"Leo, you want to see me." Josh said entering Leo's office.
"Take a seat, I've just got finish this." Leo said without looking up from his report.
"If it's not important I can come back, I've got to prepare for a meeting with Congressman Skinner tomorrow."
"Donna will take care of it." Leo stated.
"You sent Donna home. I have to read all the notes she made me."
"Donna will take care of the meeting tomorrow." Leo said taking off his glasses.
"Donna doesn't take meetings she's my assistant."
"She does tomorrow she's being promoted for the day."
"To what she's my assistant?"
"White House Deputy Chief of Staff."
"Last time I looked that was my job, so unless you're expecting my resignation?"
"You're being demoted for the day as punishment for making Ginger cry. You'll act as Donna's assistant. She has a set of guidelines as to what she can and can't do. Congressman Skinner knows he's meeting with her instead and Danny is going to cover it as a training exercise so he doesn't write a story about the incident with Ginger." Leo said as he shuffled papers on his desk.
"Are you serious?" Josh exclaimed.
"Everyone else thinks it's a good idea including the President. Donna has full power unless there is a national crisis."
"Leo, you can't be serious. I have work to do."
"Donna can do most of it and you can do the rest over the weekend."
"Leo. Does everyone else know about this?"
"Yes, we've been organising the schedule. You'd best go and familiarise with it. You'll have to be in early as we have a staff meeting at seven o'clock and I'm sure Donna will want to get some work done before that."
"You're enjoying this aren't you." Josh said blankly.
"It wouldn't be the White House if you could have a little fun once in a while. Go now I have calls to make."
"Is this even legal?"
"Yes. Now go."
~ ~ ~
"Good morning Joshua, out my office." Donna said as she strolled in the next morning. "I'd like a cup of coffee and my schedule for the day."
"You're loving this aren't you."
"And why would you say that Joshua. Now I really need that coffee and the schedule."
"I'm sorry to inform you assistants don't get coffee in this part of this office unless someone is getting fired."
"What not even for guests. Good morning Danny."
"Congratulations on the promotion Donna. You deserve it, so what's on the schedule for today?"
"I'm meeting with Congressman Skinner later today and I have Senior Staff in thirty minutes. Apart from that I'm still waiting for Josh to get me the schedule. BY the way you did want coffee didn't you?"
"Yes, and a Danish too if possible." Danny smiled.
"You heard him Josh, the schedule, two cups of coffee and two Danish pastries."
"What did your last slave die of?"
"He didn't, he went to a job with better pay because of the pittance you pay me I couldn't afford the rates. It might be something to think about there Josh. Schedule please."
"Fine I'll be back."
"I take it you already know your schedule for today?" Danny said as soon as Josh had left.
"Of course but Leo told me to make Josh do everything I do. First thing I do when he gets here in the morning is give him his schedule. So we wait, then while I have a day I'm going to get him to sort out a decent filing system for all these folders."
"So what else do you do when you're Josh's assistant?" He asked taking out his notebook.
"I keep track of his schedule and Josh in general. I make sure he has the right information and is in the right place at the right time. I research and condense information to assist him with decision and prep him for debates. Then there is your typical secretary things of answering the phone, writing letters, sending baskets to people he's offended during the day, bringing him in when he steps out side the box to much. Make sure he eats and make sure it's decent healthy food on occasions.
"DONNA, How do you work this thing?" Josh yelled.
"THAT'S YOUR JOB TODAY JOSH. I CAN'T HELP YOU." She yelled back. "Oh and to banter and constantly nag him not to yell at me. Basically to keep the office running."
"So how did Josh hire you?" Danny asked.
"I didn't she hired herself." Josh said. "You have Senior Staff at seven, then CJ wants twenty minutes before her press briefing. Then you have Congressman Skinner at 10.30. Then you have the rest of the day to paperwork and general to boss me around and to deal with anything that comes up."
"Can you call Sam and see if he's free for lunch?"
