IMO, the Barr most certainly is, to wit:
Mallory moves in,
- and, thenceforth, does dear dad maintain quintessential control of (so far anyway) his most supportive ally;
- surveilling his daughter, by way of regular welfare checks on MotherShirley.
- Indeed, these M1 SITREPS will takeoff in any number of ways, directions and detail.
Perhaps not very dissimilar to this:
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"How's Mall' doing, Ma'?''
"oh? you don't know?!
"cause it's been ...how many days since since she was home?
"So where is she?
"You have no idea?!
"Well dammit, Ma', she
better get in touch!
"And when she does, mom, you tell her
I better get call from her straight away...
"Now whaddya' mean, she's got "
a boy or girlfriend"? Which, you can't tell 'fer seein' 'em?!...
" 'n they go on one-car road trips together; like right now?...
" ya' mean like 'roadtrips' in
Animal House?!? Those kind?" ...Oh... never mind Ma'...
" ...'n to top it off she doesn' tell you where-to, or when she'll be back,...
" 'n it's 'cause she's unsure? Holy bullelklsign!!
" Yeah, I know she's technically got her "own" place now, but she still has responsibilities to ME 'n you!
" 'n didn't we understand that she was to take you 'roun to those assisted living places? And rank them for me by costs?
" I'm sure we did.
" So she's already ducking-out on the very few things she's honor-bound to do fer' ME
& you.
" If only she weren't so selfish. Like Suzanne was. Dammit.
" So by now 'fersure you've met Mall's
other friends, right? Bein' popular n' known like me in town, she's like to have a slew of 'em!
" No!?! " Dammit Ma'!
" How in blazes can you expect me to be a loving, responsible, mindful father when you don't
keep me up-to-date on her ...hmm, what... I'll call it, "Her Society"?!
" After all, 'n you recall,
her mom had the nature of flitting about our town, attractin' all sorts, and she had a head start on her daughters' present ages doin' so!...Just can't rule out genes...even those recessive ones, y'know.
Ma, you recall that lawnmower golf guy I mentioned to you when I was back in town from the Twins Camp? - or was it the'Brewers? no matter...
" Remember back then mom?! So often I've explained it all to you. Now don't try that 'Your Ma' just don't recall every detail, son."
" Ma' 'gotta run, but I think I better go over some ' big picture' things with you. Again.
'" OK. ONE LAST TIME:
" As Mallory's Dad , it's my duty to god to stay involved with her. And that's for as long as I'm here on Earth, that's what I HAVE to do! And maybe after Life - from heaven - if that's doable. Likely - for me it ought to be.
" Yeah, I know, Ma': You say she's 'a grown woman'. But I KNOW she's still a child...
solely & justly my child once Suzanne abandoned...
"... so my girls in some ways still seem 'juvenile' . Pretty sure that's the result of their mom undermining my dinner-table guidance whenever I was away from home working to get them the best life I could. You surely remember my explaining all those instances to you, right?
" OK.OK Ma! Hold on!"
" I'll agree, just for you, mom, that legally Mallory's can be a 'woman'.
" But I'd say really more of an unsullied, virginal woman-child. That's why it has to remain up to me to keep her...Macy too of course... safe and secure, and this through whatever years they are blessed to live...
" So, mom, once again, that's how I feel; what I believe, and the way it shall be.
" G'bye for a bit now. Luv'ya. Now don't forget to always let me know what's going on, good or bad or whatever, right?
" Oh, 'n Ma'?... Didn't that bald '
Yul'-somebody say something about
things being written and then they shall be! ...back when he was a Pharaoh, or some such??
" Ma'? You nodding off?
" dammit!
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NB.
You may enjoy creating your own creepy scenario(s)! Try it!
I was surprised how well vicarious perverse imaginings aided good-humored relief when visited on our oh-so-clever protagonist !