Sky Daddy by Kate Folk Summary, Characters and Themes
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk is an exploration of human loneliness, obsession, and the yearning for connection, wrapped in the form of a darkly humorous and surreal narrative. The story follows Linda, a content moderator for a video-sharing platform, whose life is defined by her intense and unusual fixation on planes.
Particularly the 737 model, which she believes is her soulmate. In a world where human relationships seem increasingly fractured, Linda’s obsession takes on a strange, almost mystical quality as she pursues a plane she believes is her destiny. Her journey—both personal and emotional—becomes a way of grappling with isolation, identity, and the search for meaning in an often disconnected world.
Summary
The story begins with Linda, a content moderator for a video-sharing platform, feeling disconnected from the world around her. She lives in a small, windowless room she rents from the Chen family and is estranged from her mother.
Despite this, Linda has a close, albeit complex, relationship with her coworker Karina. The two of them share frustrations about their work as content moderators, where their job involves reviewing and filtering disturbing content.
Linda is not particularly happy with her job but finds comfort in the company of Karina, who seems to accept her eccentricities. Linda’s life takes an odd turn when she is invited to a Vision Board Brunch (VBB) hosted by Karina.
At the brunch, Linda feels nervous and out of place. The idea of creating a vision board—an exercise in manifesting desires and dreams—feels foreign to her.
While her colleagues talk about career goals, relationships, and material ambitions, Linda’s vision is fixated on something entirely different: her intense obsession with planes, particularly the 737 model. She believes that a plane, her soulmate, is out there somewhere waiting to choose her.
This desire goes beyond a mere love of aviation; it’s a deep emotional need for connection, one that she is reluctant to share with others, fearing mockery and judgment.
Linda’s obsession with planes is rooted in her childhood. Her father, who shared her fascination with aviation, nurtured her love for planes, and she has carried this attachment into adulthood.
This connection takes on an erotic dimension, and Linda believes that a plane will choose her as its partner, much like a romantic soulmate. She doesn’t know how to communicate this strange longing, and it isolates her from others.
Linda’s connection to planes and her desire to marry one is something she keeps hidden, not only from her friends but also from herself, as she struggles to reconcile her personal dreams with societal expectations.
Despite her anxiety, Linda decides to attend the VBB, where she presents her vision board. Her board is filled with images of planes, pilots, and aviation-related symbols, making it clear that her deepest desire is to be chosen by a plane.
The other attendees are initially shocked by her revelation, but they react with amusement rather than hostility. Karina, in particular, seems to accept Linda for who she is, which provides Linda with a sense of comfort and belonging.
This is a moment of small triumph for Linda, as she feels a sense of acceptance that she has longed for in other aspects of her life.
As Linda continues to struggle with the tension between her obsession with planes and her desire to fit into societal norms, she begins to reflect on the emotional isolation she feels. She compares her connection with planes to the emotional void in her personal life, especially her strained relationship with her mother.
Her romantic relationships, particularly with Simon, a man she believes is a pilot, further complicate her emotional journey. When she discovers that Simon is not, in fact, a pilot, Linda’s disappointment forces her to confront her unrealistic expectations about love and relationships.
She realizes that her obsession with the idealized figure of the pilot was a form of escape from her loneliness and a misguided attempt at manifesting her perfect life.
As Linda navigates the complexities of her emotional world, she continues her ritual of flying as often as she can, documenting every flight in a detailed log. She clings to the hope that one day, a plane will choose her, affirming her place in the world.
Her sense of self becomes more deeply intertwined with her obsession, and she begins to accept that this is the only thing that gives her life meaning.
By the end of the story, Linda’s understanding of manifestation and vision boards has shifted. While she once believed that a plane would come into her life to fulfill her desires, she begins to reconcile with the idea that her vision board may not be the key to happiness.
Instead, she comes to terms with the realization that fulfillment might come from within, and that her dreams, no matter how peculiar, are part of who she is. Her relationship with Karina continues to be a source of comfort and connection, helping her through the emotional turbulence she faces.
Linda remains hopeful that, in time, she will find peace and acceptance, either through her connection with a plane or through the relationships she has built with the people around her.
Throughout the narrative, Sky Daddy presents a complex, surreal story about longing, identity, and the search for belonging. Linda’s obsession with planes becomes a symbol of the human need for connection and understanding, as well as the difficulties of navigating a world that often seems disconnected.
Her journey is a humorous, yet deeply introspective exploration of what it means to pursue one’s desires, no matter how unconventional they may be. Linda’s ultimate hope is that, through manifestation or fate, she will find the acceptance and connection she so desperately craves—whether in the form of a plane or a more conventional relationship.
