed the pocket watch to the young man, when their fingers touched for a moment it seemed that sparkling blue sparks came out of the watch. A strange warmth flowed through the young man and in the blink of an eye a white vortex carried the old man away. He was sitting alone in the room in front of the fireplace, holding an old pocket watch in his hand.

- Take care, grandfather. - he whispered.