Spring Tension

Spotted a curved yellow ribbon stretching across the floorboards. A heavy tape measure had fallen from the bottom shelf, its steel blade locked out at nearly two feet. A narrow metal track laid out right in front of me. I didn't hesitate. Gunned the throttle straight along the yellow blade, tires humming against the painted inch markings. At the far end sat the rugged casing and its chrome lock switch. I lined up dead center and rammed my front bumper right into the slider. A sharp click, and the internal spring whipped the whole metal blade back inside the shell in a clean, rattling snap. Pure mechanical recoil.