Joe O'Toole's journey.


This short fiction is an introspection of Joe's life until his return to Denver. This story is inspired of the movie "Truth Be Told". The SSD characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.


"Listen to me Oliver...I'm not responsible for your mother leaving. I accepted a lot of things and I did what I thought was right. I've always done everything to try to keep you safe, to save our family." Joe said as he followed Oliver into the living room.

"Save our family, I believe you. You pushed Mom into out of the house. We moved out after your divorce. She never wrote to me again. And a few weeks, you announce her death." Oliver said angrily, suddenly putting his suitcase on the floor.

"It was hard for me too. Oliver, I loved your mother deeply. And believe me, today all that matters to me, is you. I don't want to lose you, son."Joe declared.

"I think you already have. If you want to do me a favor. Don't talk to me again. I don't want you in my life anymore." Oliver exclaimed still very angry.

"Oliver, you don't mean what you say !" Joe exclaimed, hurt.

That's when Oliver took his suitcase, opened the door and went outside in the pouring rain.

"Oliver, come back, Oliver !" Joe shouted as his son's silhouette disappeared into the distance.


Sad, exhausted, and heart filled with grief, Joe burst into tears. He had gone through so many difficult trials in his life, but this was one of the hardest.

He loved Oliver so much that he never imagined that he would ever have to go through this.

Joe looked out the window. The rain had stopped and the sun was coming out of the clouds. He didn't want to stay home and took his car keys. He wanted to go to the mountains, to reflect, pray, be at peace with himself, and heal the wounds in his heart.

While he only planned to watch the sunset, Joe stayed more longer.

It was dark, and at the foot of the mountain, Joe was looking to the starry sky. The film of his life was unfolding in his head, like many memories.

Flashback.

"Is that the North Star?" Oliver asked ,child, looking through the telescope.

"Yes, that's right," Joe, answered looking his turn through the telescope. Do you like it, to see the stars ?

"Yes, it's beautiful. Dad, do you think the stars that twinkle in the sky are moving ?" Oliver asked.

"Each star has its own journey and follows its own path. Within each individual, there is a star just waiting to shine. For that, you have to shine your own light and follow your own path. That's how stars shine." Joe answered with a smile.

He had been thinking all night. When the sun rises to illuminate the rocky mountains, Joe prayed for take a decision.


Boulder, Colorado.

Joe stopped his car, not far from a house, or maybe more precisely a cottage, located not far from the Boulder Creek.

He rang the doorbell and a woman opened the door with a smile on her face.

"What a surprise! Good morning Joe. How are you? I was just about to make breakfast. I hope you're going to join us." She asked.

"Good morning, Amy. That's very nice of you. Is Edward here?" Joe asked.

Suddenly a man came out of the house.

"Yes, he is, my dear cousin. Edward Bartlett O'Toole, the one and only. You don't look well." Edward remarked.

"It's a long story, Ed."Joe, said sadly

" Boulder Creek is big enough for any story." Edward added with a smile.


Boulder Creek.

Joe and his cousin were walking along the river.

" So, Oliver left the house. He is young. Have you told him the truth?" Edward asked.

"No, and I didn't want to. I think I would have lost him even more. But his last words were so hard to hear. I'm still struggling to get over it." Joe replied.

"I see... Joe you've always made a lot of sacrifices. You love everyone and your family so much. I know that must have been hard to hear, that he must have acted out of anger. But deep down, Oliver loves you. You are such an example of courage and love. I don't know many people who would have done what you did." Edward said.

"I hope so too. I've made the decision to leave." Joe announced.

"Where do you want to go?" His cousin asked.

"I'm going to go to the East Coast. I don't know where yet. As soon as I have a new address, I'll send it to you. And I've decided to leave the postal service." Joe replied.

"Leave the postal service? Joseph Henry O'Toole, the postal service is your whole life !"Edward exclaimed.

"It's a personal choice. I'm sure Oliver will be joining the postal service soon. There is not just friends at the post office. I don't want people to say he's working at the post office because of his father. Oliver is smart and hard-working. I'm sure he will become a great postal worker. And I don't think he wants to be in touch with me. Well, there you go, you know everything. Edward, I have a favor to ask to you." Joe asked.

"Joe, you've always been a brother to me. Ask me anything you want." Edward answered.