"Any reason?" Josh asked concerned that she wanted to have lunch with his best friend.
"I want to jump him. That was a joke Danny. I need to discuss something with him for the First Lady."
"Anything I need to know about?"
"No. But I need you to find the new education report that came in last night and reduce it onto index cards for me."
"How many?" He asked.
"Three preferably, but I'll accept twenty."
"Are you going to introduce a new Education policy?" Danny asked.
"No, we're just looking over reports that have submitted. We get new reports on things. All of them pass through this office." Donna answered.
"We'll make a politician out of you yet." Josh replied.
"And we're still waiting for that coffee and remember to be polite when you answer the phone, and well not you."
"That's not fair Donna. I can answer the phone."
"Yes of course you can. Josh how long have I been your assistant?"
"Three years."
"How many times have I had to call you?"
"Lots."
"So don't you think I'm qualified to know how you answer the phone?"
"I'll be going now. By the way you have Senior Staff in fifteen minutes."
"Thank you Josh."
"Good morning Donna." CJ said ten minutes later.
"Good morning CJ. Did you need something?" Donna asked. "Because I'm trying to sort out this file."
"Did you want to walk to Senior Staff with me?"
"Sure. What about Danny?" Donna asked, grabbing the files she needed for Senior Staff.
"Danny, you've got two options. One you can try and help Josh sort out whatever mess he's making at the moment or Carol has permission for you to get visitation for ten minutes with Gail."
"Gee thanks." Danny said sarcastically.
"Hey it's not every White House reporter who gets to spend the day in the Deputy C.O.S's office."
"I'm sorry Danny, but you'll have to leave I can't have a member of the press in here when I'm not." Donna said politely. "But keep trying to get Josh to bring you that coffee." They all left and walked past the bullpen. "Josh I'll be at Senior Staff."
"That's not for another ten minutes."
"Josh what do I keep telling you?"
"My watch sucks."
"It really does. Look there are big clocks on the wall run by the Naval Yard find the one that says Washington DC underneath it on a little plaque and run the schedule by that."
"Come Donna, we don't want to be late on your first day."
"Josh, help Danny as well." Donna and CJ headed off towards Leo's office.
"Good morning." Leo said as he strolled into his office from the Oval Office. "Donna, welcome to the mad house that is senior staff. Margaret." He yelled the last part.
"Yes." She came in hold a large bouquet of flowers and handed them to Donna.
"Thank you."
"They're from the President and the senior staff for putting up with Josh. Now back to running the country."
~ ~ ~
"See that wasn't too bad." Sam commented as they left Leo's office.
"I can't see what Josh always complains about. By the way did Josh call and to see if you're free to have lunch with me?" Donna asked.
"You want to have lunch?" He questioned.
"There First Lady has something she'd like you to look into and she asked me to talk to you about as technically for the day I out rank you. So I thought we could do it over lunch."
"Cathy hasn't mentioned anything but I should be able to fit you in for an hour."
"I've got a meeting with Congressman Skinner at 10.30 but after that I should be able to fit into whatever time you have in your schedule.
"Cathy." Sam said as they stopped outside his office. "Do I have time for lunch with Donna today?"
"You're free from twelve thirty for an hour." Cathy said after looking over Sam's schedule.
"Call Donna's office and confirm the time with Josh." He smiled at her. "See doesn't that sound good.
"I'd better go. I've got things to prep and I've got to rescue Danny from Josh and try and convince him to bring me coffee."
"I'll see you at 12.30 Donna. Have fun." Donna strolled through the West Wing to Josh's . her office.
"Cathy just called to confirm lunch with Sam." Josh said.
"Thanks for calling him earlier to check like I asked." Donna said sarcastically. "Any calls while I was out?"
"Only from people who want to see me next week. I told them you'd get back to them tomorrow."
"You can work a schedule Josh, thirty minutes for people who we've already met with and are just wavering, forty-fiver minutes for new meeting and an hour for people who have serious concerns or want to debate a bill and won't go through the Communications office."
