There once was an old man with nine fingers. The children would sometimes gesture to his hand with only four and giggle uncomfortably. One day a child approached as before, a group of his friends standing a safe distance away.

In a fluid motion, the man secured the little one by the arm, propped his hand upon a stool, brought down a blade, and chopped off the tiniest of his tiny fingers.

The young boy gasped silently as the group scattered.