"Can you take care of Oliver, visit him and let me know how he is. You're his only next of kin here and...

"Don't worry. Oliver is like my own son. Knowing him, he will come here today. I'll write to you, I promise," Edward said.

"Thank you so much, Edward, from the bottom of my heart." Joe said, before turned around to cry.

"Joe!" Edward whispered in a low voice, with a sad face.


A few months later.

FedEx offices, Hartford, Connecticut.

"Hello! Welcome to Hartford, Connecticut. You must be Joseph Henry O'Toole?" You're assigned to delivery. My name is Jeff and I also work in delivery. Welcome aboard !" He smiled.

"Nice to meet you Jeff. You can call me Joe." Joe added.

"Great! Sorry, I won't be able to show you the offices now. We have an important delivery day today. I hope that's okay, Joe. I read that, before coming to FedEx, you worked for the U.S. Postal Service." Jeff says as they walked to a truck.

"No problem to me. Yes, I did work there." Joe replies.

"And now you are with us. I'm sure you'll have a lot to teach us about postal delivery. Come on, let's go !" Jeff exclaimed as he started the truck.


Days and weeks went by for Joe O'Toole.

One evening, he was sitting at the kitchen table, in his apartment, when he opened a letter. He couldn't even count the stacks of letters, that had been on a small shelf, since he arrived in Hartford.

Dear Joe,

Thank you for your last letter.

Here, life takes its course. Everyone is doing well. I also understand your grief over all the letters from Oliver that have come back to you. Oliver now works at the Dead Letter Office. He is a team leader and is in charge of finding lost letters with two colleagues. Oliver is a loyal, hard-working, persevering and honest employee. He is appreciated by everyone. You must be so proud of him. Anyway, I hope everything is going well for you. I look forward to receiving another letter. Next week, I'll go to Denver.

Take care of yourself Joe.

Your brother and cousin.

Edward Bartlett O'Toole.


DLO, Denver.

Oliver O'Toole was finishing putting some files on his desk when the doors of the DLO opened.

"Uncle Edward! What a surprise, I'm glad to see you. I have good news for you. Three days ago I met Holly. And we got married at City Hall. You're the first one in the family to know," Oliver announced with a smile.

Really?" He smiled." I must say this news surprises me a little."Edward said, a little disappointed.

"What do you mean?" Oliver asked.

"Usually, you're a wise and thoughtful person when you make a decision. I would have thought you would have taken the time to think about it. A wedding takes time and planning. You know better than anyone that marriage is sacred. And it is a wonderful moment to share with friends, family and loved ones. And you know what are the values and traditions of the O'Toole family." Edward replied.

The postal detective sighed at length.

"I believe in fate. I don't give up my beliefs and principles, Uncle Ed. I've suffered a lot in my life. Why shouldn't I have the right to be happy, today, like everyone else." He declared.

"Oliver, I'm talking to you as if you were my son. I respect your decision. I wish you a lot of happiness." Edward added.

"Uncle Ed, I have a favor to ask of you. I'm going to rent an apartment downtown at Holly's request. Could you keep the keys to the O'Toole house." Oliver asked.

"Sure, I will. Give me a call. See you later, son." Edward said, smiling, before leaving the DLO.


Hartford, Connecticut.

The next evening, Joe, with a heavy heart, silently and emotionally re-read a letter he had just written to send it

Dear Edward,

Thank you for your letter. I am so happy that he got married. I wish him a lot of happiness. Like any father, I would have liked to be present at my son's wedding. I wish I could have given him a green tie. So much the better if he is happily married. That's the most important thing for me.

Thank you again for telling me.

See you soon.

Joe O'Toole.


~One year later.~

"It's for you, Mrs. Shelton ! Here's your brand new gas stove with a oven and easy to assemble." Jeff exclaimed as he made his last delivery with Joe.

"Thank you very much. Tell me, could you help me install it? My son is in Michigan all week and I'm alone..." The elderly lady asks

That's when Jeff looked at Joe.

"I'm fine with it! Do you have any tools?" Joe asked with a smile.

"Joe, you're really unique." Jeff exclaimed.

"This way you can taste my cookies. I make the best ones in the whole neighborhood. " The lady added with a smile.

"And now the day's work is done... It's true that Mrs. Shelton's cookies are the best." Jeff said after eating a cookie and starting the truck.

