Cadeau

[Marie Laforêt]
Last night, in the kitchen
I was preparing dinner, when my little boy came in
He handed me a scribbled piece of paper
I wiped my hands on my apron
And I read it, and here's what it said

[Child]
For making my bed all week 3 francs
For going on errands 1 franc
For watching the baby while you went on errands 1 franc 25
For taking down the trash basket 75 cents
For putting up the trash basket 1 franc and 10 cents
For watering the flowers on the balcony 25 cents
Total 9 francs and 85 cents

[Marie Laforêt]
I looked at him, he squirmed while chewing his pencil
And a flood of memories came back to me
So I took his pencil, turned the page and here's what I wrote

For nine months of patience and twelve hours of suffering
Gift
For so many sleepless nights, watching over your sleep
Gift
For the carousel rides, the toys, the school
Gift
And when we add it all up, the total of my love
It's a gift

When he finished reading, he had a big sadness in his eyes
He looked up and said

Mom, I love you very much

He took his paper again, turned it over, and in big, big letters
Wrote

And when we add it all up, the total of love
It's a gift, it's a gift