The relationship between Mrs. Campbell and her son Neil underscores fundamental issues surrounding parenting and sexuality, particularly the complexities of family love and obligation. Despite the liberal and understanding environment within the Campbell household, feelings of shame and unmet expectations still permeate. Neil grapples with his own sexuality, feeling a deep sense of shame, while his mother approaches it as a political stance she champions, only to find herself eventually defeated.

Their journey towards understanding highlights the inevitable separation that occurs between parent and child. In this mother-son dynamic, the process is tinged with a sexual aspect. However, given that Neil is homosexual, the traditional rituals of separation are rendered ineffective. Neil’s partner, Wayne, holds an important place in his life, potentially as a long-term partner. Yet, for Neil’s mother, Wayne can never fulfill the conventional role of a daughter-in-law, a reality that understandably confounds her and shapes her reactions.

This narrative illustrates the tension between a parent's expectations and the child's reality, especially when sexual identity influences the family dynamic. The Campbells' experience reflects a broader societal challenge, where acceptance often collides with ingrained perceptions and traditional family roles, prompting a reevaluation of familiar boundaries and relationships.

Mrs. Campbell's relationship with her son is marked by an undercurrent of unexpressed emotions. While she does not outwardly display anger toward Neil for his homosexuality, there is an intriguing suggestion of sublimated anger, symbolized through her choice of pets—three female dogs named Abigail, Lucy, and Fern. These dogs might represent the daughters she never had, figures in her life that offer unconditional loyalty, unlike her distant husband and her son, whose sexual orientation is at odds with her expectations.

David Leavitt draws readers into this subtle familial tension through Neil's narrative. He recalls a significant moment with his first dog, Rasputin, a male whose affection sparked Neil's initial sexual awakening. This memory delineates the distinct emotional realms that both Neil and his mother claim as their own. Where Neil's territory is marked with an evolving understanding of his identity, Mrs. Campbell's is defined by a reliance on her surrogate daughters, her dogs, who provide her solace from the perceived betrayals of significant male figures in her life.

Thus, the dynamic between Mrs. Campbell and Neil is a rich tapestry of unspoken emotions and implicit boundaries, shaped by their individual and shared experiences. Their story unfolds as a delicate interplay of loyalty, identity, and the uncharted territories of familial love.