Freak the Mighty: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Max feels paralyzed, like the only things that exist are the big hand and the cold wind. Kenny whispers that the “geezers” stuck Max in the basement so they could ignore him, and he spits that Grim and Gram have poisoned Max against him. Max sits up when Kenny tells him to. Max is terrified; he doesn’t know if Grim bought the gun or what might happen if Grim tries to use it. Kenny says that whatever Grim and Gram told Max was a lie—he didn’t kill anyone. Max puts on his clothes and he thinks that this isn’t a surprise—he’s always known that Kenny would come for him in the night. He feels weak. Kenny says that this is going to be an adventure and he leads Max outside.

Max looks up at the stars and he thinks of how, according to Freak, the stars are all dead and people on Earth are just seeing the “reruns.” He doesn’t even feel cold, even though he doesn’t have a coat. Max thinks that the cold doesn’t even matter, and that his life with Grim, Gram, Freak, and Gwen was just a dream. Now, he’s awake and Kenny is real. The lights are off at Freak’s house and Max thinks that the stars clicked off. Under a streetlight, Kenny turns Max around so he can look at him. Max can barely see Kenny’s eyes under his eyebrows, which is fine since looking him in the eyes will give Max bad dreams. Kenny asks Max if he knows he’s a “chip off the old block.” Max says nothing. Kenny gently touches Max’s face and he tells Max to answer.

Kenny rambles on that it’s unfair that he’s spent so many Christmas Eves away from his own son, locked up for a crime he didn’t commit. Max agrees that this isn’t fair. Kenny says that from now on, it’ll just be him and Max. Max thinks that it’s so quiet that it seems like someone died. He notices that Kenny is as tall as he is but wider. Weirdly, Max thinks that Kenny doesn’t need a suit of armor, or a lance, or a horse. He thinks that Kenny is everything and no one can beat him. Kenny says that in neighborhoods like this, he thinks that people live like hamsters. He then says that he knows they’ve poisoned Max against him, but soon Max will see the truth.

Kenny leads Max past the millpond and he pulls Max down as a car drives past. Max is certain that they’re headed to the New Testaments as Kenny asks Max if he knows about Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem. Max tries to nod, but he finds that his teeth are chattering even though he doesn’t feel cold. Kenny says they’re seeking shelter but they’re not going to a manger. Max agrees with this, but Kenny touches Max gently again and he tells Max not to be sassy. As they approach the Testaments, Max thinks that the snow makes everything look clean and new. Loretta Lee opens the door before they even get there and she lets them inside. She’s wearing a slinky red dress. Iggy bolts the door behind Max and Kenny.

Loretta Lee slurs that she knew Kenny could get out. Kenny turns to Iggy and he asks if he made himself clear about Loretta drinking. Iggy sounds nervous. Loretta’s fake eyelashes are coming off and her lipstick is smeared. She slurs something about how Preacher Kane doesn’t want anyone to drink, even on Christmas Eve in one’s own home. Iggy tells her to shut up and he pushes her down onto the couch. Kenny asks for food. Iggy fries up hamburgers and Loretta falls asleep. Max can barely swallow. When Kenny is done eating, he suggests that Iggy would be a great prison cook. Then, he asks Iggy to show them the place he told them about.