A Stamped Rune

A leisurely amble down the brick sidewalk brought me to a low wooden bench resting outside the corner antique shop. Perched on the pine planks sat a heavy sea-green manual typewriter with round, nickel-rimmed keys. Standing on my tiptoes, I pressed both forepaws down onto the letter 'M' with all my weight. The stiff spring yielded with a sharp click, launching a slender steel arm up to snap the dry black ribbon against the platen. A tiny, crisp inked letter stamped onto the curled paper scrap like a freshly struck rune. I rested my chin against the carriage lever, thoroughly pleased with the machine's reply.