CARY, NC — A Cary father made a jarring discovery Tuesday while searching for a takeout menu, unearthing an unopened college acceptance letter addressed to his son nine months after his son completed his first full semester at Westbrook University and is currently registered for spring finals.

Greg Faulkner, 52, confirmed the letter had been placed in the kitchen junk drawer sometime in May of last year alongside a AAA battery of unknown charge, a laminated chore chart that was never implemented, and four twist ties. He estimates it had been there “the whole time.”

“It was a really nice envelope,” Faulkner said, still holding it. “Heavy stock. They put real effort into this.” He added that he would like to frame it, and has asked his wife where they keep the frames, which are also in the junk drawer.

“He got a merit scholarship, apparently. That’s in here too. On a separate insert.”

His son, Tyler Faulkner, 19, who is currently studying business administration 340 miles away, said the discovery was “very on brand” and that he had assumed the letter was lost. Tyler confirmed he learned of his acceptance via a portal notification and had not thought about the letter since April 2025.

Greg’s wife, Donna Faulkner, 50, said she had suspected the letter was in the drawer but had not raised the issue because she “didn’t want to start something.”

At press time, Greg Faulkner had located a frame in the junk drawer, confirming it was the correct size, and had begun searching a second junk drawer in the laundry room for hanging hardware.