The Grandfather Clock of Qantas Tillingsly

When Qantas Tillingsly was but a young child, his older sister and best friend, Tinsly (four years his elder) pulled him aside and pointed to a clock.

It was the old grandfather clock the Family Tillingsly had inherited from their old grandfather, Rumpion Tillingsly. Before Rumpion died a subtle death in the calm of winter, he wished to see his only son receive the only gift the old man had to give. A gift handed to him from his father who’s father had given it to him. It was Qantas’ grandfather’s grandfather who told his father his grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather had begun this tradition----all with this one, very special grandfather clock. Rumpion Tillingsly had large, perfectly rounded tears collected in the corners of his eyes as he passed on to the next world. His son, Qantas’ father—Winscott—marveled at the passing, his own bittersweet tears moistening his cheeks.
Tinsley pointed to the hands of the ageless wooden clock. “Do you see these?” she asked?
“Do I ever…” replied her brother.
“Qantas, when the little hand is on the XII and the big hand is between VI and the VII—almost resting upon the VII—Qantas, it’s the magic moment. 12:34.”
“How could this possibly be important to me?”
“Oh it’s incredibly important, Qantas. Don’t you see? This clock has brought our family great fortune for generations. This is only rumor, hearsay and superstition but when the youngest son of the family turns of age 21, he waits for the magic moment and when the second hand hits the XII, he asks to find his one true love. He always finds a bride, Qantas. It’s a very special clock.” Tinsly looked at the face of the clock, turned her head and saw the face of her brother. “You’ll find her someday, Qantas.” It was as if Tinsly knew something Qantas hadn’t caught onto yet.

This moment shared with his sister would stick out in his memory for years piled upon years.

Soon after the memorable exchange, father and mother divorced. Mother took half of the family, half of the house, half of the money, half of the assets, half of her husband’s soul, half of his will to carry on, half of his future and all of the Family Tillingsly’s honor. Mother Befloir Tillingsly (maiden name: Skrumplwart) took everything on the left side of the house—including the grandfather clock. She grabbed Tinsly and half of a sports car and glided thousands and thousands of miles away.
Qantas tried to make his father feel better but Winscott Tillingsly was in a deep depression. He was a broken man—and he would stay this way until his one possession was returned. His birthright. If he cannot continue his sacred generations old tradition, he simply cannot consider himself a man—or a father. Winscot Tillingsly was paralyzed with shame and Qantas was the only one who could make things right.

To be Continued—