This is just like her facial expression when we first met, I fondly recalled.
Fine and I first met when we were small children. I’d gotten into a fight with some kids back in town and was beaten and bruised.
“Are you okay?”
I was watching the sun set in the park, biting my lip in frustration after the fight, when Fine approached me. She wiped my bleeding nose and put a bandage on one of my scrapes.
“You’re bleeding… Those meanies…”
As she patched me up, she was crying as though it were her with the scrapes and bruises.
“Why are you crying?”
“’Cause it looks like it hurts…”
There I was, holding back my tears, but Fine cried for me instead, and I remember liking her almost immediately for it.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“Fine…”
“You don’t have to cry, Fine… I want you to smile.”
I wiped her tears away, which surprised her at first, but she then exclaimed, “Okay!”
With tears still welling in her eyes, she’d given me a big smile. I’d gone home to tell my teacher about what happened, and she’d softened her usual stern expression and spoke in a gentler tone.
“Meg, you need to remember this day. People always forget the good things and instead let the bad things scar them. You’re the opposite, though. You always forget the bad things and hold on to what brought you happiness. Never let yourself forget about the child who helped you today.”
“I won’t, Teacher.”
I think Fine stopping and using her new handkerchief to help me with my wounds kept me from hating humanity. Incidentally, I got back at the kids who bullied me by turning their bathwater into poo while they were still in it. I know it was a bit much, so we’ll save that story for another day.
Fine was still nice, just like she’d been when we were children. I was sure the only reason she made an effort to hold her tears back like this was because she hadn’t forgotten what I told her on the day we met.
“Don’t look so sad, Fine. You’re cutest when you’re smiling. And it’s not like I’m dead yet, nor do I even plan on dying.”
“Meg…”
While tears weren’t running down her cheeks, she was sniffling audibly. It was a shame to see such a beautiful girl a crying mess. I found a cloth and used it to gently wipe Fine’s nose.
“I want to be there when you get into and graduate from college. And for your wedding, and to see your grandchildren. I’m gonna punch your fiancé at least once when I meet him, though.”
“What are you, my mum?”
The two of us shared a chuckle.
“Was that a handkerchief you wiped my tears with, by the way?”
“No, it was an old rag.”
“…”
Within less than thirty minutes, old man Geppetto reappeared from the back of the shop.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies.”
“How’s it look?”
“I’m sorry, but it’s simply this watch’s time.”
The old man shook his head.
“I thought maybe I could switch some parts out, but the hands and glass are in very bad shape and too old to find replacements. Seeing how long this watch has been used for, I doubt it’s possible to repair it.”
“Whoa, slow down, Doc. You’re making the watch sound like a piece of junk here. You wouldn’t want to hurt its feelings, wouldja?”
“I’m just telling it like it is…”
“You gotta be careful about the words you use. Girls are delicate creatures. Especially the pretty ones. Like me.”
“Heh, is that right?”
“What’re ya laughin’ for?”
The clockmaker and I were enjoying our banter, when we both heard Fine say, “I thought that would be the case…”
She was looking down at the ground like a puppy that had just gotten in trouble, and we both fell silent.
“This watch belonged to my grandfather. It’s a shame I won’t be able to use it anymore.”
Hearing Fine say this reminded me that the watch had been given to her by her beloved grandfather before he passed away.
He was a warm and gentle man, but he passed away when we were still children. My teacher and I went to his funeral. I could still remember watching Fine cling to his body in the coffin, wailing at the top of her lungs. It wasn’t often you saw someone crying so hard for someone else like that.
“I can tell this watch is very important to you.”
Geppetto said this quietly as he looked at the watch in his hand.
“There are lots of spots that have been repaired, and the wristband has been replaced. This watch should’ve stopped a long time ago, but it was still ticking until now. I’m sure your watch had an incredible life and that it was glad it ended up with you.”
“Thank you…”
“It’s strange, but after so many years of handling clocks, I’ve come across a handful of watches that kept on ticking far longer than they probably should have. I’ve always felt this was the watch’s way of answering the people who care so much for it. I’m sure your watch felt the same about you.”
“The watches respond to people’s kindness…”
I’d never grasped the idea of getting attached to an object. This was because I didn’t have anything that had memories attached to it. Watching Fine, though, I felt like I understood what it meant to have an item or trinket that was important to a person. I’m sure her watch was like a good luck charm for her. It was what remained of her dear late grandfather. I was sure she remembered him when she had it on her, whenever she felt happy or sad. It must’ve been like he was there with her.