My Father Answers, "Why Did I Let Him Go?"

Throughout the book it’s obvious Roger was a headstrong 17 year-old.  He probably would’ve defied orders by his parents to stop him from going on the trip. However, we never hear my father’s side of it. Ever since the book was published, my father, William E. Lobb, has been forced to open his mouth about several issues the book raises. “Why did I let my son take this trip?” is at the top of the list. For the first time ever, he answers, “My parents (Harrison and Sydna Lobb) always let me go to the Jersey shore for nights on end whenever I wanted. They were trusting when my brother, Jean, and I went down for a week-long trip when I was still in high school, I guess during spring break. We’d camp out in our sleeping bags, or in the car, living mostly in the sand dunes, just off the ocean. We had no money, but what fun. We disappeared for days. It was the greatest time of my life. My parents didn’t seem to mind. So when it came time for your trip, I decided it would be good for you.”