Chapter 6

The clock hands ticked softly, its small hand pointing at 6 while the longer hand stilled at 12.

Birds sang with happiness, an emotion gaily expressed in the light way they carried themselves and slapped their wings in the sky, rocking to the beats of the wind.

The insects crawled over the surface of warm Mother Earth, grateful for her supplies as they moved with their tiny feet and lifted scraps of food they could get away with, wondering how humans managed to let crumbs fall off their mouths, but not really concerned that they did.

Pots clanged against each other, spoons, forks, and knives meeting in an ultimate battle as the neighbor next door hurried with their dishwashing.

Jared moaned in his sleep, wishing he had magic powers to silence the world. He needed more sleep. He wanted to yell at the disturbers. He had spent the previous night unable to sleep as he normally did, hyperactive and tossing around on the bed, hoping he could get some relief.