Summary
In the silent short My Kid, the domestic tranquility of a young boy—affectionately known as Big Boy—is shattered by the arrival of a newborn sibling. This 'usurper' instantly drains the household’s emotional reserves, leaving Big Boy relegated to the sidelines of his own life. Rejection manifests in the smallest slights: a shush from a nurse, a mother too occupied to kiss a scraped finger, and a general atmosphere of sudden invisibility. Driven by a cocktail of resentment and survivalist instinct, the child packs a meager kit of wieners and safety pins to seek a life of autonomy on the open road. His journey transitions from a domestic drama into a hobo-buddy odyssey when he encounters a fellow traveler on the railroad tracks. Together, they navigate the perils of a hostile world, represented by a draconian sheriff, while the tramp figure eventually prioritizes the boy's safety over their shared freedom. The film concludes with a return to the hearth, where the threat of corporal punishment dissolves into a sentimental reconciliation, marking the boy's reintegration into a now-expanded family unit.
Synopsis
Into "Big Boy's" life the first drop of bitterness has fallen. No longer is he the pampered pet of the family, for the stork has brought a usurper to take his place. Even mother does not pay any attention to him. He is "shushed" by the nurse, shooed from the bedroom, and even when he tries to get mother to kiss his "hurted" finger, she pays more attention to the new baby. Feeling that he is not wanted anymore, "Big Boy" resolves to leave borne and make his own way in the world. A few personal possessions, a supply of safety pins to guard against mishap, some wieners for sustenance and the young man set out for the wide open space. Walking the railroad tie, he encounters another "knight of the road" and the two become great friends. They camp together and then prepare a "mulligan" over a campfire. A mean sheriff has posted signs prohibiting campfires but when he chases the two wanderers from their fire, even the dog forsakes him. In the meantime, a reward has been posted for the return of "Big Boy". The sheriff and his deputy try to capture him, but the tramp strives to keep his new friend until be can return him safely to his parents. The two unfortunates hunted from pillar to post until "Big Boy" find his way home again. He knows has done wrong and pauses in front of the house to place a tin pie pan in the spot where it will do the most good during the impending spanking. But mother is so glad to see her boy back again that she forgives and foregoes the use of the strap and everyone is happy once again.
