Charles Shale is the father of Meredith and husband of Sharon Shale. Charles has just been released from jail on parole. After he raped his daughter and molested at least three other boys, Charles is sentenced to serve nine years in jail. Because of good behavior he was allowed out of jail in three years. Although Sharon is excited that her husband is getting out of jail, Charles seems more excited about getting home to the daughter whom he molested than to his own wife.
Charles likes his women young. He had begun dating his wife when she was only twelve and he was sixteen. Meredith is aware that her mother is too old for his liking and hopes that she has grown too old for him also, but this is not the case. Charles also molests not only his own daughter, but also boys on his softball team. Even after he returns home from jail, Charles does not appear to have been reformed, but only more hungry because he has been denied his desires for so long.
Although Charles does not realize it, Mrs. Mues is a woman with whom he had an affair more than ten years ago. Because she has gained weight and has become a religious fanatic, Charles no longer recognizes her as the girl with whom he cheated on his wife. Because Mrs. Mues has learned that Charles also molested her own son, she has vowed to see that Charles gets his deserved punishment. For this reason, Mrs. Mues believes that it was mandated by God that she and her son should be allowed to move into a condo near that of Meredith and her father so that Mrs. Mues can not only watch over Meredith, but also be close at hand to see to Charles' punishment.
