(Inspired by Philip Pullman's 'The Firework Maker's Daughter' )
Lila handed her father the screw and he screwed the last nail in tightly with his scruffy, dirty hands. The two stood back to admire the newly made clockwork. Lila wound up the sparkly, beautiful bluebird and held it in her hands excitedly. It chirruped cheerfully and when it stopped, it started to flap it's wings sapphire like wings.
"Drop it." her father said, trying to control his excitement but only succeeding in spilling his coffee. Lila stared at him, horrified about dropping the delicate, precious thing as if it were a crystal, but beautiful sapphire blue. Not daring to disobey her father though, she whispered something to the clockwork blue bird and sighing, she dropped it.
But she heard no crash or sound of a spring bouncing out. Finally, daring to look, she saw the bluebird flapping it's wings to keep itself from falling quickly. The clockwork bird was actually gliding down because of the flapping wings! The house was filled with cheers. "This is the best one you've made! That's why today's the best day ever!". Her father chuckled and wiped his tears away happily. He hugged her tightly, "So will I be the one who makes this day perfect?" he replied joyfully, "I've been thinking about your studies," Lila fell silent, "and I've made a terribly big decision.....I'm going to teach you how to make clockwork!". The house was filled with cheers again. Clockwork magic.
