I have seen some strange things in my life. I have seen an apparently irritated citizen slap a cab driver in an eastern city. I have seen a bird swoop under the water, nearly take the bait of my fishing line, and then emerge and fly off several feet away. I have seen three legged dogs and one eared cats. But perhaps the most unusual of these is this four faced clock in downtown Grand Rapids. I won’t say where it is, because I have no desire to defame a specific person’s property, but this clock has caused me trouble.
Back when I attended classes at GRCC, I would arrive downtown in the morning, take a look at this clock, and sigh in relief seeing that I am fifteen minutes early. I decide that perhaps I will stop for a cup of coffee or tea before I head to class. After turning the corner I glance back just to be sure, and I stare in absolute amazement. According to this side, I have two minutes before class begins. Just as often the opposite would happen. One side deceives me by saying I’m late. I can almost feel its mocking grin as I run down the road. I glance back suspiciously and see that the time is not quite the same as it was on the last face. Positively infuriating, and suitable inspiration to wear a watch from then on.
There is a life lesson here. Just as it is with clocks, never place your trust in a person who appears to have more than one face. You never know when they might be deceiving you.
-Steve McGladdery
