Self-Review – Message in an Odd Bottle

Let’s Look at Message in an Odd Bottle

One of the inevitable facts about aging is that things just start to break. Lots of folks get tinnitus, and I believe I’m one of them. Mine sounds like singing or chanting, and so I wondered if it was a kind of message in an odd bottle, I guess you could say.

I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2024. The only prompt was the weird stuff I hear these days.

Background

As a preliminary for the third trilogy in the Obolonk universe, I wanted to have a premise which I could use. Possibly having tinnitus gave me a great pretext. It would be a message across the light years.

And then, once I started writing Amy Blaustein, her voice was clear enough that it all started to fall into place.

Plot for Message in an Odd Bottle

American President Amy Blaustein has always had incredible hearing. As in, off the charts amazing. But when she starts to hear odd, faint chanting, it doesn’t make any sense to her.

When she hears the same chanting on the radio, she’s intrigued, particularly when a message comes through, asking her to send an email to, of all people, the hottest country star on the planet, Travis McHugh.

A meeting with McHugh turns into the development of a team who can hear the message. But what is it really about?

Characters

The characters are Amy Blaustein, the President of the United States; Clay Vincent, her Chief of Staff; Lana Giovanna, who is in charge of Amy’s schedule; Laverne Matthews, the chef; and Vice President Bryce Delaney.

There are also Vladislav Mikhailov, the President of Russia; Speaker of the House Robert Melville; driver Trey Boland; country star Travis McHugh; audiologist Dr. Kim Park; and others.

I visualize McHugh as being a little like Keith Urban.

Oh, and Stan the dog.

Memorable Quotes {Amy and her VP look to Appease the Head of the Russians}

“I asked Lola—dammit, Lana!—and Clay to find something legal that Mikhailov likes. We’ll say it’s a birthday present, sing if we have to, and call it a day. We’ll be super apologetic if necessary. You get the idea.”

“Wow, you’re like a noncustodial parent who forgets their kid’s birthday.” Bryce shook his head.

“I’ll have you know I have never forgotten Stan’s birthday.”

“That’s because an angry Stan is a dangerous Stan, with sharp teeth and claws. But an angry seven year old will stick you with their therapy bill. And an angry fourteen year old will cut you using words and strategically executed eyerolls.”

“Thank you for those visuals, Mr. Father of the Year, Twenty Eighty-Three Washington State Edition.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to help. I refuse to believe I was brought on to do nothing more than balance the ticket in eighty.”

“I ask you for advice all the time.” Wait, do I?

“Not like you do with Clayton,” said Bryce.

“I just know him longer. That’s all. But definitely call me out on stuff like this as you see it, okay? I won’t necessarily know you’re unhappy if you don’t tell me.”

“Not unhappy, per se. Just color me bored and very willing to help out. I just feel a little underutilized, is all.”

“Gotcha. So, do you have any thoughts on Mikhailov? Assuming Clay and Lana don’t come through. What would you do?”

“What do you mean, Amy?”

“I mean Father of the Year stuff for this hypothetical pissed off child with a forgotten birthday.”

“Who just so happens to be the leader of the Russians,” Bryce said.

“Yes, who just so happens to be the Russian president. How do you make peace with him?”

“I dunno. Think Mikhailov would want a pony?”

Rating for Message in an Odd Bottle

The story has a K+ rating. Nothing bad happens, but there is some foul language.

Takeaways for Message in an Odd Bottle

I really like this story as an entrée into the third trilogy. For, what kind of message could it possibly be, beyond a distress call?

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Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out some of my other articles about my shorter works.

Since this story happens within this century, it dovetails well with the first Obolonk trilogy. And then, it should be able to easily segue right into the third trilogy.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.