"You really have a system for how long meetings are going to last?"
"We all got a card with instructions on length of meetings from Leo's office the day we got into the White House. You leave a minimum of thirty minutes between meetings where possible for travelling, snacks, collecting information etc." She opened her desk drawer and shuffled paper round and pulled out a small laminate card. "See guidelines for setting meetings. By the way is Danny still finishing visiting with Gail?"
"Yeah, but I think CJ will kick him out, she has a press briefing in twenty minutes."
"How are the index cards coming?" Donna asked.
"Slowly, how do you do this everyday?"
"It's a talent." Donna smiled. "Skim read the report and make a note of anything that jumps out at you and any statistics and use that as a starting point."
"Thanks."
"I'll be in the office. Let me know when Congressman Skinner gets here."
~ ~ ~
"Donna, Matt Skinner is here." Josh bellowed.
"Sorry Danny we'll have to finish this later." Donna apologised.
"That's okay. I'll go and pump Josh for information." Donna got up and walked into the entrance.
"Congressman Skinner. It's nice to see you again."
"You too Donna and congratulations on the day's promotion."
"It's a challenge. If you want to come to Josh's office I've been briefed on the Bill. Hopefully we should be able to work something out."
"I hope so too."
~ ~ ~
"Thank you for meeting we me Donna. You're much more diplomatic than Josh." The Congressman said as they exited the office.
"Let me know if you need to discuss this again at a later a date." Donna said shaking his hand. "I hope to see you soon."
"You too. Watching Josh you could be out of a job."
"I'm beginning to notice that. It was nice to see you Matt." The Congressman left.
"Call Leo and Toby tell them that Congressman Skinner is on board and we didn't have to give him anything."
"You managed to convince a Republican to agree to one of our bills without giving him anything?"
"I'm remarkably diplomatic and logical. Danny, do you want to finish asking your questions before Sam arrives for lunch?"
"Yes, thanks Josh. You've been really helpful." Danny said following Donna into the office.
TBC
"Take a seat, I've just got finish this." Leo said without looking up from his report.
"If it's not important I can come back, I've got to prepare for a meeting with Congressman Skinner tomorrow."
"Donna will take care of it." Leo stated.
"You sent Donna home. I have to read all the notes she made me."
"Donna will take care of the meeting tomorrow." Leo said taking off his glasses.
"Donna doesn't take meetings she's my assistant."
"She does tomorrow she's being promoted for the day."
"To what she's my assistant?"
"White House Deputy Chief of Staff."
"Last time I looked that was my job, so unless you're expecting my resignation?"
"You're being demoted for the day as punishment for making Ginger cry. You'll act as Donna's assistant. She has a set of guidelines as to what she can and can't do. Congressman Skinner knows he's meeting with her instead and Danny is going to cover it as a training exercise so he doesn't write a story about the incident with Ginger." Leo said as he shuffled papers on his desk.
"Are you serious?" Josh exclaimed.
"Everyone else thinks it's a good idea including the President. Donna has full power unless there is a national crisis."
"Leo, you can't be serious. I have work to do."
"Donna can do most of it and you can do the rest over the weekend."
"Leo. Does everyone else know about this?"
"Yes, we've been organising the schedule. You'd best go and familiarise with it. You'll have to be in early as we have a staff meeting at seven o'clock and I'm sure Donna will want to get some work done before that."
"You're enjoying this aren't you." Josh said blankly.
"It wouldn't be the White House if you could have a little fun once in a while. Go now I have calls to make."
"Is this even legal?"
"Yes. Now go."
~ ~ ~
"Good morning Joshua, out my office." Donna said as she strolled in the next morning. "I'd like a cup of coffee and my schedule for the day."
"You're loving this aren't you."
"And why would you say that Joshua. Now I really need that coffee and the schedule."
"I'm sorry to inform you assistants don't get coffee in this part of this office unless someone is getting fired."
"What not even for guests. Good morning Danny."
