Story Bone

Ghost Dad

Okay, so here's the set up, a young window (or, for gender flop, widower, then just change some of the sexes for what follows, might even make a more interesting story, but it's too close to fairy-tale step-motherhood for me) marries her high school sweet-heart who never lost the flame. She has kids from her fist marriage, and the new father finds himself not exactly replacing the lost father, but living his life, doing things he would have done (instead of being who he is). Whenever he tries to escape that, the kids and his wife force him back in. Does he acquiesce, does he struggle vainly, does he eventually have to leave to regain himself? As an extra twist, the ghost of the former parent starts visiting him, giving critique or encouragement is up to you, or simply being a reminder of who the first father was, or would do. Does our protag try to exorcise the ghost, does he do things to keep the ghost around or to placate the ghost? Do others see the ghost (just like "Daddy's Little Girl" the ghost could be a projection of his own guilt/desire/psychie) or just him? How hard does he try to prove himself? Could be a very deep psychological horror story. I'm not sure I have the chops to write this one, or that I have enough experience to pull it off successfully.