Student Question
How is American chop suey related to Max in Freak the Mighty?
Quick answer:
American chop suey is significant in "Freak the Mighty" because it highlights Kevin's love for the dish, which he humorously calls "gruel." In Chapter 13, despite his small size, Kevin eats large amounts of it, but an incident occurs when he chokes on it, leading to a frightening moment where Max helps call for assistance. This event underscores their friendship and happens on an unlucky Friday the Thirteenth, adding to the tension of the scene.
The American chop suey mentioned in Chapter 13 of Freak the Mighty is actually more associated with Kevin: It is his favorite food.
He loves the stuff. The gooier the better.
Max is amazed that someone as small as Kevin can eat so much food, but when it comes to American chop suey--which Kevin calls "gruel"--Kevin always wants more. When it is served one day in the school cafeteria, Kevin pleads with Max--"I beg of you, sir, more gruel!"--Max retrieves a second helping for his little friend. But when Max comes back, he finds Kevin choking on the chop suey, turning purple and "making this huk-huk-huk noise." A nurse called an ambulance and took over, trying to get Kevin to breathe. Terrified, Max started "hopping up and down in one place" while keeping the other kids from crowding around. Finally, color returned to Kevin's face, but he is taken to the hospital as a precaution. It turns out that the day was Friday the Thirteenth--a bad day for both Kevin and Max.
And I swear on the dictionary, if Freak ever tries to eat American chop suey again, I'll dump it on his head or something.
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