The Clockwork Bird
A mechanical toy must decide whether to run out of winding power to comfort a crying child.
Magi was a clockwork nightingale made of brass and ruby gears. He belonged to a toy maker who wound him up only once a year to test his gears. Magi loved his gears; they kept time perfectly, and he knew that as long as he didn't sing too much, his springs would last for a hundred years. One night, a little girl fell ill in the room next to the workshop. She cried out in the dark, unable to sleep from her fever. Magi felt his inner springs tighten. He knew that if he chirped his mechanical song, he would use up his precious winding power, causing his internal gears to wear down much faster. Yet, the room was so dark, and the girl was so afraid. Magi pushed his tiny brass wings together, releasing his internal lock. He began to sing a sweet, metallic lullaby. He sang all through the night, watching the girl's breathing slow into a peaceful sleep. When the sun rose, Magi's gears slowed to a complete stop, his mainspring spent. He was frozen in place, but the room was filled with morning light and peace.
Questions to Think About: 1. Did Magi make the right choice by spending his time to comfort someone else? 2. If time is limited, is it better to stretch it out in quiet safety or spend it making a difference? 3. How do you feel when someone spends their time just to make you feel better?