The Perfect Son

Content Warning: The source text includes references to physical assault, psychological manipulation, child abuse, and animal abuse. Additionally, the source material uses offensive terms for mental health conditions throughout, which are replicated in this guide only in direct quotes of the source material.

The police interview Erika Cass, who asks if she’s under arrest. The police reveal they have found a man’s body, and Erika admits that she stabbed him to death.

As Erika makes breakfast for her family, she thinks about how mothers are not supposed to have a favorite child. However, she favors one of her children more than the other.

Her daughter Hannah comes downstairs to eat breakfast. Hannah is 14 and very emotional and moody. She is upset that Erika is making eggs for breakfast and ultimately searches for an alternative breakfast.

Liam, Erika’s oldest child, comes down for breakfast, dressed for a debate match. When he sees Erika making eggs, he is happy and appreciative. Erika thinks about how Liam has become increasingly handsome over the last few years. He looks like Erika’s father, who died when Erika was a young child. It makes her sad that her father will never meet his grandchildren.