Commuters are reporting a public analog clock that will not change time until someone looks directly at it, at which point it snaps forward with faintly smug precision. Late arrivals insist the clock is not malfunctioning, it is “being considerate about deadlines” and waiting to be asked.
Transit staff say the minute hand remained perfectly still through three platform announcements, two door chimes, and one suspiciously long sigh. The moment a supervisor made firm eye contact, the hand advanced seven minutes in a single motion, like it had been saving up accuracy.
Tiny evidence has accumulated at the stop, including a kiosk receipt found near the curb that printed 8:03 while the clock maintained a confident 7:56. Witnesses report the clock corrected itself immediately after a passerby frowned, suggesting it responds specifically to judgment.
The shelter glass also showed fresh condensation in the shape of a neat semicircle under the clock, as if it had been thinking hard. A timetable board nearby appeared unchanged, but several commuters noted their watches seemed to “give up arguing” the longer they stood within viewing distance.
Regulars have adapted by glancing away on purpose to keep the clock from making any sudden decisions. Some now stare at the pavement until they hear the subtle tick of the clock resuming its performance, then look up only when emotionally prepared for the truth.
“This is a classic case of observational punctuality; the clock does not want to interrupt your life with time unless you insist on knowing it,” said Lenora Brix, Senior Horology Liaison at the Municipal Chronometry Office. Officials recommend commuters avoid dramatic staring contests, which reportedly causes the clock to jump ahead “out of spite, but politely.”
Leave a comment