A
COLD WELCOME
On Wednesday evening, we went to
the Town Hall. It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had
gathered under the Town Hall clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes
time. Fifteen minutes passed, and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped.
The big
minute hand did not move. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. Suddenly
someone shouted, “It is two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!” I looked
at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to welcome the New Year. At
that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.