"Yes," Jean Claude agreed, "even long before I was born. But the police, they came after your father gave you ice to ease the pain of your cut lip?"

He paused to let that register before continuing gently. "Mon caneton, had you done something to truly bring about what the police chose to do, do you not think your father would have been more swift to serve punishment? As he chose to offer comfort, I cannot believe your actions had any bearing on what happened to your father."