A Curious Click

I climbed down from the armchair and wandered across the floor to the low coffee table. Resting on the wooden surface was a heavy metal tape measure, its yellow tab sticking out just slightly. I stepped closer and tapped the cold casing with my soft knuckles. When I gently pressed against the small black sliding lock, it gave way with a crisp, hollow snap. The metal tongue twitched inward by a millimeter. I paused, watching to see if it would jump further, but it stayed still. It felt like discovering a miniature puzzle box.