“Eloquent,” Check said with a smirk.
Briggs shook his head, smiling. “Yeah, whatever.”
“Did your father speak much about the war?” Check asked suddenly.
Briggs took a moment to answer. “No. He never tried to influence me on whether I joined the service or not. It has taken this long for me to realize that he was the happiest and most content when he was here in this wonderful place that he called home, that I call home.” Briggs took another gulp of his beer. “So your offer of a fixed retirement is very enticing at this point in my life.”
Check peered into the water at the edge of the boat and nodded. “Well, that’s good for me too.”
“I was looking forward to the end of my enlistment,” Briggs continued. “I was even thinking about going to college, so the idea of paid retirement right he
