The Coiled Stop

Upstairs hallway was quiet. Along the baseboard behind the open door, a heavy steel coil jutted from the trim—a flexible spring doorstop capped with stiff white rubber. Hardware meant to take an impact. I approached low, braced my boots against the oak floorboards, and hooked a claw tip under the bumper. I pulled back hard against the tension. The spirals groaned, bending nearly double before I released my hold. The spring whipped back with a rapid, resonant twang that buzzed right up through my soles. Stood my ground until the vibration settled into silence. Solid gear.