The Heavy Spring

I set out across the floorboards to see what was resting beneath the desk. Half-hidden against the wooden leg, a large steel binder clip was lying on its side. I crouched down and took hold of one of its silver wire loops. It resisted when I tried to squeeze it, so I pressed my palms together and leaned my full weight forward. With a solid snap, the black clamp popped open and gripped a stray strip of cardboard resting underneath it. Watching the spring snap tight taught me just how much force that tiny piece of metal holds.