You need to answer a given question containing a blank (_). Your answer must be one of the two objects mentioned in the question, for example "trophy" and "suitcase". Your answer must not contain a word that is not present in the question. Please don't use articles (e.g., the, a) before the answer.

There was a journal and a book on the nightstand. I picked up the _ to continue writing from where I left off.
journal

John dusted the furniture in his room with a towel and it got the _ dirty.
towel

James cannot search the records for his inventory within the time given to him. The _ is a short one.

time