A Curious Spring

I pushed past the grey fabric cliffs and stumbled onto a vast, polished wooden plateau. Right there in the gloom sat a silver mechanical ballpoint pen, gleaming like an unattended trap! Naturally, I gave its metal clicker an extravagant shove with both hands. Click-clack! The sudden loud snap sent a sharp shudder straight through my plastic palms, while the brass spring inside sang out with delightful theatrical precision. A magnificent little noisemaker, primed and waiting for its grand debut.