Ryan is portrayed as being both emotionally mature and pragmatically intelligent. Having lost his father to cancer three years earlier, Ryan shares a very close relationship with his mother, Halley, which forms the foundation of his world. Faced with the prospect of accepting a new family member, Ryan approaches the situation with a blend of wit and seriousness. Rather than reacting with jealousy or resentment, Ryan carefully evaluates Ian, his mother’s boyfriend, as if interviewing a candidate for an important job: the role of father. This concluding story reverses the theme of A Son’s Need for His Father’s Approval, which runs through the other stories in the collection, instead depicting a father figure seeking his son’s approval.

Ryan’s attitude softens the tension but also reveals his deeper need for security and reassurance. His insistence that Ian fill out an application to become his father shows both his humor and maturity. Ryan takes the process very seriously, collecting letters of reference, keeping the information confidential, and even assessing Ian’s handshake and appearance when they meet. This behavior suggests Ryan’s desire for control and certainty in a situation where he feels vulnerable.

This story uses the device of a formal job application and interview to explore family acceptance and the redefinition of fatherhood. Ryan creates a written job description for Ian that is both humorous and symbolic, turning a personal, emotional matter into a structured and professional process. The letters of reference Ian provides describe him as someone who “can be very funny. Likes to go to unusual restaurants. Good listener. Dresses neatly” (203). These details add humor to the narrative while also helping Ryan get a fuller sense of Ian’s character. Ryan’s methodical approach reframes fatherhood as something that is earned through trust and accountability rather than assumed. Additionally, in this family’s dynamic, a child’s voice and opinions are acknowledged and valued.

Ryan’s story explores the theme of Coming of Age Through Change, Loss, and Acceptance. Ryan’s mother’s new relationship and the prospect of marriage act as a significant shift in their family structure. Ryan’s willingness to accept Ian into their dynamic demonstrates his emotional maturity and acceptance of change. It also shows that both he and his mother are gradually healing from loss. The story emphasizes that moving forward does not erase the past but allows for new relationships to form.

The story’s plot revolves around Ryan’s proactive role in accepting his mother’s new boyfriend through a formalized, interview-like interaction. Ryan asks Ian detailed questions that cover everything from his personal habits and preferences to his opinions on fatherhood and his feelings about Ryan’s mother. His intense questioning shows Ryan’s need to protect his family and himself and ensure Ian is trustworthy. The mood shifts from skepticism to optimistic approval in the story’s final scene. It culminates in a courtroom wedding where Ryan takes an active role, asking the judge to proclaim Ian and Halley as “Mom and Dad” on his behalf, symbolizing the formation of a reconfigured family unit and Ryan’s hopeful acceptance of this change.