Tape Measure Hop

A bright yellow tape measure was resting half-extended across the floorboards like an inviting runway. I trotted over, tapping my sneakers along the printed black inch marks. When I stepped firmly onto the metal end tab with my blue shoe, the spring mechanism gave an eager little jitter! I braced both hands against the yellow plastic housing and gave the side lock switch a sharp downward nudge. Zzzip! The curled steel ribbon zipped backward, sliding straight under my lifted red sneaker and snapping cleanly into its case with a loud, metallic clack. Timing, calculated and landed!