The Click Pen

A metal ballpoint pen rested on the windowsill. It rolled slightly when the breeze shifted the curtain. I waited. Five minutes passed. No movement. I climbed onto the edge of a thick ceramic coaster to reach its tail. I braced both my soft feet against the cold ledge, reached up with both hands, and pressed down hard on the metal cap. Snick. The sharp tip snapped out from the front end. It surprised me, but I didn't flinch. I let go, watched it sit upright against the coaster, and waited to see if it would dare click back on its own.