Listening to the clock on the wall, the gentle tick, tick, tick soothing with its consistent, monotonous presence. The animals are restless today. Why, I’m not sure. Maybe they sense another new year is here, with the potential for all things great and small, all things bright and beautiful. Or perhaps they care not about…

Listening to the clock on the wall, the gentle tick, tick, tick soothing with its consistent, monotonous presence. The animals are restless today. Why, I’m not sure. Maybe they sense another new year is here, with the potential for all things great and small, all things bright and beautiful. Or perhaps they care not about…