After 24 Hours

'Tick¦tick¦tick¦' the ancient clock was ticking in the empty hall. It had been there for more than a century. The Thomases were all sleeping only the 'tick¦tick¦tick¦' hovered heavily in the hall.
"Wake up! Toby! You will miss the school bus again!
"Yes father! I am coming down! answered Toby and opened his sleepy eyes reluctantly.
After a while, Toby stomped to the dining room and munched his rubbery bacon and eggs in his pink pyjamas. He glanced at his father who was reading a newspaper article and said "Dad, my alarm clock stopped working, can I buy a Batman clock?
"No! You can use your grandpa's old clock in the hall. Bob frowned and turned over the paper.
"But dad, everyone has a Batman clock. And the old one is not working properly.
"But it still works. Ok now hurry up and go to school! Bob put the newspaper down.
"But¦
'What now?' Bob raised his voice a little, "I said no!
Toby tore his bacon silently. 'Why does dad get irritated so quickly these days? I only asked for a clock, and today is Saturday.' Toby's mother Georgina seemed could read Toby's mind and turned to Bob: "You seem a little lost darling. Today is Saturday. Toby doesn't need to go to school.
"Oh! All right Toby, now go up to your room and finish your homework.' Bob smiled and started drinking his white creamy milk.
"Dad, can I have a rest? I've been doing work all week! Toby groaned.
"All right, after you've finished all the work today and don't forget to take clock on the way up! Bob went back on reading newspaper with cream on his mouth.
'Why do I have to do work everyday? Homework, chores, and then violin practise. When can I go out play like other kids? Why would this go forever? Just because I have a restricted rich dad who doesn't even notice the cream is left on his mouth? My life is pointless. Oh God!'
2
Toby took the ancient clock and went back to his gloomy room. He put the clock on the windowsill. As soon as Toby drew up the curtain, a beam of sun light stroke directly onto the clock. Instantly, Toby couldn't see anything in the brightness. After the shiny light gradually faded away and room was back to normal. Toby had absolutely no idea what just happened. However he could see the luminous silver clock was rewinding rapidly in an anticlockwise direction, and then stopped at eight a.m.
"I told dad this clock doesn't work properly, and he did not believe me. Toby complained and started his homework.
After two hours, Toby dropped his pen and stretched in a relief. Before he left his room, he closed the curtain. Then he noticed his sister Sophia just came out from her bed.
"You had later night yesterday? You never woke up so late before. ask Toby with care.
"What are you talking about Toby? It's only 8 o'clock! yawned Sophia.
Toby laughed "No way! I got up that time and I've been doing two hours works. How could it be possible that now is 8 o'clock? Don't try to find such a ridiculous excuse for yourself.
"But I just checked my clock. What is wrong with you? Sophia asked curiously with no clue about Toby's suspicious stare.
Toby rushed down to the dining room and checked the time. It was 5 past 8 Toby read clearly on the clock.
Toby was in shock 'What happened? How could now is only 8 o'clock? I finished my schoolwork, didn't I? But¦' Toby ran into his room and took out his homework, his face became pure white. 'It is all done! How could this be possible? Did I do it last night? But what about the argument on the breakfast table this morning? Was it in the dream?' Although, Toby was so confused at that moment. However, when he realised he had extra time to play, the key to the mystery became obvious. 'I think God reckons I have done so much work, so he let me have a break! Of course, I won't let my dad know it. Thank you, God!' Toby was automatically in a praying posture in his pink pyjamas.
The Thomases felt curious toward Toby's actions in the morning. Toby wanted to keep this secret from his family. After lunch, Toby strolled to Mathew Grant's house. Mathew was Toby's best friend, they known each other since 5 years old. That was the best Saturday for Toby, one person made it more special.
As the giant orange sun slowly slided down the horizon, Toby left Mathew's house. Toby still confused about the happening in the morning on the way back. The only clue he found was the old clock. He missed out the great scene of sunset. Suddenly he stopped. He saw a new girl at the front yard of his neighbour's house. The girl glanced Toby at same time and slowly approached him.
"Hi! My name is Becky, Becky Richard and I am you new neighbour. The girl said in a friendly voice.
Toby was charmed by Becky. She looked so beautiful! Especially the shiny blonde hair, it became even brighter under the orange sun light. Toby's face became brighter as well. He could only feel his heart beat extremely fast.
"Oh! Hi! I am Toby Thomas! Nice to meet you on this lovely day! Toby replied gently after a while.
"Me too! Well, I still need to help my parents, catch up with you later! Becky gave Toby an attractive wink.
