He seemed to have read enough of the label to understand that I did not need to explain the family arrangement.

“Was this file closed?”

“The number belongs to a file that was once active.

I cannot confirm the status from this reference alone.”

“Can you tell me why somebody would send it now?”

“Not without seeing the letter and the records connected to it.”

I looked down at the old number.

“My mother says there was a clerical correction in the adoption papers.