"Congratulations on the promotion Donna. You deserve it, so what's on the schedule for today?"
"I'm meeting with Congressman Skinner later today and I have Senior Staff in thirty minutes. Apart from that I'm still waiting for Josh to get me the schedule. BY the way you did want coffee didn't you?"
"Yes, and a Danish too if possible." Danny smiled.
"You heard him Josh, the schedule, two cups of coffee and two Danish pastries."
"What did your last slave die of?"
"He didn't, he went to a job with better pay because of the pittance you pay me I couldn't afford the rates. It might be something to think about there Josh. Schedule please."
"Fine I'll be back."
"I take it you already know your schedule for today?" Danny said as soon as Josh had left.
"Of course but Leo told me to make Josh do everything I do. First thing I do when he gets here in the morning is give him his schedule. So we wait, then while I have a day I'm going to get him to sort out a decent filing system for all these folders."
"So what else do you do when you're Josh's assistant?" He asked taking out his notebook.
"I keep track of his schedule and Josh in general. I make sure he has the right information and is in the right place at the right time. I research and condense information to assist him with decision and prep him for debates. Then there is your typical secretary things of answering the phone, writing letters, sending baskets to people he's offended during the day, bringing him in when he steps out side the box to much. Make sure he eats and make sure it's decent healthy food on occasions.
"DONNA, How do you work this thing?" Josh yelled.
"THAT'S YOUR JOB TODAY JOSH. I CAN'T HELP YOU." She yelled back. "Oh and to banter and constantly nag him not to yell at me. Basically to keep the office running."
"So how did Josh hire you?" Danny asked.
"I didn't she hired herself." Josh said. "You have Senior Staff at seven, then CJ wants twenty minutes before her press briefing. Then you have Congressman Skinner at 10.30. Then you have the rest of the day to paperwork and general to boss me around and to deal with anything that comes up."
"Can you call Sam and see if he's free for lunch?"
"Any reason?" Josh asked concerned that she wanted to have lunch with his best friend.
"I want to jump him. That was a joke Danny. I need to discuss something with him for the First Lady."
"Anything I need to know about?"
"No. But I need you to find the new education report that came in last night and reduce it onto index cards for me."
"How many?" He asked.
"Three preferably, but I'll accept twenty."
"Are you going to introduce a new Education policy?" Danny asked.
"No, we're just looking over reports that have submitted. We get new reports on things. All of them pass through this office." Donna answered.
"We'll make a politician out of you yet." Josh replied.
"And we're still waiting for that coffee and remember to be polite when you answer the phone, and well not you."
"That's not fair Donna. I can answer the phone."
"Yes of course you can. Josh how long have I been your assistant?"
"Three years."
"How many times have I had to call you?"
"Lots."
"So don't you think I'm qualified to know how you answer the phone?"
"I'll be going now. By the way you have Senior Staff in fifteen minutes."
"Thank you Josh."
"Good morning Donna." CJ said ten minutes later.
"Good morning CJ. Did you need something?" Donna asked. "Because I'm trying to sort out this file."
"Did you want to walk to Senior Staff with me?"
"Sure. What about Danny?" Donna asked, grabbing the files she needed for Senior Staff.
"Danny, you've got two options. One you can try and help Josh sort out whatever mess he's making at the moment or Carol has permission for you to get visitation for ten minutes with Gail."
"Gee thanks." Danny said sarcastically.
"Hey it's not every White House reporter who gets to spend the day in the Deputy C.O.S's office."
"I'm sorry Danny, but you'll have to leave I can't have a member of the press in here when I'm not." Donna said politely. "But keep trying to get Josh to bring you that coffee." They all left and walked past the bullpen. "Josh I'll be at Senior Staff."
"That's not for another ten minutes."
"Josh what do I keep telling you?"
"My watch sucks."
"It really does. Look there are big clocks on the wall run by the Naval Yard find the one that says Washington DC underneath it on a little plaque and run the schedule by that."
