Essay Questions

Why is Kevin trying to run away from home?

Kevin is Buddy’s friend and he is working at his stepfather’s gas business. Instead of being a trusted employee, he is taking advantage of his stepfather and starts stealing the proceeds of the business. He thinks that his stepfather is never going to discover that he is stealing from him. He uses his looted proceedings to buy gifts for Buddy and himself. He is also seeing a girlfriend called Angela and he spends on her. At last, his stepfather becomes apprehensive because he finds out that some money is missing from the business. When Kevin realizes that his stepfather has noticed that business money is missing, he attempts to run away.

What is the irony of the age ‘thirteen’ in the Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies by Tom Perrotta?

Buddy is thirteen years old but he is doing things that are beyond his age. The reader finds it sarcastic that Buddy is hired by Kevin to write love letters and notes which he later delivers to Angela. Angela thinks that all the love letters and notes she receives are from her boyfriend, Kevin. It is also ironic that Buddy expects a bigger birthday present than a bike! His father could have wished nothing better than a bike when he was thirteen years old.

How does Buddy prove that he is a true friend to Kevin?

Buddy does everything that Kevin asks him to do. He writes letters and notes on Kevin’s behalf and delivers them to Angela. When Buddy takes the love letter to Kevin’s girlfriend, he meets Angela’s father. Angela’s father confuses Buddy for Kevin after having a look at the love letter. Buddy does not betray Kevin because he does not reveal that the letter belongs to Kevin. Instead, Buddy defends himself by crying and saying that he is only a kid and should be forgiven.