Summary

Michael Bouvier, an aging operative, receives a cryptic postcard prompting him to deliver a smoking cessation kit and doughnuts to a man named Daniel Michaelson in Sandusky, Ohio, leading to a reunion with an old colleague and a new mission as part of the mysterious Omega organization.

Abstract

The narrative titled "THE POSTCARD" revolves around Michael Bouvier, who receives an intriguing postcard directing him to deliver specific items to Daniel Michaelson at a diner in Sandusky, Ohio. The postcard, postmarked from Boise, Idaho, and arriving two days later in Chelsea, New York, contains instructions for Michael to bring Daniel to a safe house in Cleveland. Despite his age and time away from such assignments, Michael eagerly prepares for the task, reflecting on past missions and the importance of his role within the Omega organization. His journey is marked by a sense of nostalgia, purpose, and anticipation for the unknown. Upon arrival, Michael meets Daniel and learns of the latter's skepticism and connection to a man named James. The situation is resolved with the unexpected appearance of Jonathan Margolis and Dr. Eldin Carmichael, who reveal the significance of the mission and the interconnectedness of their covert operations. The story concludes with Michael and Daniel embarking on a new chapter in their lives as part of Omega, with the understanding that each element of the mission, including the doughnuts, symbolizes the organization's past, present, and future.

Opinions

Michael feels a sense of fulfillment and excitement at being called back into service despite his age.
The narrative suggests that Michael's missions often involve personal interactions and deliveries that hold deeper significance within the Omega organization.
The TSA's thorough search of Michael hints at a perception of him as more than just an ordinary traveler, possibly aware of his covert activities.
Michael's reflective nature during the flight indicates a deep appreciation for the journey and the mysteries that each mission holds.
The story implies that the Omega organization operates with a high level of secrecy, even among its members, to protect the integrity of its missions.
The reunion between Jonathan Margolis and Daniel Michaelson, and Michael's role in it, underscores the value and recognition Michael holds within the organization.
The doughnuts are symbolically loaded, representing the layers of meaning and connection within the Omega organization's operations.

STORY | DANIEL

THE POSTCARD

April 16, 2011

It was mailed in a mailbox in Boise Idaho at 12:15 PM on April 11 and postmarked at 7 PM at the central Boise terminal it was addressed to Michaels Bouvier in Chelsea New York. The postcard took 2 days to arrive and it was delivered to Michael’s post office box at 5:00 PM. On the back of a postcard was written in a feminine hand the name and address of the Starbucks diner in Sandusky Ohio, with the name Daniel Michaelson, written in large letters beneath, with the caption of 4:00 PM on April 16 written in the top left corner. Beneath the name was only one sentence written which read, “Bring a smoking cessation kit and three chocolate doughnuts and bring him to the safe house in Cleveland.”

It had been a long time since Michael had received such a postcard and he was surprised when he removed it from his postal box, remembering when the postcards had stopped in the spring of 2009.

He knew he was getting older and the trips abroad had been difficult. But he had missed the excitement of receiving these assignments and the revelations that often had come at the end. When he had this newest postcard in his hand, he was happy that at nearly 80, his services were still needed. He didn’t hesitate, he prepared a bag quickly. He made a couple of phone calls and he arranged to fly to Cleveland for that evening. He would gladly pay the cost because he knew in his heart that any cost would be a blessing. He felt good to be needed again. He was happy to comply.

When he boarded the plane at LaGuardia airport, dressed in a dark blue sweater and grey slacks, he looked debonair and distinguished. He was surprised when the TSA still insisted on a full-body pat-down, that took 15 minutes of scrutiny before he was allowed to board the plane. He wondered if they knew if they could sense what he was doing because he knew the most important tasks had always been requested of him. He sat down at a seat in the middle of the Boeing 757 and beside him sat two young women on a vacation trip to Cleveland. He sat quietly listening while they spoke about their plans to visit the Rock ‘n’Roll Hall of Fame and various sites around Cleveland. Every detail was laid out for him, From their hotel plans to their family illnesses, and for someone as perceptive as Michael, a whole panoply of questions danced inside his head as he listened while they waited for the plane to begin to move. There had always been this excitement at the beginning of our journey. Sometimes there would be struggling. There had always been a blessing at the end. He pondered almost prayerfully what awaited him in Sandusky. He had never known at the outset what the outcome would be. He had sensed that this was to protect him, as his ignorance often had before.

