Megan looked out at the sea of heads that were bent over the last test of the term... Megan had felt bad that her students that they had to struggle with annual placement testing prior to their spring break, but she shook it off because she would be left to mark them on her spring break. Looking at the clock Megan stood up from her desk and clapped her hands.
"Alright class time is up. If you would please put your pencils down and the last person in each row collect the tests please." There was a bit of movement as the class did as she asked. With the papers collected Megan sighed and the smiled at the children. The students quickly relaxed as they watched their teacher move to the front of her desk and sat down on the top.
"So how was the test?" Megan asked to start the end of the day conversation. There was a collective groan and Megan nodded in acceptance. "I'll have them marked for you when you come back. Then I'll schedule the private meetings to go over the results, they'll help with your placement in your jr high classes next fall." Megan looked at her students. "What do you have planned for your break?" The children looked more interested and soon Megan was hearing about travels to the west, south coasts, and hockey or music programs. The private academy was full of wealthy families that could afford such things, and the children came to expect it. Megan listened with interest.
"What are you going to do Ms Casey?" Sally Potts asked as the discussion slowed.
"I'm going to visit my parents." Megan admitted as she brushed a stray lock of blond hair behind her ear.
"Were do they live?" Asked another student.
"Well, originally they are from New Hampshire just like I am, but now they live in Washington DC." Megan shared.
"Are you going to see the White house?" Gavin asked. The young boy was fixated on Government and Politics.
"I sure am." Megan nodded. "I'm actually going to stay there."
"You are?" The class gasped.
"How do you get to do that?" Fraiser asked.
"Well my father is the President of the United States, and he lives there. So I get to stay there when I visit." The room soon erupted in excited chatter and Megan patiently answered all the questions that the children asked. Finally the question she was waiting for came.
"You last name is not Bartlet..." Someone announced.
"Well actually it is. I go by my birth name though so I have a bit more privacy."
"Birth name?" Kelly asked
"I'm adopted; President Bartlet and his wife adopted me when I was a bit younger then you all. So when they did that they told me that it was important for me to keep my birth parents name too." Megan patiently told the children. The bell rang allowing for a sudden change in attention. The children scrambled to collect their belongings.
"Please take your homework home please. I'll be collecting the book reports the Monday we return." Megan called out and the children all groaned but did as she said. With bids of farewell the children flowed out into the hallway now a sea of blue and green uniforms. Slowly walking to the back of the classroom Megan picked up the things that were left behind and deposited them into their rightful places. Then she sorted the journals and placements tests and put them into her briefcase.
"So you told your class today?" Ethan asked as he popped his head into their classroom.
"I did, I think some of them knew, but being first years at the school if they don't get to mingle with the older kids much so to was surprise to some."
"Are you off now?" Ethan asked as leaned on the door frame of the classroom.
"Yup, I'm just going to go get Riley" Megan nodded.
"So are you going to be alright?" Ethan asked as Megan started towards the head office to collect her mail before leaving.
"I'll be fine, I haven't been to the White house since my father took office, but I did remember how to get there." Megan smiled as they walked down the hall. Once inside the office Megan checked her box collected the items to Ethan. "Riley will keep me company and I'll call you when I get there alright?"
"I could drive out with you." Ethan offered.
"Mo, you couldn't. You need to see after my plants and mail while I'm gone like I asked of you last night."
"I could still come and drive home tomorrow." Ethan continued. Megan smiled at his persistence.
"I'm going to be fine you worry too much. Stay here and write your thesis like a good boy and I'll see you in a week. Give me a hug and stop worrying." Megan hugged Ethan and they soon parted company. It wasn't hard to see that Ethan wanted to have some time alone with Megan, but this week was going to be full with her visit. Pulling out of the school parking lot she waved to some of the students still waiting for rides and headed up the laneway to the main road. Driving up infront of the house that she rented Megan stopped and got out, walking up the short walkway she opened the door to be greeted by her companion and protector Riley.
"Riley you and I are in for a long drive is you ready for it?' Megan kissed the soft nose of the dog and Riley wagged his tail. Slipping into the front room Megan grabbed her few bags and hook the leash onto Riley's collar and headed out the door. After settling the dog into the back seat Megan put her things into the trunk, and came around.
"Are you up for some of Sian's speeches Riley? Sam sent me a few to listen to on my way up and I thought we'd do just that." The dog whined softly and Megan soon had the car filled with the familiar and deep voice of her father. The ride up was long, full of Friday traffic and after a full day of testing and preparing for them Megan was relieved to see the White house looming in front of her tired eyes. Pulling up to the gate Megan rolled down her window at the guard's station.
"Hi," Megan greeted the young man.
"Can I help you?" The man asked in all formality.
"You could open the gate."
"Sorry miss; this is a gate for expected guest of the President and his family."
"I am family." Megan replied. "My name is Megan Casey Bartlett."
"I'm sorry, miss, but so were the last three women that came to the gate."
"Well I'm not going to sit here and argue about this all night." Megan turned in her seat and instead of taking her identification out of her bag; she grabbed her cell phone and pushed the familiar number into the phone. Putting it to her ear she listened for the ringing. "Charlie hi, its Megan is my father there by any chance? Good. Hi Siah... Yes I know it's later then you were expecting me but... I am actually right outside the gate... I'm having some problems proving that I'm actually expected." Megan paused a moment and looked at the guard. She handed the phone over to him. "He wants to talk to you." Megan told him and the guard took the phone cautiously.
"Yes sir. I understand sir. Yes, Yes Yes sir. So sorry sir. I'll do so right away sir." The guard handed Megan back the phone.
"I'm sorry Miss Barlet." The guard mumbled and went to open the gate.
"Well Riley I think we're finally here." Megan sighed as she pulled into the reserved parking spot and was greeted by several secret service agents as she walked towards the private entrance of the White house.