The Horologist(chapter10) New Hire

        Maurice walked down the cobblestone streets. He was looking for a job. Any position would do for him, as he only wanted something to start off on. He decided to try the local Clock repair shop. He walked into the small run down store and rang the little bell on the counter.

"Scarfy?" Maurice yelled, unsure if she was even there.

Luckily she was. She came out to the front desk, adjusting her small glasses.

"Hello." She said timidly.

"Hello miss." Maurice replied, tipping his hat.

"What can i do for you today?" She asked.

"Well, i was sort of looking about for a job."

Scarfy's face seems to light up a little.

"That's good, we have been shorthanded for the longest time."

"When can you start?"

"Oh, well i suppose i can start immediately." Maurice says, smiling.

Scarfy takes him to the back of the shop, showing him how to repair things, Stock shelves, sort parts and such. She failed to realise that though he was a "new hire" he had done this sort of thing his entire life. But he never said a word. He followed directions diligently, and he did the work well. He was often busy, fixing pocketwatches and the occasional grandfather clock. Most nights, he fell asleep while working, bent over the worktable in the back of the shop, parts strewn every which way. He never complained, never asked for breaks. He loved the job. 

One morning, Twill came into the shop. She had not seen Maurice in a few days, she bgan to get worried. She figured she would go ask Scarfy if she had seen him. 

Twill rang the bell, nobody answered.

She went on to the back of the store, there Maurice was, sleeping while hunched over the worktable. 

Twill giggled quietly. Maurice moved in his sleep, then set his head down on a small gear. He jumped up at the sudden pain.

"OW!!!" Maurice shouted, eyes popping out of his head.

Twill couldn't help but to laugh out loud.

"Eh, who is that?" He asked, putting his eyes back into place.

"OH! Twill, it's you!"

"Yeah silly!" Twill said.

"I'm sorry, i meant to tell you." Maurice said.

"Scarfy offered me a job."

"Really! That's Awesome!" Twill says excitedly.

"I'm so proud of you!"

Just then, Scarfy walks into the store, cursing her arms for getting tangled up again. (they are litterally scarves)

"Oh, hi twill. um, can you?"

"Oh, tangled up again?" Twill asks.

"yeah." Scarfy replies, shyly

Twill untangles Scarfy's arms. Then Scarfy notices Maurice.

"Um...were you here all night?" She asks.

"Yes ma'am." He replies.

"I am almost finished with this clock."

"Oh, no honey." Scarfy says.

"You can go home at night."

Maurice just sits there, staring blankely, like he didn't understand that people didn't work all hours of the day.

"You didn't know that?" Twill asks.

"N-n-no...i did not." Maurice replies, internally kicking himself for staying up so late. 

Twill and Scarfy laugh. So does Maurice.

"You should have told me that." Maurice says.

"Hehhehe, hey, have you thought about getting your own place?" Twill asks.

"Hmm...Not really." Maurice replies.

"I have been too busy to really think of much besides gears, cogs, pendulums, and sprockets." 

"Well, let's go out and look then." Scarfy suggests.

Maurice grabs his coat and hat, and follows Scarfy and Twill out the door.