Examining the Click

I pushed off the sofa cushion and stepped across to the wooden coffee table. A ballpoint pen lay near the edge, its clear plastic casing showing a metal spring inside. I crouched beside it, braced one hand against the polished wood, and pressed down on the rear clicker with the flat of my thumb. It gave a crisp snap, locking into place, and the small nib extended from the opposite tip. Pushing it once more retracted the point with another sharp click. The mechanism was direct and solid. It felt good to test how it worked with my own hands.