Spring and Ruler Calibration

I navigated toward the wooden side table and slipped into the partially opened utility drawer. Inside, a coiled metal ballpoint spring lay tangled beside a clear plastic ruler. The irregular curve interfered with the ruler's millimeter gradations. Bracing my green leg against the drawer wall, I gripped both ends of the loose spring with my orange claws. Applying continuous axial traction, I eased the compressed wire out into an even spiral. I aligned the straightened coil parallel along the edge of the five-centimeter mark. Order established.