Eighteen thousand five hundred dollars in machine print, and a blank line at the bottom where a signature belonged.

“Repayment,” he said.

“For the administrative mix-up.

You know how banks get, Ma.”

Martha leaned over it.

“That’s a great deal of money.”

“It’s your money.

That’s the whole point.” He rubbed the back of his neck once and put his hand down flat on the table.