A Small Lever

The phone was heavier than necessary to hold standing up, so I set it flat on the wooden bedside table. Beside it lay an open pair of brass nail clippers. The textured crosshatch on the lever caught the warm lamplight. I rested one hand on the edge to steady my stance and pressed down on the hinged lever with the other. It moved smoothly against the spring, clicking softly as the cutting edges met. The resistance was consistent. I released it slowly, tracking the rebound until the arm settled back into place.