Seth McCoy hated it, hated it all the time, well until it came to getting work and recognition. Seth Thomas was a famous clock-maker and Seth McCoy was a novice, a real tyro at the trade for he had only been doing it for twenty years. And Mister Thomas, don’t roll over in your grave, but this Seth does not use the old and conventional clock movements, he instead uses the solid state ones. Seth lived out in Banger Gulch Montana, a wide spot in the rode about 30 miles from Butte. Lived on a small spread. A small house but a large shed-workshop. He was basically a woodworker who dabbled in electronics, electronics of all genres. “Mister McCoy, I wish to commission you to make a special clock for me. It is to be a Christmas present and expediency is of the utmost. Since you have no phone, I have sent you a cell phone and will call you at nine AM Thursday morning. Also enclosed is a check for five thousand as a retainer. Thank You, Smedley Fecundale.” Seth scratched his head, looked at the phone and laughed, wondering how much it had cost Smedley Fecundale to have this letter delivered. Seth had no telephone, not REA electricity, he had his own generators and a two way radio if it was a dire emergency. Ring, ring, “Howdy, Seth here.” It was Smedley. Seth was wondering how a cell phone could pick up anything out here, but Smedley told him, this is a satellite phone. “Yes sir, At noon you have your chopper land just East of the barn, I will be waiting. By six he was sitting in an office in Phoenix talking with this man. “Short and sweet Mister McCoy, my mother always loved the old Grandfather clock they had when she was a girl. I have two pictures and want you to make me one, as close as possible that will do what I have listed. It will be powered by a gel-cell battery and will have a small digital display showing WWV time if it requires to be reset. Money is not the object. Can and will you take this job for me?” Seth looked at the picture, and read the requirements, “When you need it?” “It must be in mother’s home by 10 PM, Christmas eve, and I will fly you and the clock from your place to install it and to set it up.” Smedley said. “Name your price.” “This takes a special wood, special glue and then the movements will have to be special ordered. You are talking big bucks.” “A hundred thousand?” The man asked. Seth frowned, “To make the schedule you are asking, I would need a jet plane to take me to get the required woods and have to run to town ten or twelve times after I got them. I could not work because of chasing supplies.” “Could you not just purchase what you want and need then make it?” the business man looked at Seth. “Sir I am a craftsman, an artisan, I am not the brain trust, I only know human nature.” “OK, you may have my jet for five days and I will assign Igor to you as an assistant and chopper pilot. I have a new chopper and it needs to be checked out. You have a jet for five days, an assistant and a helicopter. Now will you do it?” Seth stood up, extended his hand, “I would be a damned fool if I did not. Yes sir. I need two hours to study these plans, a cell phone and I will be ready to fly within three hours.” And so began the odyssey. Three days later the jet landed in Butte, dropped off Seth and Igor. Igor was a Physicist, PhD in classical physics, but a nice guy. The chopper arrived by cargo plane as they were landing. “Let the work begin,” Seth said as he and Igor drove into town to buy supplies and then out to his place. First they stopped off on skid row, found Rufus Overbay and Horatio Frondsetter. They were loaded into the vehicle and then they went to Seth’s place. That night they had a big barbecue where he introduced Igor to his wife, Rufus and Horatio and Jose his hired man. They ate three pound porterhouse steaks and drank Jack Daniels and good Canadian Beer. The next morning at five they were rousted out, fed a breakfast and told, “We are going to build six grandfather clocks, so lets get with it. Each morning at five the were roused out and they worked until late. On Saturday night they had a big barbeque and did the same as the first night. On the 2oth of December the clocks were finished. Seth started to test them and for 48 hours there was someone there with a WWV comparator checking on the clock’s performance. At five PM on the 22nd they crated one clock and the four, Seth’s wife stayed home, departed to deliver the clock. “Dang for a rich man, his mother surely does live in a small house, Seth thought as Igor, looked at him and grinned. Seth noticed, “Ok Igor what is the scoop? “Momma said she was born, raised there and raised her family there and she would die there. Just wait and see what you think.” Seth felt he had been slapped. They drove up to the house, Igor jumped out, ran to the front door and seemed busy for thirty seconds or so. Then he came back, “OK, lets do it if you re ready Seth.” Carefully they unloaded the clock which had been wrapped in three layers of bubble wrap, then placed in a styrofoambox. “Easy, easy and for gosh sakes watch the furniture,” Seth said. All at once Igor spoke. “You must take your shoes off at the front door, and slip on those hospital shoes.” “Well I aiin’t never, and by golly I . . . . . . . . .: “You will and shut up, grouse about it tomorrow,” Seth said as they moved the clock to the hall, then to the steps going upstairs. Quickly they unwrapped it and it took fifteen minutes to get it leveled, for shims of the base wood had to be cut and fitted so the base was flat along the floor. It took nearly a half hour until it was as they wanted it. Quickly they set about checking the timing and then Seth started to check all of the functions. Phase of the moon, week of he month and what seemed like a thousand other little things. The pendulum was spot on and they checked and rechecked the chimes to insure they were correct. One tune for quarter hour, another for the half hour and another for the three quarter hour. A separate Braham’s lullaby played on the hour, sixteen different ones. The clock did not chime between 10:01 and 05:59, it would bother momma. When all was done, the box and wrapping was removed, the tools and test equipment taken back to the van and the clock cleaned and polished. All was perfect all went well, but as they all left and just as Igor started to pull the door closed, the clock chimed, thirteen? ~ © TOM (tomWYO@aol.com) ~ November 20, 2003 If you use my graphics, please add my button to your page along with a link back. http://www.geocities/wcseptember2003/ If you enjoyed this page, check these out: Red Velvet Sledding A Christmas Carol Love Brings Feelings When Santa Was A Boy Snowballing And.......for many others, click the link for HOME. Home: Writers' Corner Index This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page Free search engine submission and placement services!