The Clicking Silver Trap

I scrambled atop the smooth counter and met a shiny, curved silver box with two deep, narrow slots on top. Naturally, I grabbed the little black lever on the side and hauled downward with all my weight. *Clack!* It locked at the bottom, and a faint red glow began humming inside! Curious, I leaned right over the edge to sniff, but suddenly—*PING!*—the mechanism sprang straight back up with a metallic rattle, tossing a charred breadcrumb into the air. I tumbled backward onto a dry dish towel, squeaking in pure delight at this crumb-launching contraption!