Jean was embarrassed the way parents are when their kids act normal around other people.
So far the kid was acting like a real commander.
"Yeah, well, sometimes English kids can act kind of superior, you know what I mean?"
This kid acts scared to death Blair thought with amazement.
"Remember back in the days when kids didn't act so crazy?"
I remember good because the kid acted funny, like maybe he was up to something.
However, if the half-caste kids act black, they pick on them hassle man.
If my kids acted like that I'd use a baseball bat on them.
The author's instincts about how kids act are generally very good too.
The truth is, no, kids don't act like that - at least I've never seen it, and I have two.