Mike Caldwell

Mike Caldwell is a schoolboy who stands up when bully Billy Barton attacks little Donnie Hollman. Billy challenges him to a fight, and Mike initially hopes to follow Whit's advice about doing what is right. When Billy tears a shirt from Mike's grandmother, however, Mike loses his temper and bloodies the bully's nose. Classmates celebrate him as Magnificent Mike, and their praise quickly turns his courage into pride. He begins strutting, snapping at his friend Freddy, and acting like the bully he defeated. An unimpressed new student knocks him down and exposes how much he has changed. Mike learns that defending someone weaker does not excuse anger, arrogance, or the belief that one victory makes him superior.