Daddy Dearest's has decided that if a "gift" is not used in the manner of his choosing and in the time frame of his choosing, he has the right to demand it back. The "gift" was an air mattress that he has demanded I replace my proper mattress with because he's convinced I'm the source of all his bed bug related troubles. I have no desire to replace a rather expensive, good quality mattress because my dad wants to feel like he's large and in charge over something and has decided that my life is an appropriate thing to try and control.

I'd rather not part with the air mattress as it can be useful to me, but my dad has no problem cornering people and causing a scene if it gets him what he wants and he has an excuse to be in town as he's passing through ferrying my mom to a cancer appointment. I want to visit the doc myself for the swollen feet situation, so I might just head there when he has the best chance of "visiting."

You know what, I might just hand it over anyway. Leave it outside by my door for him. While I would like to keep the air mattress, it ain't worth dealing with a now 71 year old man throwing a temper tantrum because he didn't get his way. He might throw his tantrum anyway as this is a man who has a pathological need to air his petty grievances, whether you want to hear it or not. I stopped listening a long time ago, but he's the type to repeat himself, over and over again and louder and louder, until you pay attention to him.

Better to just let him have the @#$& mattress and not be home while he claims it.