Why would there be different stories of the event if no one is just plain lying

Because people remember things differently. They might remember different parts of the event.

So  if  the sum of the enthalpies of the reactants is greater than the products, the  reaction  will be  exothermic.  if  the products side has a larger enthalpy, the  reaction  is  endothermic. you may wonder why  endothermic reactions, which soak up energy or enthalpy from the environment, even happen