It was class picture day. The children were all dressed up in their best clothes.
Stephen came to school wearing a three-piece suit: gray trousers, a gray vest, and a gray jacket. Underneath his vest was a white shirt and a red-and-gold-striped tie. On his feet were hard, black, shiny shoes.
He was very handsome.
The other kids laughed when they saw him.
“You’ve worn lots of silly costumes,” said Bebe, “but this is the silliest one yet!”
Bebe was wearing yellow shorts, a red shirt with white polka dots, and a floppy green hat.
Mrs. Jewls rang her cowbell. “Settle down!” she said.
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The children settled in their seats. Stephen remained standing.
“Look at Stephen,” said Maurecia. “His jacket is the same color as his pants.”
“They’re supposed to be the same color,” Stephen tried to explain. “It’s a suit. And they’re not called pants, they’re called trousers.”
“Ooooooh,” said Maurecia. “Can you go swimming in your suit?”
“No,” said Stephen.
“I can go swimming in my suit,” said Maurecia.
Maurecia had on a black-and-white-striped bikini.
“I’m sure Stephen’s suit is good for other things,” said Mrs. Jewls.
“It is,” said Stephen.
“Like what?” asked Todd.
“Standing around and looking important,” said Stephen.
“What about sitting?” asked Todd.
“No, I’m not supposed to sit,” said Stephen. “The suit might get wrinkled. I’m just supposed to stand around and look important.”
“Oh,” said Todd.
Todd was wearing white shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and sunglasses.
Deedee crawled across the floor to Stephen so she could get a better look at his shoes. “They’re so shiny!” she said. “I can see myself.” She knocked on one of his shoes with her fist. “They’re hard, too!”
“Deedee, get up,” said Mrs. Jewls.
Deedee stood up. She had on a black T-shirt that came down to her knees. In the middle of the shirt was a red heart. Above the heart in sparkling silver and gold letters it said LOVE GODDESS.
“I bet they’re good for kickball, huh, Stephen?” she asked. “Since they’re so hard.”
“No,” said Stephen. “I can’t run in them. And they hurt my feet.”
“Then why do you wear them?” asked Deedee.