Toby had never has a weird feeling like this in his life before. He felt his entire body was burning. He knew this was called love. He loved Becky from the first sight. 'She is so hot! I love her! What can I do? Should I invite her out? Does she like me?' these were the question in Toby's mind for the rest of that night. The old clock was totally forgotten.
3
On the second morning, Toby wanted to go over to the next door and invite Becky to watch Scary Movie 4. But the Thomases planned to go to Homemart to look for some tools, so Toby told his dad he would be a good boy to stay home and finished up his assignment.
"Sophia, wake up, I need your help. Toby sneaked into Sophia's room and talked quietly.
"Toby! Leave me alone, go away! cried Sophia with her waterish eyes.
"Shh..shh..! I need to go somewhere today, you are the only one can help me! Toby said.
"What is going on up there? Bob suddenly interrupted in his raucous voice: "Sophia, it's time to get up, didn't you say you want to go to Homemart with us today. Wake up Toby as well!
"All right daddy, coming! replied Sophia.
Toby giggled like a wicked witch. He had a perfect plan in his little brain. He knew that his family would take half day to buy something. So he would have a great time with Becky.
"What a lucky day! All right Sophia, you're really gonna help me this time please! Can you take time outside as long as possible for me today? Toby begged insincerely
"Well, it depends¦
"Ok, when dad buys ice cream for you, I mean us, you can have mine! Toby thought this would satisfy his 7 year old sister.
"No Deal! cried Sophia and faced other way.
"Ok, I will give you $50 gift card for your birth day!
"A hundred! Sophia responded quickly
"OK~! Toby sighed
"Deal! I will try my best!
Toby always loved his sister, but at that time, he really wanted to murder her. However, when he imagined this perfect day, he delighted about his smartness. As Toby planned, as soon as his family left home, Toby was on the way to the cinema with Becky. They enjoyed the movie and what they really enjoyed was to staying with each other.
In the late afternoon, many clouds were drifting in the sky, which indicated a big storm was coming. Toby's sister Sophia wouldn't want to miss Scary Movie 4 on the first day sale. Because she was so excited after the movie, she forgot about why Toby was there and called him loudly in front of her parents.
4
Time flowed fast as water running down a spring. After one weeks hard school work, the weekend was coming up. 'Last Sunday was the best day in my life! Just it was too short and stupid Sophia. Where should I go with Becky this weekend? Easter Show may be? Who cares, let Becky choose. I will be happy as long I stay with her.' When Toby thought time was too short, the old clock appeared in his mind 'Yeah, if last Saturday was true, that mean I could stop the time and stay with Becky longer!' On that night, he placed the old clock onto his desk and inspected it in detail.
This was a very old clock full of magic. It was rectangular shaped and made of brown wood, one kind of wood that emitted a special scent and rarely saw in life. The front of the clock was covered in magnificent gold, and rest of it was in shiny silver even the italic Roman numerals. The eccentric part about his ancient clock was that it contained neither battery nor any other energy source. It ran smoothly and quietly on its own.
Toby tried a variety of ways. He pushed every button, changed the time, knocked the clock, but none of them was working. After midnight, Toby was desperate. He put the old clock back onto the windowsill and opened the curtain. The cool breeze blew over his boiling steam face and brought him slowly into a sweet dream.
A new day came as the sun climbed up from the horizon. One light hit the clock and miracle happened. That comfortable brightness woke Toby in surprise. The time stopped! Toby could not control his passion of success. He screamed and laughed, which put himself into trouble from his parents again.
5
Toby knew that when the clock was under the sunlight, the time would stop. So he put the clock under the sunlight whenever he left home with Becky. In the following few months, Toby and Becky toured Sydney Aquarium, Entertainment Centre, Dream World and any place they could share the happiness. Day after day, until the end of year. Gradually Toby realised people of the town tended to be unusually stressed and not lively as before. Even his best friend Mathew looked tired. He wondered what caused this social disorder.
"What is going on with everyone Mat? Everyone seems tired and the whole town looked tired? Toby asked.
"Don't you feel something weird has happened? Time is extremely long for some reasons, so my dad has had to worked really hard. Mathew replied.
For a while, Toby did not talk at all. His face turned red as cherry. He felt ashamed because he knew that his selfishness made all this mess. He had built his own happiness on other people's stresses. However, he really enjoyed his life with Becky. If the time turned back to normal, then he feared he could not stay with Becky anymore. The thought petrified him. 'I know is my fault but What should I do?'
'Tick¦tick¦tick' the 'tick' hovered heavily in the mind¦