The Clock That Sneezed Midnight — Every evening, Quill crept onto the rooftop banquet table to count the sugar stars on the tall celebration cake. Read the full story →
Every evening, Quill crept onto the rooftop banquet table to count the sugar stars on the tall celebration cake. He wanted to make the clock chime before midnight, just once, to see whether the fireworks would jump or hiccup. The icing smelled like lemon, and the clock tower ticked in tiny candy clicks.
Until one night, Quill poked the clock hand with a licorice straw. Click-click—achoo! A puff of silver sprinkles burst from under the top tier. Because of that, the waiters dropped their trays. Because of that, everyone leaned closer and heard a squeaky voice shout, “Stop tickling my hat!”
Finally, Quill lifted the clock’s little roof and found a sugar mouse polishing a hidden bell where nobody had looked. The mouse rang it properly, and fireworks bloomed with a whoop. If you trace the stars around the tower, you might spot where Quill’s silver sneeze began among the sugar stars.