Then when the plane began to rise into the air and felt the rush of endorphins that he always felt when flying, he was glad that OMEGA still found a use for him, even with such a seemingly simple task. When the flight attendant came by with the beverage cart, he found himself asking for lemonade and he didn’t know why she likewise seems surprised, but this was only the first surprise.

When he arrived in Cleveland, he went to the car, a Honda Insight hybrid, which was the first time he drove a hybrid car. You would also be the first time he had driven in over a year. As he traveled west the 64.7 miles, the drive took an hour and 15 minutes. He stopped twice and a drug store to buy the smoking cessation kit and at a Dunkin Donut to buy three chocolate doughnuts. Didn’t know why the number three. He was three minutes 2 to 4 when he arrived at the Starbucks diner.

The parking lot was empty except for three cars and when he opened the front door of the diner, he could only see five customers inside. A man, who he would later know as Daniel Michaelson was sitting in a corner booth, eating a hamburger and french fries and drinking a cup of coffee. Michael had no idea why Daniel was there or what Daniel’s story might be. He held the bag of doughnuts in one hand and the smoking cessation kit in the other.

“Is anyone here named Daniel Michaelson?” he spoke firmly. He had no idea what he would do if no one responded. Then to his surprise, Daniel shouted back to him, “Who are you? What do you want with me?”

My name is Michael Bouvier. I’ve come to give you a smoking cessation kit and doughnuts.”

“Is this some kind of joke?” Daniel asked him. “Were you put up to this by James?”

Michael had no clue as to who this James might be.

“No, I am from New York. I’ve come to speak to you.”

“Then speak. What do you have to say to me?”

“We don’t want any trouble,” James, the manager of Starbucks, came out from his office.

“I am not here to make any trouble,” Michael responded. “I am here to make a delivery.”

At this moment, as the three men stood anxiously looking at each other, not knowing what was going on, the door at the diner opened again and I, Jonathan Margolis and Dr Eldin Carmichael walked in together into the Starbuck’s diner. I came there to finally close this circle with Daniel Michaelson and to finally introduce myself to Michael Bouvier. I reached out my hand and Daniel finally recognised me. We had been together in the facility in those difficult months after my kidnapping. I hugged Michael Bouvier. “You are the heart of Omega, Michael,” I told my friend. “Thank you for all that you’ve done to make this possible,”

Michael was visibly moved.

Then turning to Daniel and struggling a moment to speak, I told him, “You said once that you would follow me to the bowels of the earth, Daniel. Well, I am here to take you up on your offer. Are you ready to go?”

He answered in a moment. “Yes, I am ready. I am ready.“

I could sense he knew that I knew what he had been through over the years.

“Good,“ Dr Carmichael responded. “Do you want to take Daniel or should we?”

“I’ll take him,” Michael responded.

Michael opened his passenger car door for Daniel and Daniel climbed inside”

“By my calculation, we should be in Cleveland by 8 o’clock,” Michael told him as he started the engine.

“Welcome to Omega, Mr. Michaelson,” Michael told him as the car began to move.

Neither Michael nor Daniel had any clue about what awaited them in Cleveland, what complex and intricate network we had constructed in the last 10 years, nor how each doughnut I had asked for Michael to purchase represented the past, present, and future of our movement, all interconnected and interspersed, each person enhancing all the others. I wanted them both to see and understand what we had built together and I wanted Michael to know that it could not have been done without him, and like so many other of our milestones, it had all begun with a postcard.