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What does Dade do that disappoints both of his parents in the story "Star Food"?

Dade's mother encourages him to dream. This is why she approves of Dade standing on the roof, staring into the sky. She believes Dade will have "limited fame." This means that he will have an original idea or discovery, perhaps one that only certain people will understand. She is a dreamer and wants Dade to be a dreamer as well. 


Dade's father is a traditional man who believes in hard work and discipline. In a sense, he and his wife are opposites. He wants Dade to be a hard worker. He wants Dade to think about and plan for his future. 


So, when Dade acts the part of the dreamer, he pleases his mother but disappoints his father. When he plays the part of the hard worker, his father approves but his mother is saddened. 


At the end of the story, he is determined to finally catch the shoplifter. This pleases his father because it shows responsibility and reflects his loyalty to the store. However, after he catches her, he lets her go. His father will be disappointed by this. Prior to catching the thief, he tells his mother, "And I'm never going to discover anything. All I've ever done on the roof is look at the clouds." So, he disappoints her as well. In the end, Dade is still uncertain about his future. He is no closer to a conclusion about his role as a worker or as a dreamer. 

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