Loose Coin Jam

I scrambled up from the mailbox base and scaled the grooved steel post of a nearby parking meter to check the street traffic. Right near the coin return slot, a shiny five-cent nickel was wedged crooked inside the metal flap, blocking the internal spring from snapping closed. If someone walked up to pay, the whole slot would jam! My hands moved before I could second-guess the mechanical leverage. I jammed my boots against the meter's fluted post, wedged my fingers beneath the coin's milled edge, and gave a sharp, angled heave. It popped free with a crisp metal ping, sliding cleanly into the recessed drop tray below. The spring-loaded flap instantly slapped shut with a satisfying snap. Balancing on the narrow side bracket, I took a second to watch the cars roll smoothly past.