To accomplish this goal, he has become adept at lying at any and all occasions, including his home life. Fletcher justifies this aversion to the truth by explaining that hewing to the facts without embellishment or bending veracity would spell doom to his prospects. He's brilliant with supplying excuses for not showing up at important moments in Max's young life. Max and his mom Audrey wait endlessly for Fletcher to show up as promised. Each time he glides in late with an inventive excuse.
Plausibility is never a factor.
He just talks faster, inventing more fantastic excuses. When asked, Max says his father is a liar. Max gives a long look, shrugs. Fletch knows that he'll probably not be there, but Max has eternal hopes. Sure enough, his wish comes true.