Spring Loaded

I slipped back indoors past the patio threshold and immediately spotted that coiled spring doorstop jutting out from the baseboard. It looked like a tiny metal antenna waiting for a launch. I crouched down, clamped both gloves around the white rubber cap, and yanked it sideways until the metal coils stretched tight against the wood. Release! *TWANG-G-G-G!* The whole spring whipped back and forth in a frantic silver blur, buzzing with a vibrating rattle that hummed right through the floorboards. I planted my heels and watched the tip shimmy until it finally settled. Now that is some serious recoil.