“He saw a fifth grader using a word he never managed to earn,” Kenneth said.

“He told Principal Thorne the school’s integrity was at stake,” I said.

“He wanted to break the kid so he could feel big,” Kenneth said.

Kenneth bent down, took hold of the handle on the rusted iron practice casing and hoisted thirty pounds of iron out of the sand trench.

He carried it toward the tailgate of our utility truck.

Rex and Tank stood by the back tires with their ears pricked toward the sound of the waves.