He didn’t want to open it.  There was a sense of dread within him, that pounded on his 100-year-old heart, because he knew he was going to be asked to jump back in the fire that previously burned him, but God allowed him to live through it, somehow. It reminded him of a deep canyon of loss, but also, a victory that no one could have predicted. So, he took it with him, inside his coat pocket, folded up so it fit nicely, then went to the only place he knew he could have calm with his inner thoughts.

The beach bar.  Gorgeous Guiness was calling, but really, she could just whisper and he would hear her quite easily, carried by the whispering wind of time.  He hadn’t been to this bar in a long time, and he remembered that the young Carson would sometimes go there too, because he felt the connection that few understood.

The bartender smiled, and as soon as he saw him, he poured a tall Guinness and put it in Ollie’s usual place on the bar.  And also, with a bowl of salted cocktail nuts that Ollie enjoyed.   “Hey Ollie, where’ve you been?  We’ve missed you!  Place has been too quiet, it seems.”

“Good to see you too Sam. I’ve been traveling a little and I visited a few places that somehow beckoned me to return after a few years.  By the way, have you seen that young Carson recently?”

“Well, it is a Friday night, and as you know, he does occasionally drop by on Fridays, usually around 7, hoping to see you.  He always asked about you.”

“I know,” said Ollie. “He’ll be here. Seems we both need to connect again and catch up.  Ollie looked at his watch, and it was 6:59.   After all, he’s writing my biography, or something.  I don’t know how he will handle it yet.  It’ll be a challenge and I am not sure most authors would be able to write it correctly, but he will.   I know it.”

Then, the shadow man in the corner, looked up suddenly, as I walked in, and this time, I stared at him and smiled, confidently, because you see, I understood now, what he was doing, and that Ollie had allowed him to resume his job, no questions asked.

“Carson!  Have a seat, great to see you!”

“Hey Ollie.  How’ve you been?”

“Ah, doing this and that, but staying out of trouble in General.”

I smiled at him and realized that was all the information I was going to get, at least at this moment.  Someday, he would release a few volumes to me, and of course, I Hoped it was before he left this earth.  Then he said, “Carson, I have a letter in my coat pocket, and after we both down our Gorgeous Guiness mugs, I’m going to open it.  I’m not sure why, but I saved this moment to open it.”

“Who is it from?”

“The office of the President of the United States, from the National Security Advisor.”

He put the folded-up letter on the bar, next to his almost empty beer.  I thought there weren’t many people in the world who received a letter from the president, or at least his office, and if they did, they certainly wouldn’t fold it up in a crinkled fashion, but then, this was Ollie.  He began to open it up and then he took the last few swigs of his Guiness and started to read it.

I just drank and stared at the football game on the wide screen behind the bartender.  He needed quiet.

Dear Ollie.  I hope you are well. The president has asked me to contact you, that is, if we could find you.  You are certainly a difficult man to find, and I apologize for sending the letter to the Torrance airport.  We received information that you still fly a little and we understood you have a connection to Catalina, so…

Anyway, the president does remember your first visit, and that you said you were at his service when needed, and again, we thank you for catching him when he fell. But now, I am getting to the point. We know you do not trust Washington anymore, or any of the agencies because of past events, but we need you. The world is changing dramatically and the dangers are putting us on the precipice.  We need your services Ollie, that is If you are willing to help.  Please let me know, and my contact information is on the bottom of the page.

I watched Ollie’s right hand, and for the first time, saw a tremor, and the paper shook, and since he was aware of this, he dropped the paper down.

“What is it, my friend?”  It was the first time I called him friend, and it seems he didn’t mind.

“A letter from the National Security Office, they want me to go back and help.”

“Help with what.”

“Things that it seems, they can’t figure out how to handle.  But it brings back painful memories Carson, and I am not sure at this age I should go. But then, at least POTUS realizes when he’s in over his head.   What should I do?”

I couldn’t believe he was asking me for advice.  I was just a writer and a doctor, but I finished my beer, hesitated a bit and said, “Pray long and hard, and that answer will come, my friend.”

He looked at me and said, “Carson, I have prayed about it for many days, and I think that was good advice my friend.”

I watched his hands, and he clasped them, to hide the tremors.  That’s when I knew for him, this was a major decision.  “So, when do you pack your bags, Ollie?”

“Already done.  They’re in the car.”

With that, I wished him good luck and we shook hands, and he was off with the Shadow man behind him.  When he was at the door, he looked at me and said, “You need to start writing my book soon my son.”

“But—”

“: You’ll know.”

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