“The truth just stands there.”

“Is Lieutenant Wyler going to let you come to Career Day tomorrow, Mom?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“I’ve got my official papers ready.”

“Tyler said Lieutenant Wyler is going to check everybody’s uniform at the front door of the gym,” Matty said.

“He can check anything he likes,” I said.

“You wrote a good essay, Matty.”

“It feels like everybody thinks I made it all up,” he said softly.