Red - Part 7

NOTE: ' in front of text shows what is happening on the other side of the phone.


Charlie

I was on a mission, walking through the West Wing; I was set on one thing.
Getting that number.

It wasn't hard.

She is from Georgia, a good student according from her record, and lives with her mother, father, and three younger brothers and sister.

I quickly got her home phone number and wrote it down on a sticky note.

- - -

CJ

Charlie is in a much better mood…
Suppose I was right in sending him to Jed.

I watch him intently as he grabs the phone and gets some number.

"Charlie, so did you talk to the President?"

He nods, writing a number on a sticky note.

"What did he say?"
"That it is a good idea." He stands up to go.
"Where are you going?" I ask him.
"To the residence."

He then goes before I can ask him why.

- - -

Abbey

When I walk up to the door to the residence I can hear commotion from inside. I open the door to find Jacobs and Jed laughing and talking.

Jed in bed, Jacobs in a chair beside him, colored paper literally all over the place.

Jed's whole body is nearly covered completely in paper; the bed is patched with poor attempts at making piles and on Jed's face is a true genuine smile I haven't seen in a while.

"Hello, baby," he says, seeing me staring at his mess.

"I leave you for just a few hours, and the room turns into this," I tell him, smiling, walking over and carefully sitting at the foot of the bed.

There is then a knock at the door.

"Come in…" Jed calls.

I turn to find Leo and Charlie beyond the doorway.

"Leo, good to see you. Charlie, you have it?" he asks.
"Have what?" I ask.

He then gives me that smile that has mischief all over it, but then his face shifts to serious, I now notice a red card in his hands.

He then hands it to me without a word.

My eyes grow wide at the deepness of the message, looking up to see his eyes staring at me.

"Here is the number sir," Charlie whispers, handing him a piece of paper.

We all then sit down as Jed takes the phone and begins dialing.

- - -

Jennifer sat in front of the TV, 'doing her homework' while watching nickelodeon, when the phone rang in the other room.

' "Jed, what if they aren't at home?" Abbey asks.
' "I will call later, I can do that can't I? Or should I leave them a message and leave them my number?"

' Abbey rolls her eyes.

Jennifer's mom entered the room, walking toward the phone. She picks it up.

"Hello?" she says.
' "Hello, is Jennifer Bradley there?" Jed asks.
"Yes, may I ask who this is?" The voice is not exactly familiar to her, and yet so familiar.

' Jed cannot help but smile as he answers, "Josiah Bartlet."

There is a long silence, Jed could tell that she is covering the mouth piece as he then hears a muffled, "Jonathon!…"

Jennifer turns around to see her parents standing, her mom holding the phone, covering the receiver, talking intensely with her father.

"What do you mean 'it's him'?" Jonathon asks his wife, her eyes wide.

"The President!" she breathes.
"Of the United States?" he asks dumbly; well, more like in shock.

She nods.

' "Hello? Mrs. Bradley?" Jed asks.
"Yes, Mr. President?" her voice shaking ever so slightly.
' "Uh, is this a bad time?" he asks.
"No, no sir…um, I'll get Jennifer…"

Jennifer hears her name and so she quickly gets up and goes to them.

Jennifer's Mom then silently hands her the phone.
Jennifer takes it, a little confused at her parent's expressions.

"Hello?" she asks.
' "Jennifer?" Jed asks.
"Yes, who is this?"
' "President Bartlet."
"Really?"
' "Yeah. Why, don't believe me?"

Jennifer's parents watch their daughter continue to speak to the most Powerful Man in the World, wondering what he is saying.

"Oh, I believe you…"

' "Well, I got your letter, so decided I would call you and thank you. I will never look at Red the same way again."

"Your welcome sir, but I was just repeating what my mom told me."

' "Then I suppose I will thank your mother as well. Your parents are raising a great young woman."

Jennifer can't help but blush.

' "So, Jennifer, how is school?" Jed asks.
"Doing good, a lot of the kids are wondering about you though."
' "They saw it didn't they?"
"Yes sir."
' "Have you told them what you told me?"
"Yeah."
' "Well, you know what, tell them you know I am doing much better."
"Are you still resting?" she asks him.

' "Yes, though they let me walk around yesterday. I went to the Oval; was in there several hours, don't think they liked that though, that's why I'm still in bed now."

"They're punishing you? I thought you could do anything you wanted."

Jennifer smiles as she hears Jed laugh, though she notes he did so carefully.

' "Well, 'they' aren't exactly, Abbey is. She thought I was too tired yesterday when I came back after my little 'detour'. I was only supposed to be up and around for a couple hours, not half the day." Abbey raises her eyebrows at him.

"Oh, I see. I think I agree with your wife…"
' "Taking sides?" Jed playfully accuses.
"Uh, I suppose…" Jennifer answers, smiling.
' "So tell me, what is a smart young lady like yourself going to do when you get older?"

"I am going to go to college, I would like to go into Criminal Justice, or child services or something along the lines of helping kids."

' "Have you thought about a college?"
"Like Yale?"
' "Yeah."
"Not really…"
' "Could I propose Notre Dame?"

"Aren't you a little biased?" she asks, her parent's looking surprised, wondering what on earth they are talking about.

' "I guess I am…" Jed agrees.

"So are you just resting in bed? Isn't that boring?"

' "Not when you have letters from kids across the country to read. Let's just say I won't be bored any time soon."

"How many did you get?"

' "Oh, uh…" he then starts talking to someone on his end. "Charlie, how many letters have been sent?"

' "I don't know, but there are at least fifteen full bags still in the Oval…" Charlie answers.

He then comes back to Jennifer. "A lot, over fifteen mail bags…"

"Who was that?" Jennifer asks, catching a clip of the little conversation.
' "Oh, that was Charlie…"
"He saved your life, right?"

' "Yes. Yes he did."

She is quiet for a little bit.

"He was very brave."
' "You have no idea, I don't even think I have grasped it completely."
"I am glad you are ok Mr. President, I think you gave the country a heart attack."
' "Yeah, I think I gave my wife one too."
"So is it true that you will be interviewed?" she asks.

' "Uh, yeah, though I am surprised that news is already out…" Jed says, wondering how that could have leaked.

"It's just a rumor, people are saying that you should…"
' "Do you think I should?"
"You're asking me?"
' "Why not? You are pretty smart."
"Yes, I think you should."
' "I agree."

"Do you want to talk to my parents now?" she asks.
' "Sure, and Jennifer…"
"Yes?"
' "Thank you again for your letter."
"Your welcome sir…and thank you for being Red."

Jennifer then hands the phone to her Father.
Jed is silent on the other end, the last word still settling.

"Mr. President?" Jonathon asks.

Jed clears his throat before answering.
' "Yes? Mr. Bradley?"

"Yes sir."
' "You and your wife have raised a wonderful daughter."
"Thank you sir."
' "Keep doing what you are doing."
"I will. Thank you sir."
' "No, thank you."
"Have a good day sir."
' "You too. Good bye."

- - -