Describe how Uncle Willie feels about his handicap in the memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

Although Willie is the butt of jokes in town, he is a proud man. Maya only sees him pretend not to be handicapped once. Strangers from Little Rock come to the store and Willie stands erect behind the counter. Maya suspects that he pretends because he is tired of being crippled and does not want to be pitied.