"Come Donna, we don't want to be late on your first day."
"Josh, help Danny as well." Donna and CJ headed off towards Leo's office.
"Good morning." Leo said as he strolled into his office from the Oval Office. "Donna, welcome to the mad house that is senior staff. Margaret." He yelled the last part.
"Yes." She came in hold a large bouquet of flowers and handed them to Donna.
"Thank you."
"They're from the President and the senior staff for putting up with Josh. Now back to running the country."
~ ~ ~
"See that wasn't too bad." Sam commented as they left Leo's office.
"I can't see what Josh always complains about. By the way did Josh call and to see if you're free to have lunch with me?" Donna asked.
"You want to have lunch?" He questioned.
"There First Lady has something she'd like you to look into and she asked me to talk to you about as technically for the day I out rank you. So I thought we could do it over lunch."
"Cathy hasn't mentioned anything but I should be able to fit you in for an hour."
"I've got a meeting with Congressman Skinner at 10.30 but after that I should be able to fit into whatever time you have in your schedule.
"Cathy." Sam said as they stopped outside his office. "Do I have time for lunch with Donna today?"
"You're free from twelve thirty for an hour." Cathy said after looking over Sam's schedule.
"Call Donna's office and confirm the time with Josh." He smiled at her. "See doesn't that sound good.
"I'd better go. I've got things to prep and I've got to rescue Danny from Josh and try and convince him to bring me coffee."
"I'll see you at 12.30 Donna. Have fun." Donna strolled through the West Wing to Josh's . her office.
"Cathy just called to confirm lunch with Sam." Josh said.
"Thanks for calling him earlier to check like I asked." Donna said sarcastically. "Any calls while I was out?"
"Only from people who want to see me next week. I told them you'd get back to them tomorrow."
"You can work a schedule Josh, thirty minutes for people who we've already met with and are just wavering, forty-fiver minutes for new meeting and an hour for people who have serious concerns or want to debate a bill and won't go through the Communications office."
"You really have a system for how long meetings are going to last?"
"We all got a card with instructions on length of meetings from Leo's office the day we got into the White House. You leave a minimum of thirty minutes between meetings where possible for travelling, snacks, collecting information etc." She opened her desk drawer and shuffled paper round and pulled out a small laminate card. "See guidelines for setting meetings. By the way is Danny still finishing visiting with Gail?"
"Yeah, but I think CJ will kick him out, she has a press briefing in twenty minutes."
"How are the index cards coming?" Donna asked.
"Slowly, how do you do this everyday?"
"It's a talent." Donna smiled. "Skim read the report and make a note of anything that jumps out at you and any statistics and use that as a starting point."
"Thanks."
"I'll be in the office. Let me know when Congressman Skinner gets here."
~ ~ ~
"Donna, Matt Skinner is here." Josh bellowed.
"Sorry Danny we'll have to finish this later." Donna apologised.
"That's okay. I'll go and pump Josh for information." Donna got up and walked into the entrance.
"Congressman Skinner. It's nice to see you again."
"You too Donna and congratulations on the day's promotion."
"It's a challenge. If you want to come to Josh's office I've been briefed on the Bill. Hopefully we should be able to work something out."
"I hope so too."
~ ~ ~
"Thank you for meeting we me Donna. You're much more diplomatic than Josh." The Congressman said as they exited the office.
"Let me know if you need to discuss this again at a later a date." Donna said shaking his hand. "I hope to see you soon."
"You too. Watching Josh you could be out of a job."
"I'm beginning to notice that. It was nice to see you Matt." The Congressman left.
"Call Leo and Toby tell them that Congressman Skinner is on board and we didn't have to give him anything."
"You managed to convince a Republican to agree to one of our bills without giving him anything?"
"I'm remarkably diplomatic and logical. Danny, do you want to finish asking your questions before Sam arrives for lunch?"
"Yes, thanks Josh. You've been really helpful." Danny said following Donna into the office.
TBC
