All his life, Thomas had honoured his parent's wish for him to carry on the family business even though it was not the life he desired, because he could not bear the thought of breaking their hearts. He groaned and followed his mother to the kitchen, "Ma, stop. please listen to me. Running the shop, it is not what I want to do with my life. I just never said anything because I did not want to upset you and father," he admitted, "If I stay and run the shop, know that I will be miserable for the rest of my life. Do you really want that? is it really worth my unhappiness?"