Fred helped the boy to his feet, checked his arm and found it wasn't broken, offered to drive him home, and sighed in relief when the boy refused.

He shuffled back to his mailbox and once again opened the door, reached in and pulled out the mail. Sifting quickly through it, one piece caught his eye and he nearly dropped it. He recognized the return address, felt the bulk of the envelope and clutched at his chest from which came an odd gurgling sound that climbed the stairs of his throat and shot out his mouth before he could shut the door of his teeth.