V-2nd - Conclusion - questions

[Michael Bailey]

>
> At any rate, Mehemet's wise words and perhaps Mara's seductive charm
> are cheering enough to get old Stencil singing in the bathtub!
>


and what is he singing about?
young Herbert blithering Stencil!

in general, paternity is seen as a Good Thing.
If I were to make a try at throwing a lasso of Deep Meaning around
Stencil singing in the tub, it would involve Sidney invoking the best
of his young self, including the swearing-off-drinking (which Pappy
Hod is going to try in 1956), the jovial co-workers joining him in
song, the posting in London far from the vicissitudes of any crisis
point, and the discovery of how familial love changes everything.

This young life, like Prairie's in _Vineland_ for the continuance of
which Zoyd will do literally anything - even make a deal with Vond -

young Herbert blithering Stencil rises to mind, and Sidney raises his
voice in song and goes once more into the breach -- not without a full
measure of cynicism, nor unaware of the peril and the chancy nature of
his support...

but for want of a nail...if Stencil hadn't heeded the call, and done
the stuff he's about to do, more'n likely (I think we learned from
Maijstral) there would be no Paola.  Maybe Malta would've aligned with
Italy and maybe that would've turned the tables for the Axis.


But who is the Mom?