A Snap on the Reel

I marched down the porch steps and followed the sidewalk straight into the open door of the neighborhood hardware shop! Tucked low on a perforated pegboard hung a bright yellow mechanical tape measure. An irresistible contraption! I leaped, wrapped both gloved hands around the brass hook at the tip, and kicked off with both feet. *Zzzzzrrip!* The yellow steel ribbon zipped out, stretching wide under my weight! Then my boots bumped the little black thumb lock. *Snap-click!* It locked tight, dangling me like an acrobat on a steel beam. I gave the lever one more tap, and *whump-zip*—the spring snapped shut, launching me safely onto a crate of soft cotton work gloves. A five-star stunt!