The absence of a mother figure and the presence of a mentally and physically abusive father figure create an unstable home with a lack of proper care. In Rumblefish, Rusty’s father is a harmful influence on his son and shows an alarming lack of support and interest in his life, which causes a distant and insubstantial relationship to form between the two males. Rusty’s father does not address his son’s serious medical issues and he is often absent from the household for weeks on end. This neglect inevitably causes Rusty to turn to his brother and schoolmates for companionship and basic knowledge regarding the process o

Not only is Rusty’s father neglectful, he sets a negative example for Rusty during his influential teenaged years by drinking regularly and depending on welfare to support the family. “ My old man, he got a regular check from the government, but it wasn’t very much and he sometimes forgot to give it to me before he drank it up.” (P 46) It is clear that his father’s unhealthy lifestyle influences Rusty, as he begins drinking heavily himself. Rusty’s life also lacks a maternal influence, as his mother abandoned her husband and two sons while Rusty and his brother were infants.

Legs Sadovsky turns to her peer Maddy Wirtz for affection, which replaces her relationship with her father and fulfills her need for attention. Maddy comes to represent the mother that Legs never had. Leg's admires Maddy’s maturity and intelligence. She confides in Maddy her dreams and goals for the future and turns to her when she is emotionally wounded. The two females form such an intense bond that they promise to sacrifice their lives for each other: “Y’know Maddy, you are my heart. I would die for you in a second…” (Oates 90) After living with her Grandmother for two weeks due to her father’s absence, Legs escapes and hitchhikes for miles to Maddy’s home. Instead of turning to her family members for shelter and comfort, Legs runs from them and chooses the refuge of her best friend. Maddy lets Legs in through the window and prepares a bed and a warm meal for the exhausted Legs: “…watching Legs eat like she hadn’t eaten in days, eyes leaking tears she was so grateful for the hunk of meatloaf I’d found in the refrigerator…some cold mashed potatoes, slices of Kraft’s American cheese and Wonder Bread and a hostess cupcake…” This is a prime example of Maddy’s maternal influence in Leg’s life.

Legs Sadovsky also lacks supportive parental figures in her life. Her mother passed away during her infancy and her father is physically abusive and rarely present to raise her. Legs’ father constantly engages in alcoholic activity and enters into affairs with various women. He does not monitor her school attendance or progress or show interest in her activities.

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