My dad told us he was a mid-level manager at a parts distributor

envelope still untouched. It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen Mom scared. Not teary-eyed. Not broken. Scared.

Ellie finally says, “We need to open it.”

Mom doesn’t answer, but her fingers twitch. Then she pushes the envelope toward me. “You do it,” she whispers.

I peel the seal off slowly. Inside is a single sheet of thick paper. The letterhead at continue reading …