Alan and his Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky

Market Elementary was buzzing with
excitement. Teachers had been busy planning Justice Page’s visit for weeks. “What an honor to have a visit from his Honor,” they gushed.
“How special,” they fawned as they tidied
up their rooms. “Make sure you mind your manners” and “No interrupting” they reminded the students.
Parents were invited, and they were just as excited as the students and teachers. “I grew up watching him on TV,” they told their children as they showed them old football cards and jerseys. “He’s in the Hall of Fame!” they beamed. “Be polite” and “Make sure you raise your hand” they
reminded their children one last time.
When Alan arrived, he was whisked into the classroom. The students quietly giggled as they watched him lower his towering body onto one of their teeny-tiny chairs.
The gently bass of Alan’s voice carried through the classroom as he began to read. The students leaned forward as they listened to this big man on the tiny chair. All eyes in the classroom were on Alan. All, that is, except for one pair of little boy eyes.
Booker spotted the perfectly pointy
impossibly perpendicular pinky
the moment Alan walked into the classroom and waved. The teachers, parents, and other students also noticed and were curious, but Booker was transfixed.
He knew it would be impolite to ask about it. He knew it was impolite to stare. He knew that he was supposed to sit quietly and listen to
Justice Page read. He knew he should just ignore that perfectly pointy impossibly perpendicular pinky, but his eyes followed the pinky as though it were a magic wand coming out of the side of the book.