Everywhere she looked, the clock was ticking.

Whether it was Morgan's teacher or Robert's judge, they both made use of every minute given to them, even recess (both kinds). Time didn't march in a straight line like that in Andalasia - the sun & moon rose and set, then it was time for another adventure. Of course, there wasn't so much as a sundial around to keep track of it all. Watching the opening drive, it dawned on Giselle that you could stretch out the minutes, as well as squeeze them tight.

After the kickoff, the Giants trudged down the field into Patriots territory. The hard-fought passes and rushes were short, but the yards added up.

"Are they doing that on purpose?", Giselle asked Robert. "I've seen Eli throw passes a lot farther than that."

"There's no hurry. They want to keep the ball out of Brady's hands."

"Ah, they're eating on the clock."

New York scored a field goal after eating on the clock for almost 10 minutes. New England picked up the pace with a 40+ yard return. The Patriots were within field goal range at the end of the quarter when a Giants penalty brought them all the way to the 1-yard line. A touchdown run at the start of the 2nd quarter made it 7-3 New England.

Then, slow moving traffic turned into gridlock. The Giants kept sacking Brady, but they couldn't put on any long drives themselves. With all the tv commercials thrown in, it made for a very stop-and-go game.

"So," asked Sharon during one timeout, "do you understand much about football, Giselle?"

"Well, I know you get three or four chances to move the ball ten yards. I couldn't name all the positions if you tossed me in a dungeon. That Tom Brady is an amazing story, though. Nobody thought he had greatness in him, until he proved them wrong."

"Yeah", said Sharon, rolling her eyes, "and now he lives happily ever after with his supermodel girlfriend in New York."

"So I hear. I guess I became a Giants fan the day I heard something on the radio about Giants versus Bears. I pictured a terrible battle with trees uprooted and fur flying everywhere. Then I saw the highlights on television, and it was just plain old men."

Sharon and Paul burst out laughing, though Sharon couldn't help but notice something nervous about Robert's smile.

"I was relieved," summed up Giselle, "but a little disappointed, too."

The fans stood up and stretched as the clock hit 0:00, the score still Patriots 7, Giants 3. Robert watched the road crew set up the stage for the halftime show, and recalled Sharon mentioning Paul working with 'techs'.

"So, what do you do Paul?"

"I'm a cableman for the phone company. A lot of crawling around underground drying out wet cables after it rains."

"Ah, seen any alligators in the sewers?"

"No, although there was this one strange thing that I heard happen right in New Y-"

"Oh, honey please," interrupted Sharon. "Stop adding fuel to that fire."

"What? I'm just saying I heard it from..."

"Someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone else. Yeah, that would stand up in court."

"Can I finish my story?", asked Paul with growing irritation.

Sharon shrugged.

"Anyway, the story goes that three cable techs in Times Square last year opened up a manhole cover to investigate something. Then, out pops a guy dressed like the Jack of Hearts and packing a sword! Says he'll run them through unless they tell him where his beloved what's-her-name is. They point him anywhere but there, and he goes."

Paul was not a great storyteller, but this one always killed wherever he told it. Now? Not a chuckle. They both had the same nervous smile Robert displayed earlier. Did they think?...

"Or so I've been told," he added hastily.

It seemed as good as time as any to step out. As Paul & Sharon excused themselves, Patrick Coyne asked Giselle if she was looking forward to the Tom Petty concert.

"Oh yes, it's my first."