A Past and A Future.
Oliver O'Toole celebrates his 16 years of service at the Denver Post Office. And for this occasion, everyone is preparing a nice surprise for him. The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.
"Well, this is the Mailbox Grill. We'll make some space. Of course, there will be a lot of Yoo-hoo, food, sour patch kids, I love these sweets. Here we go !" Norman said, drawing in a sketchbook.
"That's a great idea, Norman." Rita said .
"Good morning. Are you planning for a surprise birthday party?" Shane asked as she entered the DLO.
"Hi Shane! In fact, Friday is Oliver's 16th birthday at the Denver Post Office. So we wanted to surprise him. Eleanor reserved the Mailbox Grill for Friday after work." Norman replied.
"Ramon will take care of the music. He said it would be the 80's and other kinds of music." Rita added as she emptied a box.
"It's going to be great. I love it !" Shane exclaimed, delighted. What about the gifts?" She asked.
" I'm going to give Oliver a stamp collection about pony express." Norman explains.
"And I'm going to give him a book called: How the Post Office Created America: A History. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. How about you? Shane. Do you have an idea?" Rita asked, smiling.
"Oh well... I..." Shane hesitated.
That's when Oliver walked in.
"Good morning everyone. Great news, the conveyor belt is working again at the post office. The operations department had trouble because a parcel was stuck in it. So we can start sorting again." Oliver said with a smile.
Shane thinks for a moment. She had no idea what to find for a present. That's when she picked up her cell phone to send a message and everyone go back to work.
"Good, very well... Let's have lunch now... Miss McInerney, aren't you coming to lunch with us?" Oliver asked.
"That's nice, thank you. But I'm having lunch outside. I'll see you later." Shane said, smiling before leaving the office.
"I'm really hungry... So we're going to have chicken nuggets, a salad, and for dessert the Mailbox surprise." Norman exclaimed at the counter.
"I wonder who Shane went to lunch with... Wait and if Steve's back." Rita exclaimed as they sat down at the table.
The postal detective had a small laugh.
"I doubt it, Rita .At Dudly Curly's retirement party, I invited Shane back for a date at Montaldo's."
"No, you didn't? That's great, I love it!" Rita shouted, happy as she stood up.
Everyone at the Mailbox Grill, amazed, turned to Rita.
"Sorry,... sorry. You can all go back to lunch. It's very unlike me. I was just revising a line for a play for a performance. Enjoy your meal." Rita said, embarrassed before sitting down.
"It's really cool !" Norman exclaimed, looking at Rita.
Shane McInerney entered into a restaurant, walked to a table, and then smiling.
"Hi Shane! I'm glad to see you again. I hope you like pizza. " A voice said.
"Hello Joe! Thanks a lot. I really like pizza." Shane said as she sitting down.
"So Oliver, you're planning something for this weekend." Norman said as Rita took a look at him.
"No, not that I know of. Why?" The postal detective asked.
"Well, Friday after work, we could all have a drink at the Mailbox Grill together. We haven't done that in a long time." Rita remarked.
"Rita, that's a great idea." Oliver exclaimed.
Norman breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oliver told me this was his 16th year at the Denver Post Office. It's nice to organize something for him. So, Shane, if I understand correctly, you don't know what to get for Oliver." Joe remarked.
"No, I don't. I know Oliver likes books and antiques. Norman and Rita are already giving him a stamp collection and a book. So I was looking for something else as a gift. " Shane declared.
"I know Oliver well and he also appreciates letters and handmade gifts. He says always it's the thought that counts. " Joe says.
"A handmade gift?" Shane whispered as she remembered the Valentine's Day card." Can you tell me about Oliver when he was a kid?" Shane asked.
"He was a very lovely child, but also shy. I remember when he was a kid, he often lost his handkerchiefs. Until one day, his grandmother had the idea to embroider his name on all his handkerchiefs. Since that day, he has never lost them." Joe told.
"Joe, thank you, you're a genius !" Shane exclaimed with a smile.
"You're welcome!»Joe laughed.
