Who is Bix's Stepfather from The Moves Make the Man and what is their importance?

The portrayal of Bix's stepfather is one of the more interesting elements of the book. Bix's description of his stepfather is negative. He portrays him as selfish, a liar, manipulative, and just plain mean. When he actually appears in person, however, we are surprised to find that he is realistic, direct, wise and compassionate.