Mike is hated by Henry Bowers, solely on account of his skin color. Henry went beyond picking on Mike every chance he gets. Henry's hatred for Mike was so great that he poisoned Mr. Chips, a dog owned by Mike. Most of Henry's racism comes from his father, Butch Bowers, who psychotically resents Mike's father, who owns a successful farm down the road from the Bowers' farm. Butch, a traumatized World War II veteran, blames all his troubles on the Hanlons. Mike encounters a giant, prehistoric-like bird when exploring the Kitchner Ironworks. He hides in a smokestack until the bird goes away. IT reveals that Mike is afraid of this form from a very early memory of a crow pecking him when he was only 6 months old.
Speaks in careful, quick bursts; keeps facts organized and avoids eye contact.
