In the bottom right corner, right over the parent signature line, was Lieutenant Wyler’s square red rejection stamp: REJECTED – INSUFFICIENT CREDENTIAL PROOF.

“Did you tell people you were a SEAL, Mom?” Matty asked quietly, his voice barely louder than the rain in the gutters.

“No, Matty,” I said.

“I’m an EOD Master Chief.

I take bombs apart.

I work right next to SEAL teams when we deploy overseas, but my job is called something different.”

Matty stared at the red stamp on the page.

“Bobby told the whole lunch table I made it up so kids would think you were cool.”