Like Clockwork

Metallic hands constantly spin in an endless coriolis. Bigger than a pocket watch, smaller than Big Ben. Its steady, soundless ticking, steals the focus of the day. A time-lapse, class to class. A circular hourglass, it glares like the sun from the top of the room. It stays silent until a deafening shrill breaks the monotony, stirring the students to trudge to their next class dragging their pencils against furrowed paper.