"Hi Shane! Well, it looks like your lunch lasted longer than expected." Rita said with a smile.
"I had lunch and then did some shopping." Shane said quietly.
Rita approached her friend.
"A sketchbook, colored pencils, markers, a pattern, fabric, thread and embroidery needles." Rita exclaimed as she examined the kraft paper bag.
"Shush !" Shane exclaimed in a low voice.
"I just checked with Eleanor. We just checked the guest list." Norman said as he entered.
"Oh, by the way, I stopped by Montaldo's earlier. I asked Nikki to reserve the lemon cake for Friday." Shane remarked.
"Oh, Shane you're so sweet. We completely forgot about the cake !" Rita exclaimed.
"That's okay, Rita. I ordered a big cake." Shane laughed." Hey how many people will be there on Friday ?" Shane asked.
"Well, there will be Eleanor, Ramon, Joe, Gareth, Frank and Arthur from the terminal annex, Hazel, Lynn from the human resources office.,Mrs. Woolard of Certified Letters and Eleanor has invited friends from the church." Norman says as he checks the list.
"Friday will be a great day." Shane remarked.
"Yes, you right, miss McInerney. I read the newspaper and Friday will be a sunny and lovely day." Oliver remarked when he joined the DLO." Well, I got confirmation from Arthur at the terminal annex. This letter must be delivery in Aspen, Colorado."Oliver declared.
"Aspen? Just like the Aspen "skinny" vanilla latte that I like to order from The Denver Ben Coffee House." Shane asked.
"Aspen is a city and also the name of a mountain. But I believe that the beauty of these mountains has nothing like it. We're going there." Oliver said with a smile.
As Oliver O'Toole climbed the stairs to get home, after the delivery of the letter, someone stopped him and he turned around.
"Hazel! Is everything okay?" Oliver asked in surprise.
"No problem, everything's fine. Actually, there was an envelope for you with the DLO's address on it. And since I was right across the street, I figured I might as well deliver it to you now. Here... By the way, I didn't know you had family or a friend living in Wellington, New Zealand... See you tomorrow." Hazel said before she left.
Oliver frowned slightly. He didn't know anybody in New Zealand. He went inside, put down his satchel, grabbed a letter opener and sat down on his couch. When he read the sender's name, a smile appeared on his face, then he opened the envelope to read the letter.
My dear Oliver,
Sixteen years ago, I didn't know that I was going to meet one of the best postal detectives in the United States.
I followed the journey of your little team.
I am sure that the DLO still has great years ahead and a bright future.
Happy Birthday to the DLO in Denver.
With all my friendship.
See you soon.
Alan Gilson.
Former Postal Supervisor.
P.S.: I am enjoying a well-deserved retirement in Wellington, New Zealand. If you're ever passing by, let me know. My address is on the envelope.
Oliver folded the letter, smiled, and looked into the distance as if looking for a distant memory.
Flashback.
16 years ago.
Oliver O'Toole, dressed as a letter carrier walked to an office: Postal supervisor. He knocked and entered.
"Oliver, you're not home yet."The postal supervisor asked, smiling
"Mr. Gilson, I'd like to talk to you about the explosion of that mailbox." Oliver said, closing the door behind him.
"I don't blame you, my boy. You're still young. It could have happened to anyone and anywhere. Since the incident the mailbox has been changed and you have been able to retrieve all the letters." Gilson said.
"If I had done my job properly... Because of my mistake, people couldn't receive their mail on time." Oliver felt guilty.
The postal supervisor looked at him for a moment.
"Why don't you apply to the DLO, the Dead Letter Office?" Gilson asked.
"The Dead Letter Office?" Oliver asked, surprised.
"Follow me. I know exactly what you need." Gilson said.
Oliver followed the postal supervisor through the long corridors of the post office. This office seemed far from everything to him.
He then opened the doors and they entered the DLO.
"Welcome to the Dead Letter Office !" Gilson exclaimed.
Oliver walked around the office for a long time, looking at piles of letters and all sorts of boxes.
