Locking the Yellow Bridge

I braced both boots against the black rubber casing of a pocket tape measure resting on the coffee table. Hooking my curved hand right under its brass lip, I leaned back with my whole torso and pulled. The yellow steel hissed out of the slot, coiling tight against internal spring tension. Look at that—two full inches of curved metal ribbon extending straight into the air! Before the coil could snap it back inside, I slammed my free hand down onto the sliding thumb lock. Clack! It froze instantly in place. The stiff metal strip now forms a sturdy arched bridge connecting the tape case directly to a cork coaster. I marched right over it without a single wobble.