“We can’t have kids spreading tall tales about elite forces on school property.”

He checked his gold wristwatch and tapped the page twice with his index finger.

“This kid wrote that his mother is a Navy SEAL operator who disarms explosives,” Wyler told the city firefighter.

“That’s a textbook case of civilian stolen valor exaggeration, even if it comes from an eleven-year-old.”

The firefighter gave a silent nod, shifted his weight, and stepped back toward his own safety display box.

I went straight up to the edge of the Navy folding table.