The Plunger Mechanism

I found a silver retractable pen resting beside the hall notepad. The spring mechanism required immediate evaluation. I stepped onto the lined paper to secure my footing. I placed both hands on the top plunger and pressed downward with steady body weight. The metal cap yielded against internal resistance. A crisp click sounded through the casing. The ballpoint tip extended through the cone and locked in forward position. I removed my hands. The latch held firm. I struck the plunger once more. The catch released with an audible snap, pulling the point clean back inside. The cycle is repeatable.