Over the next few weeks Donna worked with Sam, Kevin the guy from
legislative affairs, Anisely and had attended many meetings regarding the
language of the proposed bill. They had it almost narrowed down, but there
were a few lines which were the bone of contention.
Whenever Josh had asked how it was going or if she needed his help she simply replied it was going well and she was grateful for the offer but she could manage by herself.
One morning Abbey called her to the residence to discuss the bill.
"Good morning Mrs Bartlett." Donna said brightly.
"Good morning Donna." Abbey said looking up from the catalogue she was reading. "I was just trying to find a suggestion for what we should get Leo for his birthday this year. Any ideas?"
"A two tonne block of cheese." Donna said with thinking, then her brain kicked in. "Sorry ma'am."
"You said it for a reason. Do you want to explain?" Abbey asked slightly intrigued at the unusual suggestion.
"You don't know about Big Block of Cheese Day?" Donna questioned.
"No."
"Leo likes to in the spirit of Andrew Jackson who had a two tonne block of cheese in the foyer of the White House for anyone who wanted it, dedicate one day a month for people who wouldn't normal get the ear of the White House to come in and discuss things. It doesn't always work out like that, they only have on every couple of months."
"Let me guess everyone is not overly enthusiastic about it?"
"Not really. I actually liked Big Block of Cheese Day and I can understand Leo's reasoning behind it."
"You can?" Abbey prompted.
"It keeps everyone down to Earth and in touch with real people. Sometimes they spend all day arguing about the significant things to them, how the Energy Bill is going, the result of a poll, if they can get a speech finish, they forget other people have other things that are important to them. The Cartographers for Social equality had a good point about the map being biased to poorer countries and that it was out of proportion. Even though a wolves only highway isn't economically viable it brings back the point of the environmental lobby. Then there are the truly bizarre people who want us to pay more attention to UFO's. They all have something to contribute to government if the government listens to them."
"You should tell Leo that. He'd proud that someone understands why he does it. And I like the cheese idea. Where to get a two tonne block of cheese would be the major problem."
"I know some people in Wisconsin who would be able to help out with that."
"Let me run it by Jed and get back to you."
"Yes ma'am."
"So back to the bill."
~
"Does he have a minute?" Donna asked Bonnie.
"You can go in, he's taking a break and bouncing his ball."
"Thanks." Donna tapped on the door, "Toby do you have a minute?"
"Sure come in Donna. How's things in the East Wing?"
"Going well, now everyone has some idea what we're doing and how I work but that wasn't why I was here."
"It's not?" He questioned.
"No I'm on a recon mission for the First Lady."
"About what?"
"Leo's birthday."
"Leo's birthday isn't for another two weeks." Toby pointed.
"We know this. The Bartlett's are planning on getting Leo a two tonne block of cheese for the foyer of the West Wing, she would like to know if you would like to contribute, make it from the whole West Wing staff."
"Who else have you approached about this?"
"I was going to talk to CJ, but she's still in her briefing. I'm seeing Sam later and I always leave Josh to last with things like this."
"Why?" Toby inquired.
"For the same reason I won't let him help me with anything or get involved with anything the First Lady wants me involved in wherever possible."
"Because..." Toby prompted.
"Because I'm new at this and I'm not having anyone say I'm getting there just because I'm sleeping with Josh. Everything I've done I've done without his help, so no one can challenge the propriety."
"How does Josh feel about that?"
"Josh knows I love him that's enough for now."
"You didn't tell him did you?" Toby asked.
"No, and Toby you can't either. Josh does his job and I do mine."
"Okay and I'm in for the cheese thing."
"Good. I'll let you know how much later."
TBC
Whenever Josh had asked how it was going or if she needed his help she simply replied it was going well and she was grateful for the offer but she could manage by herself.
One morning Abbey called her to the residence to discuss the bill.
"Good morning Mrs Bartlett." Donna said brightly.
"Good morning Donna." Abbey said looking up from the catalogue she was reading. "I was just trying to find a suggestion for what we should get Leo for his birthday this year. Any ideas?"
"A two tonne block of cheese." Donna said with thinking, then her brain kicked in. "Sorry ma'am."
"You said it for a reason. Do you want to explain?" Abbey asked slightly intrigued at the unusual suggestion.
"You don't know about Big Block of Cheese Day?" Donna questioned.
"No."
"Leo likes to in the spirit of Andrew Jackson who had a two tonne block of cheese in the foyer of the White House for anyone who wanted it, dedicate one day a month for people who wouldn't normal get the ear of the White House to come in and discuss things. It doesn't always work out like that, they only have on every couple of months."
"Let me guess everyone is not overly enthusiastic about it?"
"Not really. I actually liked Big Block of Cheese Day and I can understand Leo's reasoning behind it."
"You can?" Abbey prompted.
"It keeps everyone down to Earth and in touch with real people. Sometimes they spend all day arguing about the significant things to them, how the Energy Bill is going, the result of a poll, if they can get a speech finish, they forget other people have other things that are important to them. The Cartographers for Social equality had a good point about the map being biased to poorer countries and that it was out of proportion. Even though a wolves only highway isn't economically viable it brings back the point of the environmental lobby. Then there are the truly bizarre people who want us to pay more attention to UFO's. They all have something to contribute to government if the government listens to them."
"You should tell Leo that. He'd proud that someone understands why he does it. And I like the cheese idea. Where to get a two tonne block of cheese would be the major problem."
"I know some people in Wisconsin who would be able to help out with that."
"Let me run it by Jed and get back to you."
"Yes ma'am."
"So back to the bill."
~
"Does he have a minute?" Donna asked Bonnie.
"You can go in, he's taking a break and bouncing his ball."
"Thanks." Donna tapped on the door, "Toby do you have a minute?"
"Sure come in Donna. How's things in the East Wing?"
"Going well, now everyone has some idea what we're doing and how I work but that wasn't why I was here."
"It's not?" He questioned.
"No I'm on a recon mission for the First Lady."
"About what?"
"Leo's birthday."
"Leo's birthday isn't for another two weeks." Toby pointed.
"We know this. The Bartlett's are planning on getting Leo a two tonne block of cheese for the foyer of the West Wing, she would like to know if you would like to contribute, make it from the whole West Wing staff."
"Who else have you approached about this?"
"I was going to talk to CJ, but she's still in her briefing. I'm seeing Sam later and I always leave Josh to last with things like this."
"Why?" Toby inquired.
"For the same reason I won't let him help me with anything or get involved with anything the First Lady wants me involved in wherever possible."
"Because..." Toby prompted.
"Because I'm new at this and I'm not having anyone say I'm getting there just because I'm sleeping with Josh. Everything I've done I've done without his help, so no one can challenge the propriety."
"How does Josh feel about that?"
"Josh knows I love him that's enough for now."
"You didn't tell him did you?" Toby asked.
"No, and Toby you can't either. Josh does his job and I do mine."
"Okay and I'm in for the cheese thing."
"Good. I'll let you know how much later."
TBC