A New Beginning

Brother Andre has asked the four parents to meet with him at a terrace cafe. The children are in a park like area below the dzong, playing in a grove of willows and alders, where there is a creek and a foot bridge, a pretty setting.

"Mr and Mrs Schuurman, Mr and Mrs Spiets, thank you for joining me here. I have something important to discuss with you, and I must be careful how I handle it.

First let me confirm that you have all agreed that Jack should go to Holland with the Spiets, and become part of their family as an adopted son. Is that correct?"

Siem, "That is correct." The others nod.

"Good. You've all heard, from Jack and from me, that he was a foundling, and that nothing is known about his parentage. But the exact truth, as is often the case, is a bit more complicated.

Jack is going far away, and I cannot be sure of contacting him at any given time in the future, so I now must inform you of the following: I came into possession of a letter, in 1946 I believe it was, which purports to describe some circumstances surrounding his birth. Jack himself knows nothing of this.

The material as I say, is circumstantial, and it does not contain any clue which can be used to identify his parents. As a matter of fact, there is a warning in it not to attempt that."