In the novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis, Kenny wonders why his brother Byron is so mean to people. Does Kenny treat others better than Byron does? Believe it or not, Kenny actually does treat others better.
In chapter one, Kenny well knows Byron and Buphead treated him like a ragdoll one night. Both Byron and Buphead taught him how to “survive a blizzard” by pushing him around and practically covering him in snow from head to toe. The day after Byron looks at his reflection in the outside mirror while he and Kenny scrape ice off the family car. Byron then gets his lips stuck, and in hopes of saving him, it is up to Kenny to pour hot water over Byron’s lips. According to Kenny, Byron would “have done some real cruel stuff” to him, such as splashing his eyes until they were frozen open or put water in his ears until he couldn’t hear. Kenny may have called him the “Lipless Wonder” but it was payback for…show more content… Buphead has been a bad influence on Byron, which is one of the reasons why he is not only disrespectful to his parents but almost everybody he knows. Byron has beaten people up; makes dirty finger signs, and used inappropriate language. Kenny has never even thought about hurting other people as an activity, even if they did something that may have offended him. After all, Kenny was often teased at school and has gotten his toys stolen but took no action. However, Byron would opposite and would find a way to make this person more than equally upset as he
