The Snapping Yellow Tongue

A chunky yellow box with a silver tongue was resting on the rug beside the coffee table. Bwah! I clamped both paws onto the metal tip and pulled with all my might. Click-click-click-zzzz! A long strip of painted metal slid out, hovering stiffly over the carpet! I crept forward, tapping the tiny black numbers printed on its belly. Then—click! My knee bumped the sliding black latch. SNAP! The steel tongue whipped right back into its plastic shell with a loud crack! The sudden whiplash sent me rolling backward into a pile of warm throw pillows, giggling shrilly at the empty air. Bwaaa-ha-ha!