The Road Toward Bunny’s Father

This flow traces Bunny’s delayed return to his dying father, where old resentment and inherited ideas of masculinity collide with his emerging responsibilities.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Urgent Message

The Urgent Message An obligation postponed Geoffrey tells Bunny that his father’s carer has called and that a visit is urgent. Bunny places the message behind the more immediate disruption at home. Avoidance takes hold After Libby’s death, Bunny tries to call his father but is shaken by the old man’s coughing and hostile voice. He hangs up without delivering his news, extending a lifelong pattern of delay.

A Daughter’s Funeral Appeal

A Daughter’s Funeral Appeal Asking for help Bunny approaches Mrs Pennington at the cemetery and asks her to care for Bunny Junior. He admits that he does not know how to manage the boy alone. A refusal grounded in history Mrs Pennington blames Bunny for the damage in Libby’s life and rejects his request. Her response leaves Bunny without the support he hoped to find and makes his family failure public.

The Carer Quits

The Carer Quits A duty returned to him Miss Lumley tells Bunny that his father is dying and that she has quit after enduring abuse. She says he needs hospital care, but Bunny knows the old man will resist. Care becomes unavoidable Miss Lumley tends Bunny Junior’s injured ear before leaving. Her kindness makes the contrast clear: Bunny’s father requires care, while Bunny himself is barely able to care for his son.

The Broken Inheritance

The Broken Inheritance A failed apprenticeship Bunny Munro Senior mocks Bunny’s beauty-sales work and recalls his own success as an antique dealer. He believes he taught his son a valuable art, but sees Bunny as a failed heir. Violence repeats itself When Bunny Junior praises his father’s sales ability, the old man takes it as mockery and strikes the child with his cane. Bunny’s attempt to mediate collapses into fear and remembered submission.

The Door Shut Again

The Door Shut Again A deathbed confession Bunny Munro Senior tells his son that he is dying. Bunny’s tears show that the admission reaches him beneath their hostility. No reconciliation completed The old man uses his walking stick to push the door shut as Bunny starts to return. Their last exchange leaves love, grievance, and regret unresolved.

The afternoon of Libby’s death

At Libby’s burial

After the attack at Mary Armstrong’s bungalow

During Bunny’s visit to his father’s bedsit

Immediately after the confrontation at the bedsit