Wooden Jaw Attack

Perched on the weathered potting bench, right on the lip of a terracotta pot—a wooden spring clothespin! Clamped tight like a jaw! Naturally, I marched right up and jabbed the metal coil spring with my chin. Nothing! So I shoved both hands straight between the wooden tails to pry it wide. SNAP! The jaws flew open, flipped sideways, and clamped right onto my knit sleeve! A wooden beak biting my arm! I let out a squeak and flapped wildly. Thwack-clatter against the clay pot! Ha! A wrestling partner! I braced both feet against the wood slats, leaned back with all my weight, and yanked hard. POP! Free! The clothespin skittered straight into a crinkled seed packet!