Part 5: Justin

I like Justin. Justin seems like a great guy and a great boyfriend! What's not to like really? He's sweet, kind, gentle, and a musician! Ok, so he plays the fiddle. It's no electric guitar, but it's still very cool! And he's in a band! A zydeco band, but a band none the less! What's a zydeco band, you ask? I didn't know either, so I looked it up.
Basically it is dancing music that originated from Cajun style music and has some southern flair to it. As Justin points out in the novel, it's very popular music you might hear in a place such as Louisiana. Instruments you would usually hear in a zydeco band may include accordion, electric guitar and bass, drums, sometimes brass, and fiddle of course. The  most used instrument is probably a corrugated metal rubboard, called a frottior.

What I like most about Justin is his sensitivity and compassion for others. Most boys Via could have brought home might have freaked out at the sight of August and said that they don't want any part of it, but Justin was incredibly nice to Auggie and loved him and Via's parents as well. He's the type of guy that would lend you his shoulder to cry on, and he does for Via. When Daisy dies, Justin spends the evening with Via and Auggie, comforting them and letting them tell him stories about what a great companion Daisy was.

What's wonderful is that Justin's kindness doesn't stop with Via's family. One night, when he and Jack had both been at Auggie and Via's house, Justin takes Jack to the bus stop and waits with him and Justin notices some kids (Julian of course) teasing Jack. Justin realizes that Jack's friendship with Auggie isn't as easy and carefree as it seems in the comfort of Auggie's home. Jack plays it off as no big deal and gets on the bus to head home, but something happens inside Justin. He realizes he can't just stand back and do nothing, not when it comes to people he cares about. He puts on a mean face and walks up to Julian and his two friends and says,

"'yo, listen up. don't mess with jack,' i say really slowly, gritting my teeth, my voice all clint eastwood tough-guy, 'mess with him again and you will be very, very sorry. got it? good.'"

Sounds like a keeper to me. Way to go Via :)