Kenneth tapped his iron wrench on the side of his steel-toe boot and let out the red nylon leashes on Rex and Tank.

“Are we allowed to pet the bomb dogs?” the second boy asked, looking up at Kenneth.

“Rex likes his ears scratched,” Kenneth said, kneeling down next to the Belgian Malinois.

“Tank likes his chin better.”

Matty unzipped his yellow paper folder and took out his three-page handwritten essay.

The title across the top was written in thick black marker: *Why My Mother Walks First.*

“Are you reading that to your homeroom this afternoon?” Principal Thorne asked, coming up behind Matty with her clipboard.