"Too much old-fashioned austerity would rob the child of enjoying his best days, those ofchildhood."Juline feels that she has achieved the ultimate - marriage to BernardHemmings. He is tall, brown and handsome, and has curly hair. He liveson the hills and has a massive house surrounded by lush greenery. Julineis now rubbing shoulders with the Jones'. She has dreamt of such a conquest for some timeand her aspiration has materialized. Away with the dark-skinned father of her son, he isnow a reminder of her sad mistake.Bernard Junior enters the world and Juline swears to put him above everything andeveryone else, including her first son, Jared. He is her precious son born in wedlock andBernard's only son. No one should usurp him. She becomes obsessed with Bernard Junior, defending him even when he is wrong.Blame should never be placed on her 'beautiful' son. It must be someone else whocauses him to do wrong, or Jared was not being a responsible bigger brother. His threesisters from other relationships are intruders who must be dealt with and so is anyone whostands in his way. Who dares to oppose Bernard Junior and to what end?