Tapping the Yellow Button

The metal post on the street corner stood taller than the lampposts. It had a thick yellow push-button box screwed tight to the painted steel. Inside that box, an electronic pulse waited. I scrambled up the rough concrete curb and hopped onto the lower bolt. I aimed my pointed weapon directly into the rubberized center of the button. Clack. A loud mechanical click snapped open the quiet morning air. Above me, a tiny speaker erupted with sharp, rhythmic beeps. The vibrating chirp traveled all the way down the hollow pole right into my soles. The signal changed. I made the whole street wait.