Cadeau [English translation]

Last night, in the kitchen

I was preparing dinner when my little boy came in.

He held out a piece of scribbled paper.

I wiped my hands on my apron,

and read it. And this is what it said:

For having made my bed all week, 3 francs

For having done errands, 1 franc

For having watched the baby while you did errands, 1.25 francs

For having brought down the garbage 75 centimes

For having taken up the garbage 1.10 francs

For having watered the flowers on the balcony 25 centimes

Total 9.85 francs

I looked at it, he squirmed and chewed his pencil

and a throng of memories came back into my mind.

So I took his pencil, I turned over the paper and this is what I wrote:

For nine months of patience and twelve hours of suffering

Free

For so many waking nights, watching your sleep

Free

For the merry-go-round rides, toys, college

Free

And when you go around, the total of my love

It's free

When he finished reading, there was sorrow in his eyes.

He lifted his head and said:

"Mom, I love you very much."

He took his paper, turned it over, and in big, big letters, wrote:

"Free"

And when you go around, the total of the love,

It's free, it's free

• Artist:Marie Laforêt