While Kenny and Tub are nominally friends, Kenny
constantly insults Tub, plays jokes on him, and uses Frank as a wedge (always looking to
Frank for validation of his "humor," showing that he has insecurities). One theme
suggested by this is domestic abuse: Tub seemingly has no reason to be friends with
Kenny, but continues to hand around him even when he is verbally
abused.
"You
still on that diet?" He winked at Frank."What do you think? You think
I like hard-boiled eggs?""All I can say is, it's the first diet I
ever heard of where you gained weight from it."
(Wolff, "Hunters in the Snow,"
classicshorts.com)
This
speaks to Tub's personal insecurities; he is willing to put up with the abuse as long as
he believes it validates him. By the same token, Kenny believes that Tub wants to be
insulted; bullies often think that their attention is in itself something to be
treasured. The two play off each other, each validating the other's insecurities, until
one of Kenny's jokes goes terribly wrong.
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