the envelope was too thin

The envelope felt too thin to tell either way, and you carried it out to the front step to open it, because whatever it said, you 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.

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