The stars
shone favorably on Laurence, despite his evident misfortunes. The
business with Bitumen made even Karyn take another pass at dispelling
his morally hobbled social ineptitude.
“Why don't
you just pick out a 'sweet young thing,' and ask to meet her daddy?”
Karyn asked Laurence, chancing upon him in the cafeteria.
“Is any
woman really going to like and respect someone who treats her like a
family possession?” Laurence asked. He knew enough to realize that
he must needs demonstrate character, to be desirable. ...to anyone.
“Most
girls love their daddies,” Karyn explained, if ambiguously. “Of
those that don't, daddy issues rule. Wouldn't that be a logical place
to start?” Karyn had a feeling that needling Laurence would not be
enough to prod the glacial pace of Laurence's social evolution to
life. True, Laurence could not be called a “social climber.” But
to become eligible for the pejorative “social climber,” he needed
to conceive social ambition.
Laurence
remained unconvinced that this measure could effect any improvement
at all. “They love their daddies, but they don't want to marry
them,” he disagreed.
Karyn
launched one final parting shot, as she took her leave of him. “They
don't want to marry the bad boys who leave them gasping with lust,
either.” It might be intimidating to a guy, but Laurence could
never take stock of the competition, if he did not name them in his
mind.
