14
Sly thumped his beer mug loudly on the table as he rose to his feet.
The Workers Tavern was packed and the Coasties had snagged the last table by arriving early. It was clearly the hot spot among local dive bars for getting your lady a steak dinner on Valentine’s Day.
“Six weeks ago, Petty Officer Chu kicked some serious ass,” he announced in a voice loud enough to get the whole bar’s attention. Or it would have been in any normal bar. At Workers, loud proclamations were no reason to pay any particular attention.
The four old graybeards at their usual spot along the back leg of the U-shaped bar were seriously off melody with the Frankie Valli tune Sherry pumping out of the old jukebox. The laughter and chatter at other tables didn’t abate in the least as Sly continued.
“The US Coas
