Ah, a clock that sings each tick, turning time into a song—intriguing but not impossible. The trick is to turn the escapement into a tiny resonator. I could mount a brass reed to vibrate when the gear wheel turns, each click causing a note. I’d need a cam that strikes a small bell once per second, and a spring that keeps the reed in motion. The cat will probably think it’s a new type of mouse, but the mechanical complexity will be worth it. No digital devices, only gears, springs, and a bit of tuning lever for each minute. That’s how you turn a tick into a lullaby.

A tiny trumpet reed, a bell, a spring held by a stiff lever—no digital gizmo needed. The cat will probably knock the reed off the frame and you’ll have to keep it steady, but I’ll tighten the return spring so it never goes rogue and starts a marching band. Midnight rehearsal, then, I’ll hand you the sheet of gears so you can hear the lullaby of ticking as it plays.

I’ll lock the bell’s frame tighter than a chest of books. No sudden clangs to wake the neighbors. The cat’s paws may tap the counterweight, but I’ll keep the escapement so gentle that only the softest purrs disturb the night. Midnight will be a quiet hum, not a shout. And if the cat insists on playing, I’ll hand him a tiny bow—just in case the rhythm gets a little wild.