In about the beginning of the chronicle of their arrival in Birmingham, Alabama, Chapter 12, Kenny and his family arrive at his grandmother's house where there is also her friend, Mr. Roberts. The next day, Mr. Roberts takes the boys fishing; he cautions them about Collier's Landing and tells them not to swim there because a boy drowned them a few years ago. Byron retells the story about a whirlpool, but he mispronounces it as "Wool Pooh." The daring and disobedient Kenny decides he is too hot and will go swimming at Collier's Landing despite the warning, and have another "Fantastic Adventure." He wonders why Byron does go along:
Who could understand Byron? Here was a chance for another Fantastic Adventure and he was going in the wrong direction. Something was wrong with him. If he was in Flint and you told him not to do something he'd go right...
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out and do it, but now he was acting real dull and square.
When he sees the warning sign, Kenny assumes that Mr. Collier just placed it there to keep out people. At first he sees small fish where he steps in, then spots a turtle. As Kenny wades near it, his feet slip on the rocks, and he falls into the churning whirlpool. Frightened, Kenny starts to go under and imagines Joey in angel-form. But, just as is pulled farther underneath the water, his brother Byron grabs him and pulls him from the churning water. Once on the shore, Kenny spits up much water; he realizes how close he has come to death. He understands now why Byron did not join him. He is getting more mature.