Mamma’s Boy
In high school, many kids rebel against their parents. In the restrooms, they apply makeup surreptitiously and listen to music that their parents dislike. But this guy was dedicated to making his mother happy, even if she didn’t tell him exactly what she thought.
Some people do have really harsh parents, but he responded too quickly. Suspiciously quick. He could have at least tried to inquire if she would let him go or not. This just makes it seem like a pretext. Alternatively, he might tell the girl that he didn’t want to attend the prom with her.