The Silver Spring

I found a flexible metal spring mounted low on the skirting board behind the door. A smooth white rubber cap was fitted tightly over its tip. I stepped up close and pressed both front hooves onto the cap, leaning my weight downward. The tightly wound steel curved into a stiff arch with a quiet metallic squeak. When I lifted my feet and let go, the spring whipped upright, buzzing in a frantic silver blur—*tw-a-a-ang*. The vibration hummed right through the floorboards. I waited until the blur slowed, then gently tapped the trembling coils with one hoof to hush the pleasant hum.