Characters
Linda
Linda, the protagonist of Sky Daddy, is a deeply complex and introspective character whose life revolves around her intense obsession with airplanes, particularly the 737 model, which she believes to be her soulmate. Her fixation on aviation began in childhood, intertwined with a special bond she shared with her father, and evolved into an erotic, almost spiritual connection with planes.
Throughout the narrative, Linda grapples with the tension between her profound desire for a connection with a plane and the pressure to conform to societal norms, particularly in her social and professional relationships. Her struggle to manifest her desires—both romantic and professional—forms the crux of the story, as she attempts to balance her eccentric passion with the expectations of those around her.
Linda is emotionally isolated, finding limited connection with her family and maintaining a strained relationship with her mother. However, her bond with her coworker Karina provides her with some semblance of comfort and companionship.
Despite the oddness of her obsession, Linda’s vulnerability and longing for acceptance make her journey relatable, capturing the universal human desire for connection and fulfillment.
Karina
Karina plays a pivotal role in Linda’s life, serving as a friend, confidante, and emotional anchor. Although their relationship is primarily rooted in the workplace, Karina’s openness and understanding provide Linda with a much-needed sense of belonging.
Karina works in the more intense Violence division of their company, and despite their vastly different professional roles, she shares Linda’s frustrations about their monotonous and psychologically taxing jobs. Karina’s acceptance of Linda’s eccentricities—especially Linda’s unusual vision of marrying a plane—offers Linda a rare moment of validation.
However, Karina also faces her own inner conflicts, particularly around her feelings of being an outsider at social events like the Vision Board Brunch. As the story unfolds, Karina becomes a reflective mirror for Linda, encouraging her to prioritize career goals over romantic fantasies, and in doing so, Karina’s character plays a significant role in Linda’s evolving understanding of her own desires and identity.
Dave
Dave is a character that represents emotional complexity and manipulation in Linda’s life. Initially introduced as a coworker with whom Linda shares a somewhat casual relationship, Dave soon emerges as a source of discomfort and emotional turbulence.
He is persistent in his efforts to manipulate Linda, particularly when he tries to push her into meeting a pilot he has contacted on her behalf. This interaction exposes the deeper power dynamics at play in their relationship, as Dave’s emotional revelations reveal his own insecurities and frustrations.
Linda’s discomfort with Dave grows, especially as his behavior becomes more intrusive and emotionally manipulative, highlighting the toxic undercurrents that run through their connection. By the end of the story, Linda’s realization about the need to distance herself from Dave marks a significant shift in her emotional journey, signaling her growing awareness of the need for boundaries and independence in her relationships.
Simon
Simon represents the disillusionment Linda experiences as she navigates her romantic aspirations. Linda’s excitement at the prospect of dating a pilot quickly fades when Simon admits that he is not actually a pilot but a food delivery driver.
This revelation shatters the romanticized image Linda had built around him, leading her to question the superficiality of her desires and expectations. Simon’s frustrations with women and his own failure to meet Linda’s idealistic standards serve as a catalyst for Linda’s internal reflection.
Their uncomfortable conversation about gender roles and relationship dynamics forces Linda to confront the hollowness of her past aspirations and begin a process of self-discovery. Although Simon is a minor character, his interaction with Linda plays an important role in her realization that romantic fantasies do not necessarily equate to fulfillment.
N92823 (The Plane)
Though not a human character, N92823, the 737 airplane, is a central figure in Sky Daddy. The plane represents Linda’s obsessive desire for connection and a sense of purpose.
It is her idealized soulmate, a fixation that transcends logic and social norms. Linda’s belief in the plane as her destined partner embodies her deep emotional isolation and her struggle to find meaning in human relationships.
The plane serves as both a literal and metaphorical symbol of Linda’s quest for fulfillment, love, and acceptance. As the story progresses, Linda’s encounters with the plane grow more disappointing, yet she clings to the hope that fate will eventually unite them.
The plane’s role in Linda’s journey highlights the surreal and bizarre elements of the narrative, underscoring the theme of longing for something transcendent and unearthly.
Linda’s Mother
Linda’s mother is a minor but significant character whose strained relationship with Linda adds to the protagonist’s feelings of isolation. Linda’s emotional alienation from her mother is palpable, particularly as she tries to share her unusual passions and desires.
Her mother’s disapproval of Linda’s fixation on planes and the way Linda’s strange behavior alienates her from family dynamics deepen Linda’s sense of loneliness and inadequacy. The tension between mother and daughter further underscores Linda’s inability to connect with the people around her, solidifying her reliance on more unconventional forms of fulfillment, such as her obsession with aviation.
Themes
Obsession and Isolation
The central theme in Sky Daddy revolves around Linda’s obsessive love for an airplane, N92823, which she believes to be her soulmate. Her obsession goes beyond a simple interest in aviation; it becomes a means of coping with her profound emotional isolation.
