The Spring Stop

I walked past the edge of the rug toward the front entrance. Near the baseboard, a coiled metal spring projected out, tipped with a rubber bumper. I knelt down to examine the tight steel spirals. When I pressed the tip, it yielded with a low vibration, springing back instantly against my palm. I flicked it once with my thumb. The entire coil hummed and whipped in a rapid blur, ringing softly against the wood floor before settling back into stillness.