Tick Tock

"Beep! Beep! Beep!" Vladimir tiredly glanced down at his watch. “It couldn't be 23:01 already.” He thought, “That meant only fifty-nine more minutes were left until the New Year. Only fifty-nine more minutes to find something to do. Or rather, that all important New Years Job - someone to kiss on the stroke of midnight. That all important 24:00. The only problem was the blizzard. Silly Canadian weather. Why did he ever move to this country? It wasn’t as if there were even that good of jobs for tailors. At least, not like there was back in the old country. These new-fangled people with their love of speed and time-keeping. But, this year would be different. If he could kiss the right woman right at 24:00:00 than he could go home. Back to his little room behind the cathedral. Back to a world without the constant reminder of the flow of time.” Vladimir glanced down at his watch once more. . . 23:59. He quickly glanced up, “She should be here,” he thought. “Yes, there was a woman in a flowing orange dress. Now was his time.” With these thoughts Vladimir crossed the room, bent down, and kissed the old woman on her cheek. “Smack!” The slap reverberated around the room and as Vladimir’s mind cleared he looked up into the face of Brother Jerome. An angry Brother Jerome. “Where are our new cassocks Vladimir?” he demanded. “You said they would be ready by the new moon!” Vladimir immediately hugged the shocked Brother Jerome and went to retrieve the cassocks. He was home. No more clocks.