How did Holling feel about his parents missing his performance?

The dynamics of Holling's family become more clear as his mother and father show their priorities. When Holling is concerned about his costume, his mother merely blows off his concern, while his father is again more worried about his business relationships than his own son. They choose to watch a Christmas show on television instead of watching their own son perform on stage, and this clearly bothers Holling, although he blames his tears on watching the audience through a small peephole. Holling is hurt that Danny Hupfer's parents are willing and able to come watch him perform, but his own parents are not.

This is made worse when his father even fails to come pick him up to obtain Mickey Mantle's autograph. It is painfully obvious that Mr. Hoodhood cares less for his son than for his business, and equally clear that Holling is aware of his position. This foreshadows Holling's eventual stand against his father later in the novel.