the envelope was too thin

The envelope felt too thin to tell either way, and I carried it out to the front step to open it, because whatever it said, I did not want to be standing in the hallway when it said it. Next door's sprinkler was going. Somewhere down the street a car radio played half a summer song and moved on.

I read the first line about six times. Then I went back inside and put the kettle on like a normal person, and halfway through filling it I heard myself make a sound I have never made before or since, and my dad came down the stairs two at a time, and I just held the letter up.