From her strained relationships with her family, particularly her mother, to her failed attempts at romantic connections, Linda consistently finds herself disconnected from the human world. She replaces real emotional intimacy with a fixation on a plane, something she believes will provide the deep connection she has longed for.
Linda’s obsession with N92823 highlights her desperate need for validation and love in a world that seems indifferent to her desires.
The isolation Linda feels is not just physical but psychological. She distances herself from meaningful human relationships because she feels misunderstood or rejected.
Her behavior, such as discussing her fixation with family and coworkers, alienates those around her, deepening her sense of being an outsider. Linda’s fixation on the plane serves as both a comfort and a prison.
While she believes it is the key to her happiness, her obsession with it keeps her from experiencing genuine connection with others, reinforcing her loneliness. Her isolation is compounded by the fact that she often avoids confronting the reasons for her emotional distress, opting instead to immerse herself in the fantasy world she has created around the plane.
In the end, this obsession represents a deeper psychological struggle with loneliness, self-worth, and the human desire for connection.
Identity and Self-Realization
Linda’s journey in Sky Daddy is also a quest for self-realization, though it is marked by confusion and a search for belonging in unconventional places. Her desire to marry a plane stems from her childhood experiences and the deep bond she shared with her father, who encouraged her interest in aviation.
This connection shapes her sense of identity, particularly as she grapples with her desire to conform to societal norms while harboring a private obsession that she fears others will reject. Throughout the story, Linda is torn between her need to belong and her refusal to abandon her eccentric desires, especially when those around her, like Karina and Simon, seem to live more conventional lives.
Her evolution as a character is illustrated through her interactions with others, especially Karina. Although Linda’s obsession with the plane seems to dominate her life, Karina’s acceptance of Linda’s quirks provides her with a glimpse of what true connection can look like.
The dynamic between Linda and Karina is one of the few examples of genuine companionship that Linda experiences, and it ultimately leads Linda to reflect on her own desires and values. By the end of the story, Linda realizes that her vision board, filled with images of planes and pilots, is a metaphor for her deeper need to connect, and she begins to consider the possibility of seeking fulfillment outside her obsession with the plane.
Human Connection and Acceptance
At the heart of Sky Daddy is Linda’s struggle with finding genuine human connection and acceptance. Her fixation on the plane reflects a deeper longing for love and validation that she has not been able to receive from her family or romantic partners.
While Linda’s relationship with her father initially nurtured her fascination with aviation, the emotional emptiness in her life grows as she fails to find fulfillment in traditional human relationships. This theme of searching for belonging is further emphasized when Linda interacts with her coworkers, particularly Karina, who also struggles with her own sense of isolation.
Despite the surreal and unconventional nature of Linda’s desires, the story underscores the universal human need for connection and acceptance.
Linda’s relationship with Karina is one of the few places where she feels seen and understood. Karina’s support and the comfort Linda finds in their friendship provide a contrast to the loneliness Linda experiences in other areas of her life.
The Vision Board Brunch becomes a pivotal moment where Linda realizes that, while her fixation on the plane is real, it is not the only way she can find fulfillment. Her evolving relationship with Karina and her growing sense of self-acceptance reflect a shift away from her obsessive search for a connection with the plane to a more grounded search for companionship and purpose.
The theme of human connection also extends to Linda’s reflections on her past relationships, including her failed romance with Simon. These relationships highlight the difficulties Linda faces in her attempts to connect with others, but they also provide insight into her emotional evolution throughout the story.
The Search for Meaning
Sky Daddy explores the existential search for meaning, with Linda’s obsession with the plane serving as a metaphor for the ways in which people try to find purpose in their lives. The narrative portrays Linda’s desire for the plane as an attempt to fill a void within herself, a void shaped by a lack of meaningful relationships and a sense of unfulfilled destiny.
Her belief that she is meant to be chosen by the plane suggests that she is searching for something beyond the ordinary—something that will validate her existence and give her life meaning.
This search for meaning is not limited to Linda’s connection with the plane. It also encompasses her career, particularly her role as a content moderator at a video-sharing platform.
While Linda initially finds comfort in her job, she begins to question its significance in the broader context of her life. Her encounter with Simon, where she realizes the superficiality of her previous romantic desires, further emphasizes her search for deeper purpose.
The Vision Board Brunch represents a moment where Linda is forced to confront her idealized goals and aspirations, ultimately leading her to reassess her priorities. The story concludes with Linda embracing the idea of manifesting her desires, but it is clear that her understanding of fulfillment has shifted.
She moves away from seeking validation through her obsession with the plane and begins to consider the importance of self-actualization, career growth, and meaningful human relationships.