Thomas wanted to say something like I was a father once, but he imagined he might need to provide some explanation after that, and he wasn't sure how to do it without going into things he would rather forget.

So instead he said, "I like children, even if for the longest time I was never sure what to do with myself around them." That much was true. He remembered being a lonely, out of place child. "Being here has helped."

He still felt a bit uncertain, but selling toys made it a necessity and he was good at learning what was necessary.