"Tiny, Smiling, Daddy" is in the collection
Because They Wanted To. Gaitskill
is an extremely dark writer and pleasure (for me) is derived from
recognizing truths in her stories and in the quality of her writing. I
like a story that makes me examine issues I have known or been made
aware of in myself and others and this one does. Who doesn't know a
father (or mother) who lacks what they need to connect with their child.
In this story a father has shunned his daughter since her
teenage announcement that she is a lesbian. His feelings toward her
had already been affected by things like nose piercings and her failure
to set the table correctly. As a small child, Kitty was close to her
parents but that changes as she changes. This announcement leads to Stew
(and his wife) telling Kitty she's free to leave and make her own way
in the world.
The story begins with a phone call from a friend
telling Stew that Kitty has published a story about their relationship
in a magazine titled "Self." Stew gets a copy of the magazine and
although there is really nothing surprising in her article, it sort of
sums up what their relationship has been, which is sad and shocking for
Stew. He then thinks back on his relationship with his father, which was
distant, harsh and short.
The success of this story for me is
that although Stew behaves badly in this story, by the end you feel some
sympathy for him because he is so clueless about nearly everything in
his life. You know he won't change.
George Kelley
Jerry House
Kevin Tipple
TracyK
Todd Mason
