Chop Sticks (Socks CCLXXX)

Margreth couldn't tell how long the family was gone, but day and night had come at least seven, maybe ten times. She had lost count.
She had spent the time talking with das klavier, or the oil lamp. Das klaver had a voice that Margreth loved. They talked of how people would sit and make music with das klavier, or the little hands getting slapped for plinking the black and white keys. Touching the lamp could also get ones hands slapped.
The clock talked softly now, 'Katherina played once in a while, but not as good as..."
Margreth stopped talking.

Munich (Socks CCLXXIX)

"I hate to give you the bad news from Europe, Margreth."
"It's your job. Besides, I like to hear the place names, even if the news is bad."
The clock grew silent, then, "Did I tell you of the summer after Margreth went away?"
Margreth told Phil of the time that Wilhiem and Elsebeth talked of going to Munich. The weather was warm the day the trunks were brought into the living room. The next morning, before daybreak Wilhien carried the trunks out. Then Wilhiem took Katherina's hand and limped out the door. Lastly, Elsebeth stopped Margreth's pendulum, and left.

Philco (Socks CCLXXVIII)

Willhiem brought a radio, Philco, into the house, and over the course of several days, he got moved to different places around the living room, trying to get less static. He finally found his spot on a table in front of the window, near Margreth. They became friends, talking even when Phil wasn't working. Phil told stories, played music, and gave reports on events happening outside the house.
Margreth liked Fibber McGee and Molly. Phil was partial to bands, like Tommy Dorsey's. Neither liked the news. The news brought bombing reports from London.
The people always listened to the news.

False Alarm (Socks CCLXXVII)

Soon Katherina moved out, and her and Donald would come to eat, just like Willhiem and Elsebeth had done with Konrad and the first Margreth.
Now Katherina was getting bigger.
Margreth had connected a woman getting bigger with a baby coming into the house, but not this time. Katherina was one day, back to her normal size, she was given to fits of crying, and Donald would comfort her.
Then one day Katherina brought all her objects back to the house.
A few days later Donald, dressed in green, left the house. He didn‘t come back for a long time.

Out Again (Socks CCLXXVI)

Margreth couldn’t tell how long she had been in the suitcase when it opened and she went back up on the wall, her pendulum had stopped.
This was a different house, and all of the people that came to visit spoke in a way that Elsebeth had trouble understanding. Wilhiem could understand most times, but Katherina spoke with them, even translating for the other two. This confused Margreth, because while the words sounded different, she somehow, knew what each person was saying.
One of the visitors was a young man, Donald, who liked to hold Katherina’s hand. Katherina didn’t object.

Der Schneider (Socks CCLXXV)

And Katherina grew until she could pull Margreth’s chains by herself.
One day Margreth was on the wall, busy keeping time when Elsebeth came into the room, sat down, and sewed a yellow star on her coat.
A few days later, a man came to the house after dark. Wilhiem closed the curtains, and everyone went into the kitchen.
The next day Margreth was taken down from the wall and put in a suitcase with some of the pictures, and some clothes.
Soon she could tell the suitcase was being carried. Wilhiem‘s, Elsebeth‘s, and Katherina’s whispers could be heard outside.

New Name (Socks CCLXXIV)

A man with a black bag came to see Margreth more often, until she was taken out of the house, never to return.
A routine developed. Wilhiem left the house each morning, and Elsebeth would dust, clean, and cook. Katherina, at times, would play with the chains, and get her hand slapped.
Daily, Elsebeth would pull the clock’s chains, and softly say, “Margreth, Du fehlst mir.”
The clock missed Margreth too. She decided then that Margreth would become her name. Elsebeth said it all the time, and the clock had really liked the original Margreth.
Her name was now, Margreth.