The Owl's Secret Clock

The Owl's Secret Clock - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

In the heart of the old oak forest, where moonbeams tiptoed through the leaves, lived Olive the owl. She had soft tawnybrown feathers, a heart-shaped face, and large round amber eyes that saw everything. Around her neck hung a tiny brass clock on a leather cord, and she wore a deep-blue knitted scarf. Every night, Olive watched over the forest and kept a special secret. 1

The secret was the clock. It was not an ordinary clock; it could pause dreams. When someone was caught in a bad dream, Olive could stop time for a moment and help them find a way out. Olive used it wisely and kindly, for time is a gift, and dreams should be gentle. She listened to the forest's whispers and waited for anyone who needed help. 2

One quiet night, Olive heard a tiny, scared squeak coming from a hollow log. She flew down and found Pip, a little dormouse with golden-brown fur and huge dark worried eyes. Pip wore a pale-green nightcap with a white pom-pom and clutched a soft cream blanket. "I can't sleep," Pip whispered. "Every time I close my eyes, the same scary dream comes back." 3

Olive perched beside Pip and wrapped her blue scarf around the tiny dormouse. "Tell me about your dream," she said gently. Pip shivered. "I'm running through dark tunnels, and I can't find my way home. It happens again and again, and I wake up scared." Olive nodded. "I can help you," she said. "My clock can pause dreams. But you must be brave and trust me." 4

Pip's huge dark eyes grew even wider. "Pause dreams? How?" Olive showed her the small brass clock. "When you are in the dream, I will stop time. You must look for a light or a door. Something that doesn't belong. Then you can escape." Pip clutched her cream blanket. "I'll try," she squeaked. "But what if I can't find it?" Olive smiled. "You will. I'll be right here." 5

That night, Pip curled up in her nest of leaves and closed her eyes. Soon she was dreaming. She was in the dark tunnel again, running and running. The walls seemed to close in. She could hear her own heartbeat. Then, just as she felt she couldn't go on, everything froze. The tunnel stopped moving. Time stood still. 6

Pip remembered Olive's words. She looked around carefully. In the frozen darkness, she saw a tiny glow. It was a little door, no bigger than a mouse hole, with a warm light spilling through. "That's it!" she thought. "That's the way out!" She ran toward it, her tiny pink paws pattering on the cold stone. She pushed the door open and stepped into the light. 7

Inside the door, there was a soft, grassy meadow. The sun was shining, and flowers nodded in the breeze. Pip felt safe. She looked back, and there was Olive, waiting for her. "You did it!" Olive cheered. "You found the way out." Pip smiled for the first time in many nights. "I couldn't have done it without your clock," she said. "And your friendship." 8

Olive nodded. "The clock helps, but the courage was yours. Time is a gift, and we used it wisely." Pip looked at the little brass clock. "Will the dream come back?" she asked. Olive shook her head. "Not the same one. You've broken the loop. But if another scary dream comes, you can always find me. And I'll pause time for you again." 9

Pip felt a warm glow inside. She had been so scared, but now she knew she could be brave. She hugged Olive's soft feathers. "Thank you," she whispered. "You're a true friend." Olive wrapped her blue scarf around Pip once more. "And you are a brave little dormouse," she said. "Now let's get you back to your nest for a peaceful sleep." 10

Back in the hollow log, Pip snuggled under her cream blanket. Her green nightcap was pulled down over her ears. Olive sat nearby, watching over her. "Close your eyes," Olive said softly. "Dream of the meadow and the warm sun." Pip yawned. "Will you stay?" she asked. "I'll stay until you're asleep," Olive promised. 11

Pip closed her eyes, and this time, no scary tunnel came. She dreamed of floating on a soft cloud, and the little door with the warm light. She smiled in her sleep. Olive watched her friend rest, and she felt happy. The secret clock had done its work again. It had helped someone find peace. 12

From that night on, Pip slept soundly. She knew that if a bad dream ever came, Olive would be there with the clock. And Olive knew that time should be used wisely and kindly, to help friends and to bring comfort. The clock was not for keeping time, but for giving it. And that made all the difference. 13

Olive kept the secret clock safe, always ready for anyone who needed help. She wore it on its leather cord, close to her heart. Sometimes, other animals in the forest would come to her with bad dreams. And Olive would pause time and help them find their way out, just like she had done for Pip. 14

Pip grew braver every day. She no longer feared the dark tunnels of her dreams. She knew that friendship and courage could light up even the darkest places. And she knew that time was a gift, to be used wisely and kindly. She often visited Olive, and they would sit together under the stars, sharing stories and dreams.