(25 years earlier)
The late afternoon sun hung low over Queen Creek, Arizona, casting long, golden shadows over the vast, open fields. The smell of dry earth and cattle lingered in the air as a group of boys, their faces streaked with dirt and sweat, shouted and laughed, tossing around a weathered football. Among them, Bruce stood tall for his age, with the confidence that made the other boys fall in line. He was only ten, but already, there was something commanding about him. He didn't hav