He reached up with his right hand and laid his palm flat over the shiny brass EOD Master Chief badge pinned to my left chest pocket.

“It stays right where it belongs,” Matty said quietly.

“It’s not going anywhere, buddy,” I said.

He pulled open the heavy passenger door and climbed in, setting his yellow essay folder on his lap.

I got behind the wheel and turned the key.

Kenneth came up to the driver’s window while the engine idled and leaned his arm on the open frame.

“Demolition team is blowing the Sandbridge practice bomb at three,” Kenneth said, taking his gloves out of his back pocket.