"Hundreds of thousands of letters lost, damaged by water, fire, time, unaddressed letters waiting to be delivered to their recipients." Gilson said as Oliver looked carefully at box full of letters.
"While some consider this lost office to be a pure waste and of no interest to the postal service. No, no, no, no. I think that each service has its place like any things in the world." Gilson added.
"Sticking a stamp on an envelope and sending it out into the world is an act of faith. And behind every letter lives have taken the risk of writing a letter and have chosen to trust us to send their messages. This work is priceless and it is a vocation. Mr. Gilson, I want to continue to find what has been lost. I would like to work at the Dead Letter Office." Oliver said with conviction.
"Good, very good. So be it. I'm sure this job is a perfect fit for you. Good evening, Oliver," Gilson said with a smile before leaving.
In the weeks and months that followed, Oliver O'Toole appreciated this new work to unravel the mysteries of lost letters and find the recipients. It was providential work.
His knowledge allowed him to identify the destination of certain letters, but he knew that he alone could not fully accomplish this task.
"Well, it looks like our Sherlock Holmes from the Post Office enjoys working at the DLO." Gilson said one morning, sneaking into the DLO as Oliver carefully examined an envelope through a magnifying glass.
"Good morning, Mr. Gilson. Yes, I enjoy working here... Are you going to leave us?" Oliver asked as he saw Gilson with a suitcase in his hand.
"Yes, I'm being transferred to a post office in Nashville, Tennessee. A new postal supervisor named Andrea will replace me in few months. Just yesterday, I appointed you Section Head of the Dead Letter Office. Congratulations, Oliver. I can't think of a better person to head this department than you."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Gilson, for your confidence. I will be up to the task." Oliver said.
"Well, all that's left is to find you a small team to carry out your mission. I'm sure you're going to make it. Good day and see you soon. God bless you, Oliver." Gilson said with a smile before leaving the DLO.
End of flash back.
Oliver was still rereading the letter when he didn't pay attention to the front door that had already ringed more twice. He stepped forward to open it, when he saw his father, and he remembered that he supposed to dinner with him at home.
"So, son, you were in a dream." Joe laughed as he entered.
"Not exactly. It was more of a short trip back in time." Oliver replied with a smile.
"Tell me, Shane, how are you doing with your embroidery?" Rita asked who was talking to her friend on the phone.
"Well, I've already watched tutorial videos on the internet. I've already made several sketches to find out what I wanted. I hope I can finish the embroidery in time." Shane answered.
"I'm not worried. I'm sure you're going to make it, especially after the beautiful banner you made when I won Miss Colorado. I'll see you tomorrow. By the way, don't get pricked by a needle." Rita said laughing before hanging up.
"Don't get pricked by a needle". Shane repeated, curious to know what Rita meant to say.
"Wow! I never knew you could cook so well. It's Shane, who will be happy." Joe laughed.
"Uh, dad, there's a question I have to ask you. You don't have to answer me now. Why did you leave the post office?" Oliver asked, very seriously.
Joe took a deep breath.
"You know, son, lies hurt more than the truth. I'm going to tell you the truth. I have always thought that you are going to work at the post office, and you know, there is not just friends at the post office. I didn't want people to think you were working at the post office because of your dad. I wanted you prove yourself. You've worked your way up and look where you are today, the best postal detective in Denver. You're a living postal legend. Besides, I was sure you didn't want to be in touch with me after you left home. I always wanted to hear from you. So before I left, I asked your Uncle Edward, who lives in Boulder, to give me news about you. He's the one who told me you were working at the DLO and that you got married." Joe replied.
"Dad, I'm really sorry you had to go through all this. You have always been there for me. I was too angry and selfish not to see that. I apologize. And I pray the Lord to forgive me." Oliver said.
"It's the past. I'm so proud of you, Oliver. And now that I'm here, I intend to follow your story with Shane very seriously." Joe said with a smile.
"That's great. Plus you're giving great advice." Oliver exclaimed with a laugh.
TBC.
Author's note:To be continued. Thank you all for reading this first chapter. Take care and have you all a good day. :)