‘It says “quelqu’un qui offrira un foyer aimant à un petit ami”. It means “someone who can offer a loving home to a little friend”.’
‘Why are they so cryptic?’
‘Because there would be no surprise if people write on the front what is inside.’
Tommy sighed. ‘Isn’t that a guide for life.’
Jacques caught the contemplative tone and he put the parcel back in thebrouette, replaced the tarpaulin keeping the presents away from the elements and nudged his brother with his elbow. ‘Talk to me.’
‘Whoa, hold up, are you crazy?’
‘What?’
‘You’ve never said those words before. Actually, no, that’s a lie. You have said those words before but they’ve always had “do not” in front of them.’
‘Then you should make the most of this new opportunity,’ Jacques suggested. He indicated the bench next to the Christmas tree they were meant to be putting more decorations on, despite it being loaded already. Tommy sat down and Jacques joined him.
‘So, have you ever felt like you’re at this crossroads in life and you don’t know which way to go? Or even if any of the roads are real?’ Tommy asked him.
‘OK,’ Jacques said. ‘These are big questions.’
‘Were you hoping I was just gonna ask if Santa Claus was real?’
‘No, that is also a big question.’
‘I don’t know what to do,’ Tommy admitted. ‘I mean, I got my sports leadership qualification, but do I want a career teaching people how to be a team? And, you know, fixing to something means permanence, right? I’m not good at that. I like getting on planes or boats when I feel like it.’
‘But Dad won’t be able to support you forever, Tommy. You’re eighteen now.’
‘And he still feels as guilty now as he did back when Mom left. That’s why he’s still handing out the dollars.’
‘And you shouldn’t be taking them.’
Tommy shrugged. ‘I never could turn down a free ride.’
‘Except, when you get something for free it usually means you’re not the consumer, you’re the product.’
‘Even when it comes to Dad?’
‘Maybe.’ He sighed. ‘I don’t know.’
There was a brief silence and Jacques watched Tommy making circles in the snow with his trainers. What advice could he give his brother? He wasn’t exactly in the best position in his own life to hand down any kind of wisdom.
‘I don’t know,’ Tommy started. ‘I thought I might look into joining the police.’
Jacques’s heart lurched. ‘Are you serious?’
‘What if I am?’
‘Tommy, the police… it is not like you think. It is not eating doughnuts and running around putting handcuffs on bad people?—’
‘How old do you think I am? Seven?’
‘No, but, you know how my time in the police was and?—’
‘You know, I don’t,’ Tommy said firmly. ‘I don’t know how your time in the police was because you never actually opened up about it.’
‘With good reason.’
