That's what I've been thinking, too. I could see the greaseball father slipping the poor kid a little Ipecac before the interviews to generate sympathy for the family. 'Course, it could be stress, as you say, but I wouldn't put anything past the old man; he doesn't seem to have much regard for the welfare of his kids.
Yikes, I hadn’t even thought of the ipecac explanation, but Im afraid you’re right that it needs to be considered as a real possibility in this case.