Freak the Mighty

Loretta Lee’s address is in a bad part of town. Originally named the New Tenements, now everyone calls it the “New Testaments.” Gram makes Max promise not to go there, but Freak later argues that a promise can be broken if an important quest comes up.

They sneak over toward the New Testaments. On the way, Freak rides Max’s shoulders as usual and lectures him on the Round Table, knightly quests, and oaths. The tenements turn out to be old, broken down, filled with discarded toys and scrawny kids; the place “smells like fish and sour milk” (64). Freak gets nervous, but they find Loretta Lee’s apartment and Max suggests they finish their good deed.

While they decide, the door swings open and a scrawny blond woman in a ratty bathrobe, smoking a cigarette, stands there, staring. She’s joined by an overweight, hairy man with a red beard and big arms covered in tattoos; she calls him “Iggy.” He says that the carnival must be in town.

Max tries to back away, but Iggy cuts them off and demands to know who sent them. Freak tosses him the purse and says they must leave.