The Daily 26 Episode 3: Keeper of Clocks

It is my belief that there are thousands of unsung heroes in the world. Many of which toil endlessly day in and day out but there is one that is particularly close to my heart. Ever hear a chime on a grandfather clock? Ever hear the local clock tower sound the new hour? Well friends, let us all be aware that inside ever chipper, chiming clock, there is a small man.

Yes! Now it can be told! Let it be plastered on old-timey newspapers! Let parents dress there children up like these strangers and send them into the street! Let all men know that behind every chime, there is a human, keeping watch over the clock and tapping the appropriate key every time the hour passes.

I have a personal love of these brave men and women because in my town, there is a clock tower, standing tall and watching over us. But inside that tower is a young man whose name I do not know but whose heart, I can never stop feeling the love of. You see, every hour, our clock tower plays a whole song! And mind you, these songs change from time to time. I attempted to interview this young man about his life as the Clock Man of the town but all I could get as a response was five chimes signaling my undeniable need to eat at five o'clock every night.

Some say you can see him at night at exactly 11:57 p.m. His shadow is cast on the clock face and he looks out on the sleepy city. His eyes run to and fro across town, discouraging criminals from practicing their trade. But exactly 3 minutes later, he vanishes and in his place can be heard the 12 chimes of fate, for the day has ended, yet also just begun.

How might one get the job of Keeper of Clocks? Well, little is known of the profession. From what I've gathered, the Keeper of selected by democratic election. And since politics invades everything, there is indeed a Republican and Democratic parties. I found a file from the early 2000's for my hometown that documented a race. Obadiah Hangersby (R) ran against Thomas Kennings (D). Thomas was running for re-election after the "Secondgate" scandal of 1998 placed him in office after his predecessor was impeached. Thomas' administration was in some turmoil after he repealed the   N. L. 21 bill, better known as "The 5 Second Rule." Conservatives were outraged at his decision but since the Number Lords were a majority of Democrats, the repeal process went through. Hangersby's primary platform for the race against Kennings was based around the repealing of that act while most of Kenning's campaign was on Minute Reform. Eventually, Hangersby won and was worried about managing a primarily democratic Number Lord sway but got the 5 second rule reinstated.

The current Keeper of Clocks is unknown but I do know that his party, whatever it is, has a NL majority. Anyway...

So heres to you, my Second Slinger, my Miner of Minutes, my Handler of Hands. I may never know you but may you ever chime on in our hearts.

And remember,
No matter how far you go, there's always 26 (political) letters ahead of you.