He knocked on the driver's side window with the back of his knuckle the way police officers knock on windows, which is the knock of authority rather than the knock of request.
Winston lowered the window. He said, "Afternoon, officer."
Pruitt said, "I need you to pull forward and move the vehicle out of the pickup zone."
Winston said, "I'm in the pickup line for Westbrook Elementary. My daughter's in fourth grade. Pickup is at 3:00."
Pruitt said, "This area is restricted during pickup hours. I need you to move."
Winston looked at the pickup line. The white Subaru was immediately ahead of him. Behind that were six more vehicles. Ahead of the Subaru were twelve. He said, "The school's pickup line runs along this entire block. I'm behind a white Subaru, and there are vehicles ahead and behind me. I'll pull forward when the line moves."
He said it the way he said things on job sites when a contractor raised a question about a specification: with complete patience and complete clarity, because patient clarity is how you get the right answer to arrive at the right place.
Pruitt said, "Sir, I've had reports of a vehicle matching this description circling the area."
Winston said, "There are at least three dark-colored pickup trucks in this line right now." He said it without moving his head. He said, "My name is Winston Beaumont. My daughter's name is Amara. She's in fourth grade, Room 12, Mrs. Abernathy's class." He said, "You can call the school office."
Pruitt said, "Sir, step out of the vehicle."