“The principal said the assembly starts right on the hour.”

“The tide gives us three hours,” I said, reaching into my pocket to give him three dollars for his lunch milk.

“I’ll be in the bleachers before the principal calls up the first speaker.”

“Lieutenant Wyler put a red question mark on my homeroom desk yesterday,” Matty said, tugging the shoulder straps of his heavy canvas backpack.

“He told Mrs.

Thorne official Navy credentials have to be checked by base public affairs before anybody gets to go up to the microphone.”