He’s not allowed to see his friends over the weekend because his mother noticed he’d been drinking. She conducted her interrogation methodically. Since they’re not allowed out during their study periods, she wanted to know what ruse he’d used to manage to drink inside the school. Had he finished an hour early? Had he left without permission? Within a few minutes, Mathis had invented a whole story: a girl in his class had brought in a little bottle of rum to make a cake and they’d shared what was left of that. It tasted a bit sugary and spicy; they didn’t realize how much they’d had. He had the sort of mother who would believe they still baked cakes in school. She wanted to know if Théo was with them (she’s convinced that Théo is behind everything). With a confidence that surprised even him, he said no. Théo had been absent.
In the end she let it drop. This time she wouldn’t say anything to his father. But she warned him: if it happened again, if she found out that he’d drunk alcohol in or out of school, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him.
He wasn’t allowed to play on his gaming console either. He wasn’t allowed to contact anyone at all because she’d confiscated his cell phone. In any case, when Théo is at his dad’s, they never meet up.
On Saturday afternoon Mathis went with her to buy new sneakers because his old ones were starting to pinch. When they left the store, they went to see his big sister, who lives with a friend near Montparnasse Cemetery, and drop off the shopping his mother said she’d get her. They had tea with Sonia, then they walked home. On the way they looked at the movie posters and discussed which ones they’d like to see.
All afternoon, he noticed his mother had that vague sadness that he hates because he can’t shake off the feeling that he’s responsible for it. There’s a certain tone in her voice that he alone seems to catch and a way she has of looking at him as though he’s become an adult overnight and is preparing to depart for the other end of the earth. Or as though he’s committed some mistake that he’s completely unaware of.
On Monday morning he met Théo outside school. His friend had done some research over the weekend; he had plans he was eager to tell Mathis about.
When Mr. Châle collected the money that the parents were supposed to send for the evening at the Opéra Garnier, Théo said that his mother didn’t want him to go because of the terrorist attacks. Mr. Châle hesitated for a moment and was about to ask some more questions, but then thought better of it.
Mathis knows this isn’t true. It’s not because of his mother. Théo isn’t going because he doesn’t have the money. And it’s not the first time.