Clicking into Overdrive

I slipped back inside from the chilly porch and clambered up onto the oak study desk, zeroing in on a shiny chrome tally counter resting beside an open notebook. That curved metal thumb-lever was practically begging for an impact test! I scrambled onto the cylindrical steel casing, balanced on the rim, and drove both sneakers down onto the spring-loaded trigger. *CLICK-SNIK!* The internal ratchet engaged with a snappy pop, spinning the readout drum cleanly from zero to a bright white '1' while the recoil vibrated straight through my soles. First point on the board!