D-Day: Operation Mount Pleasant

The sun had not yet risen. My Aunt Toogie and my lovely wife, Grace, were in the kitchen chatting softly in the darkness.

 

When I reached to turn on a wall switch, Toogie whispered, “Ix-nay on the overhead lights. This is high-level secret stuff.” Grace turned on a small flashlight, illuminating three pieces of paper on the counter.

 

“Dalton, I need you to focus on this,” she stated, adding, “Understand?” 

 

When I mumbled something like “okay,” she spoke a tad louder. “Please give me an affirmative response. What we’re about to undertake is vitally important, and we need you to fully understand every step – the what, the when, the where. Now, again, are you ready to give this your sole attention?”

 

Sensing this was bigger than fetching the morning newspaper, I answered with a hearty, “Yes, dear.”

 

“Good,” Grace declared, touching one of the pieces of paper with the handle of a wooden spoon. “Toogie will give you the mission overview.” Taking the wooden spoon, Toogie identified the locations of Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, and the Wando River Bridge on the map.

 

“Now,” Toogie continued, “the first objective of this mission is to proceed eastward and traverse the Wando Bridge well before oh-niner-thirty, when the truck traffic becomes unbearable.” 

 

When I didn’t reply, she gave me a stare. Taking the hint, I snapped, “Got it. Over the bridge by – what time was that?”

 

“Oh-niner-thirty,” Toogie answered slowly. “You can swing by the DIME for a quick fortification and a final review of plans. Then wheels up, before zero-nine-hundred.”

 

“Who’s driving?” I asked.

 

“TWO cars!” Grace shot back. “It’s critical we have two assault vehicles in order to hit our targets and be back over that bridge before the midday traffic jam when the full trucks leave the port.” 

 

Taking the spoon handle from Toogie, Grace tapped another piece of paper. “These are your orders,” she said solemnly. “Follow these red lines in Alpha Sector, the southern corridor of Mount Pleasant. Your primary target is Queensborough Publix.” With a wave of the spoon toward the other piece of paper, she added, “I will be in Bravo Sector, the northern corridor. Costco is my primary target. Toogie will stay here in command central for guidance in case we need to abort. Roger that?”

 

Sensing the need to respond, I answered, “Roger. Over the Wando Bridge as quickly and safely as I can and then head down Highway 17.”

 

“Not so fast, Cowboy,” Grace retorted. “You do take the third exit off five-two-six after you clear the bridge, but stay in the right lane after that turn and take the first exit off onto Bowman.”

 

“By Arby’s,” I interjected, to show I was paying attention.

 

“Affirmative,” she answered, “and then take a left at the first light onto the one-seven outer road. Your first target is the stationary store, Party Paper and More! Your recon mark is Jiffy Lube. The store is just beyond it.”

 

Pointing the spoon handle at a section of the Alpha Sector orders, she continued. “I’ve written down the three items that you need to secure at this target.” Grace then carefully described each target:

 

• Three padded mailing envelopes, 11 by 14.

 

• A package of cocktail plates – 7 inch diameter – clear plastic. Ecru is okay if they are out of clear.

 

• Two gift bags – pale pink or green, no neon.

 

My nod was apparently not enough of an affirmation, so she made me recite the three items – sizes, colors, and all – twice.

 

“You can take your orders with you,” Grace stated, holding up the Alpha Sector paper. “But the more you know it here,” she explained, tapping her forehead, “the better the odds are you will clear the bridge and be home before the trucks leave port.”

 

After a pause, she proclaimed, “On to Publix, the most important target of your mission. When you leave Party Paper, turn right on the outer road and then take a quick right on Lake Hunter Circle. This is the back road to Publix and avoids the long stoplight at Anna Knapp.”

 

“Pay attention closely,” Grace instructed, pointing again to my orders. “This will save you a lot of time. I’ve arranged the list of targets at Publix so you can proceed through the store, from the bakery and deli on your right when you enter to produce on the left. No backtracking!”

 

She began, slowly and methodically, to recite the full list of targets – starting in the deli with a precut package of uncured ham. No stopping to ask the deli counter; it takes too much time. Then I was to proceed up and down the numbered aisles, securing items as I passed, until I reached produce and hit the final target – three slightly green bananas.

 

Grace was clearly in charge of this operation, but I could sense the strain she must be feeling. It showed, a tad, in her voice and determined countenance. My thoughts faded to General Dwight Eisenhower’s words to his troops at the start of a more monumental invasion: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you…” Suddenly, Ike reached out and touched my arm and asked if I was paying attention.

 

Startled, I realized it was Grace with her hand on my arm. 

 

“What was the last item I covered?” she asked sharply.

 

“Ah, uncured ham?” I offered.

 

“Negatory!” she shot back, rubbing her hand over her mouth, perhaps to stifle what else she might say. After a pause, she proceeded, speaking slowly and softly, “We’ll go over it again from the top.” Tapping the paper again with the soup spoon handle, she began, “The first target is uncured ham…”

 

When I failed several times to recite the list in proper order, she bowed her head and, after a long silence, announced, “Change of battle plans. Toogie, you ride with Dalton to ensure we don’t snafu this thing.”

 

“Copy that,” Toogie barked.

 

“Now,” Grace announced, “this next step is critical. It is our redundancy plan. If you don’t find something at Publix, don’t waste time asking a clerk. Just keep moving. But when you get to the car, call me immediately on my cell. Tell me every item you missed. I will be enroute from Costco in the northern sector and can stop at Harris Teeter on Long Point and get them.”

 

When I just nodded, she snapped, “Show me your phone!”

 

I handed her the device. Inspecting it carefully, Grace declared, “Voice on. Sound up. Waze app working.” She handed me back the phone, stating sternly, “Keep this with you at all times. Don’t mess with any settings.”

 

Feeling a need to mirror her seriousness, I answered, “Roger on the phone, sir.”

 

“Forget Roger and sir,” she muttered. “Just keep this sucker with you and keep it ON!” Nodding her head for a few seconds, she then declared, “Belay that order. Give your phone to Toogie. That will eliminate a weak link in our plan.”

 

“Last step is RTB,” Grace continued, “our return to base.” If Waze intelligence shows five-two-six is red over the Wando, your flanking maneuver, Dalton, is Ravenel Bridge, to two-six, to five-two-six, to base. I will traverse north on one-seven, to four-one, to Clements Ferry, to base. Copy that?

 

“Aye-aye,” I answered cheerfully, feeling the nautical lingo might liven up the seriousness of Grace’s tone.

 

Finally, she put her hand on my shoulder and looked me straight in the eye. I closed my eyes to take in the words, “Your task will not be an easy one. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck!”