Squeaky was the second from the left.

The more I read about Lyn’s father, the more I blame him for her troubles. What kind of father makes his beautiful, happy, charming child turn into somber “zombie” when he comes around? What kind of father squelches his own daughter’s promising artistic talents, forbidding her from joining friends in dance, even when all the other parents are encouraging?

I don’t think a lot of people realize how important a father’s love is to a daughter. A mother’s love is of course vital as well, but a father’s love or lack thereof shapes how that young woman views all men. Lyn’s father’s scorn and neglect sent her in search of a new father figure, a man who WOULD accept and praise her, who WOULD make her feel beautiful and adored…

And her search ended with Charles Manson.

"Charlie" found her on the beach crying after her biological father had thrown her out, and the small amount of concern he showed her, that little bit of caring was all she needed and wanted. She never looked back and eventually grew to worship him and do anything he asked.

If she had only received the love she so desperately craved from her father, maybe she’d never have had to come to school with make-up covering black eyes, maybe she’d never have missed school for weeks, stayed away from home working odd jobs and going on drinking benders…

Maybe she’d never have met Charlie.

Who knows how her life could’ve turned out?