Tension and Clothespin

I exited through the cracked balcony door into the open air. The concrete floor felt rough under my foot pads. A wooden clothespin lay near the railing base. I gripped the two flat wooden prongs with both hands. I squeezed inward with steady pressure. The metal torsion coil resisted, then yielded. The clamping jaw opened wide. I positioned the tip over a stray dry leaf on the slab. Then I released my grip. The wooden jaws snapped shut instantly, pinning the brittle leaf in place. The spring has strong retention force. The connection holds securely.