[_Pause_]. You know, a letter came last week. I think it’s from Jakie, because the Cantor didn’t want to open it. YUDELSON A letter from Jakie? Nu, you didn’t heard from him for a long time.... Why don’t _you_ open it? SARA I am afraid. I couldn’t tell you why, but I got a feeling in my heart that in the letter it wouldn’t be good news. And it’s the Cantor’s birthday. YUDELSON Don’t be foolish, Mrs. Rabinowitz. I’ll bet you it’s A Number 1 good news. Give _me_ the letter. _I’ll_ read it. SARA Maybe the Cantor wouldn’t like it. YUDELSON Come on, go ahead! SARA No, I can’t do it. YUDELSON Mrs. Rabinowitz—on my responsibility I’ll open it. Tell me, where is the letter? SARA You shouldn’t open it—it’s on the top shelf. [_Points._] YUDELSON [_Goes to sideboard_]. I’ve opened already a thousand letters in my life. [_Takes letters, looks at them._] No—that’s from the gas company.... This must be from Jakie. [_Opens it quickly._] You think I should open it?—Well, all right. [_He begins reading, mumbling to himself._ SARA _sits at table,_ YUDELSON _standing._] SARA If it’s bad news I don’t want to hear it. [_Pause._] It’s bad news? YUDELSON [_To himself, painstakingly_]. “Chicago, August 2nd. My dear mother: I am well and hope to hear the same from you.” [_To_ SARA.] He says he is well, and give God to hear the same from you! [_Mumbles to himself again._] “I am coming to New York.” [_To_ SARA.] He says he is coming to New York. [_To himself._] “On the fourteenth.” [_To_ SARA.] On the fourteenth he’ll be here. SARA [_Gets up excitedly and takes letter from_ YUDELSON]. The fourteenth?—That’s today! Nu, what else? [_Eagerly, with trembling hands she gives him back the letter._] YUDELSON [_Sits at table_]. “My dear Mother—” No, I read this already. “I am earning a great deal of money.” [_To_ SARA.] He says he is making plenty money. [_Mumbles._] “And I am getting a fine position.” [_To_ SARA.] He says he is getting a good job. SARA Does he say what kind of a job? YUDELSON