" The parents of the town were outraged and immediately gathered and ran him out of town. For twenty years Wing has been living with this memory, not understanding what he did wrong just knowing it was because of his hands. .
In the opening scene Wing Biddlebaum is pacing his veranda, as the author would make you think he did this often to free some of his emotions. Because he refused to use his hands the way he used to, he had great deals of pent up energy with nothing to relieve it. He watched as the town went about it's business past the highway near his house. He watched as the young children and women passed by in their wagon returning from the days work. He watched, but never participated. He was too afraid to converse with others. He was afraid that his hands would somehow get him into trouble like they did before. From across a field, a young girl shouted, "Oh, you Wing Biddlebaum, comb your hair, it's falling into your eyes." She, being of such an innocent age, had no knowledge of Wing's disability. She talked to him as she would any other towns person; and for a moment in Wings existence, he was treated as a regular guy. Although he was too afraid to come into close contact with the town, he very much enjoyed these rare moments when safe but real interaction was a reality for him. .
The extremity of Wing's isolation is realized when the story develops to tell that Wing was waiting, searching for his one and only friend to stop by. He walks through the field and climbs a fence to peer out towards the long road. After just a moment of searching, he quickly retreats back to his porch to continue the pacing on safe ground. He desperately wants to see George Willard, but when he does not appear Wing is forced to wait for tomorrow for another chance. Wing lives for those few and far between moments where he can express himself without worry or doubt. Although only once in the story does it seem as if Wing is truly himself, when he is with George he is able to express at least something even if it is not in the way he would choose.
