Who is Cutis Allston from All the Little Live Things and what is their importance?

Curtis Allston is Joe and Ruth's only child. Curtis begins acting out in his adolescence. As an adult, Curtis has trouble settling on a career or a path in life. Curtis often returns to his parents when a job is lost or he fails at a business venture. Eventually Curtis comes to California to return to school, but his parents quickly learn that he quit after one semester and joined a gang of surfers. Within months, Joe gets the call he has dreaded all of Curtis' life, that his son has drowned.