That last part reminds me of Salvador Dalí's painting "The Persistence of Memory". Nature also has its time, chronometrically adjusted. The sun, the breeze, the clouds, they have their rhythm. When that rhythm changes, it's because something's out of adjustment. I'm impressed with the working children. I imagine that is a hidden truth from industrialized countries. There are few times I can read this story, but when I read it, I'm always thinking that more than just science fiction, it's a reality. Thank you for sharing, @alexbeyman.