A Measure of Steel

I crossed the second tier of the rack toward the edge of an old canvas sneaker. Resting wedged between two wooden slats was a small steel spring bar, slipped loose from a watch band. Both spring-loaded pins at its ends were jammed with fine grit. I braced my boots against the wood grain, drew the small blaster, and used its nozzle to depress the tiny telescopic pin repeatedly. It resisted, then broke free with a crisp metallic snap, springing in and out with balanced tension. I slid the bar horizontally across the gap between two timber slats, bridging the open space. The path forward holds firm underfoot.