"It's good to help people."Joe added.

"Yeah, like the DLO in Denver, they're fantastic !" Jeff exclaimed.

"The what?" asked Joe.

"Didn't you read the paper? Look, it's in the glove compartment. The Dead Letter Office in Denver saved a girl who needed a kidney transplant. They won the Dark of Night Award..."

Joe could hardly hear him anymore , and read the newspaper, full of emotions of joy and happiness mixed in his heart.

"Everyone talks about their team leader, even at FedEx. What's his name? Yes, Oliver O' Toole. This guy is a real living postal legend. Wait, your name's O'Toole, too. Do you know him, Joe?" Jeff asked.

"Yes, of course I know him. I'm his father." Joe replied with a smile.

"No way ? Are you kidding me ? Joe, here beside me, who loves the blues, is Oliver O'Toole's father. Wow! That's incredible! I'm sure you must be very proud of him." Jeff remarked, smiling.

"Yes, I am very proud of him and I always have been." Joe said with a smile.


~Three years later~

Boulder, Colorado.

Edward Bartlett O'Toole was at his desk correcting student assignments when a one made him laugh.

"I'm back. How was your replacement in that elementary school class? I guess it must have been a change from your classes in college." Amy asked as she entered.

"Yes, it was very cool. I think I'm going to be a little more imaginative for my next class. I gave them a general knowledge test. And there are some really creative and funny children. Look at this copy." He said, laughing.

General knowledge test:

1. What's the closest mountain to space?

The Space Mountain at Disneyland Park.

2. Who invented the internet?

A genius!

3. With your own words, explain the time zones.

Awesome!

It's a fantastic phenomenon. Because we can live the same day in several different countries.

4. Batman vs Superman ? Who win ?

Batman, The Dark Knight, without hesitation !

5. There are 15 candies. Paul takes 9 and gives 3 to his sister. How many candies are left?

Paul is selfish, he should have given the last 3 candies to his sister. Not only is he selfish, but he is also going to get a lot of cavities.

"Indeed, it's a lot of fun. I think your students like you already." She laughed. "Here's a letter from Joe. It makes me sad. They both enough suffered. I wish they could find each other again." Amy said.

"I only know one person who is in charge of that. For the rest, we have to pray." Edward declared as he picked up the envelope to open it.

Dear Edward,

These few lines will be the last letter I send you.

So much time has passed.

It's time for me to go home.

From tomorrow morning, I'm hitting the road back to Denver, Colorado.

See you soon, my dear cousin.

Joe O'Toole.

"Edward?" Amy asked.

"You know, "forever" is a very, very long time. But time has a way of changing things. Walt Disney." Edward declared, putting the letter on his desk with a smile.

And he was right, because time changes many things, until this long-awaited day.


Somewhere in Colorado.

"I thought you were married?" Joe asked.

"She's gone," Oliver replied.

"At least we have something in common," Joe laughed.

"Yes we do." Oliver laughed. You know, I think your coming back has something to do with fate. You came at a time in my life when I really needed it...

"You know son, nothing happens by

coincidence. There's a time for everything." Joe added.

"And a time to finally find you, Dad. These last days were very difficult. I'm so sorry I didn't realize instead that you were always trying to protect me and that...

"Ollie, forget the mistakes of the past. For me, the greatest legacy a parent can leave their child is time and love.

That's what I've always done. And today, I'd like to continue doing it." Joe said.

"Those are beautiful words." Oliver added.

"Shane seems nice." Joe said as he strummed his guitar.

He looked at his father with a blissfully smile.

"She's very efficient." Oliver said.

"That's it? Come one O'Toole! Admit you have a crush on her. You're talking to your dad." Joe laughed.

" I know... I know. So yes, to be honest, I'm very much in love with her." Oliver replied blushing.

"Great ! It's look very serious. You could already invite her to dinner." Joe said smiling.

"Speaking of which, we're going to celebrate Shane's birthday at Mailbox Grille next Monday. I'm sure she'd love for you to come. I could also introduce you to Norman and Rita." Oliver says.

"Cool! It's been a long time since I've been a surprise guest. I'm so glad to be back," Joe says with a smile.

"Me too, Dad, me too," Oliver said smiling.

The end.


Author's note: Thanks everyone for reading this story. Have a nice day. :)