Not only does David's dad subject him to the X-rays that cause the tumor in his neck in Stitches, neither of his parents will be straight with him about it. This is a seriously repressed family, with a closeted gay mom and a dad who shows his emotions by chain-smoking. His brother, Ted, seems relatively normal, but his maternal grandmother makes Darth Vader look like a nice guy. Reading about David's family—especially his mom—will probably make you want to give your own a hug. At the very least, you'll want to thank your parents for not giving you cancer.
Questions About Family
- Does David's dad give him experimental X-ray treatments out of genuine concern, or does he see David as more of a science project than a son?
- Would David's mom have been a better mother if her own hadn't been so awful?
- Why doesn't Ted play more of a role in the story? What do you think happened to him?
Chew on This
David's mom isn't really to blame for being such a terrible parent. With a mother like hers, she didn't stand a chance.
David's mom is absolutely responsible for her parenting style. If David can throw of the shackles of his upbringing, she can, too.