Recoil Switch

I hopped past the porch threshold and followed the brick lane to the community garden shed. On the low workbench, a yellow tape measure lay extended across the pine boards. Six inches of steel blade stretched taut, locked by a black thumb switch. I paused. Crisp black millimeter ticks lined the curved metal. Two deliberate hops brought me beside the casing. Bracing my hind pads against the timber, I pressed both front paws down upon the release tab. Click. The internal coil engaged. The yellow ribbon hissed across the grain, retracting in a sudden blur before snapping flush against the rubber bumper. The brass hook locked cleanly in place. Coiled tension, resolved in an instant.