State Representative Jed Bartlet returned home from the Hill at 7pm, exhausted from a long day at work. He had been working with environmental lobbyists, which was always a chore for him and all the other Reps. He had hoped to be home early on that particular night, as it was his eldest daughter's 16th birthday, but it just didn't pan out. He wasn't expecting to get a warm greeting when he walked in the door- the Bartlet women were known to hold a grudge and his tardiness wasn't going to go down well with them, he was sure. Instead, he came home to a completely empty house. He was surprised; his wife had planned a fairly large gathering at the house in honor of the birthday girl and there was no way in hell it would be over by 7 o'clock, not with their relatives in attendance. Jed looked around curiously before noticing a note on the side table by the front door from whence he came. He was nervous as he unfolded the paper and read its contents.
Jed, We moved the party to the Sheraton, last minute. Long story, but I'll tell you it has to do with me and the kitchen. We're at war. Anyway, party's in the ballroom. Please don't be too late.
Love,
Abbey
The Sheraton Hotel? He couldn't imagine what that must be costing him. But, he should have figured something would go wrong when his wife told him she would be preparing the food on her own. He slowly ascended the stairs, loosening his tie on the way. He really wasn't looking forward to this party. All he wanted to do that night was sleep. But sleep just wasn't in the cards…
Jed could hear the music from inside the building as he pulled into the parking lot of the Sheraton Hotel. He got out of the car and listened. It took him a minute before he recognized Frank Sinatra's voice, singing "Night and Day"
"Yep, that's Abbey for ya. This must be the place. Bartlet, party of sixty-two," he said to himself, preparing an excuse for his lateness as he walked to the entrance.
When he entered the ballroom, he was shocked at the amount of people inside. He was sure Abbey had said only sixty-two. This was definitely closer to one hundred. Part of him wasn't surprised at all. Abbey always made birthdays a big deal, and for their first born's sweet sixteen, it made perfect sense for her to throw an all-out soiree. He looked around and saw very few familiar faces at first glance. He knew the Bartlet clan, as well as Abbey's side of the family, was mixed in there somewhere but he just couldn't make any of them out.
The first person he recognized was his six-year-old daughter, Zoey. She was sitting at a table talking with another child who looked about her age. Jed watched his with amusement as she threw a cookie at the little boy. She was so shy most of the time, and then without warning she would develop spunk and suddenly "start bitching people out," as his wife so aptly put it. And she oughta know- Zoey got that side of her from her mother.
He walked over to her and put his hands over her eyes.
"Daddy!" She exclaimed, turning around and hugging him.
"How's the party?" Jed asked her.
"Fun. But this music…yuck"
"Hey, don't look at me. That's your mother's doing."
"Then make her stop it, Daddy, it's…ow"
"I know, sweetheart, I know. But you know what happens when I argue with Mommy?" Jed questioned her knowingly.
"She puts you in the dog house," Zoey recited, rolling her eyes. She still had no idea what that meant, but she knew it put both her parents in the foulest of moods.
"That's right. You go talk her about the music. She won't put you in the dog house"
Zoey eyes widened. The thought of her mother putting her in the dog house, whatever that was, never occurred to her. She ran away, leaving Jed laughing.
Exhausted still, Jed sat down in the seat that Zoey had just vacated. He picked up her fork and dug into her leftover cake. It took less than a minute for him to realize what that meant-he had missed the advent of the cake, the extinguishing of the candles, the singing of happy birthday. Uh oh. Abbey was not going to be in a good mood after he'd missed that.
"Hey," a mysterious voice whispered in his ear from behind him.
Jed turned around to see his wife standing there, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, beautiful. What are you smiling about?"
But he was relieved. He had expected to be lectured and there she was- smiling at him. Very peculiar indeed.
She sat down in the chair next to him and they faced each other.
"I'm just in a good mood, is that ok with you?" She asked, sounding annoyed.
"No, it's not," Jed answered, sarcastically, turning back to his cake.
He just wasn't feeling the banter tonight.
"What's the matter with you"
"Nothing. Long day"
"Lobbyists"
"Yep. Just can't catch a break from them this year," he replied, shoving cake into his mouth pitifully.
"Awe. I'm sorry, honey. Anything I can do"
He eyed her suspiciously.
"You're scaring me"
"Why, because I'm concerned about my husband"
"Yes"
"Ok, I guess I had better tell you this now," she said, almost in a whisper.
"Tell me what?"
"The birthday girl wants to have a word with us after the party"
"Liz wants to…talk to us?" Jed repeated.
"Uh huh"
"Our teenage daughter wants to talk to her parents? Wants to"
"I believe those were her words. 'I want to talk to you and Dad after the party"
"Wow. That is good news."
"Don't you get what this means?" Abbey asked, anxiously.
"Mmm…no. Can't say I do."
"It means she's probably agreed to go to that Global Youth Leaders convention. The thing she was nominated for, remember"
"Yeah, yeah, I remember. That's for youth leaders right"
"No, it's for cocaine addicts. Yes, it's for youth leaders, Jed! Teenagers with leadership potential," she explained.
"Right. Well, good. She should go to that."
"Why are you not more excited about this?"
"Because last time I checked, she didn't want to go, Abbey. She's not interested in politics," Jed replied.
"But she'd be perfect. She'll make a great political leader someday"
"Not if she doesn't want to"
"Well, we'll see. In the meantime, my mother's been asking for you," Abbey said.
"Your mother? Why not mine"
"Because she doesn't love you anymore"
"Nice, Abbey."
"Seriously, though. Go talk to my mother. She needs some legal advice," she explained.
"She does realize I'm not a lawyer nor do I have any sort of degree in Law, right"
"You're the closest thing she's got, Jed"
"What did she do"
"She didn't do anything," Abbey replied, defensively.
"Then what does she need legal advice for"
"I don't know, she wouldn't tell me. She says my medical license doesn't qualify me to discuss matters of a legal nature. Quote unquote."
Jed sighed.
"Ok, I'll go talk to her"
"Thank you"
"Where are the girls? Besides Zoey."
"It's a party, Jed, I don't know where they are. Mingling, I suppose," she answered, matter-of-factly.
"Sure they're not out getting wasted? Cuz I know Ellie's been hitting the bottle a lot lately"
"Yes, Jed. Our eleven-year-old daughter has been out boozing and selling her soul to the devil."
"You never know," he said, shrugging. "Ok, I'll see you later."
He slowly stood from his chair.
"Ok. Have fun." She grinned at him cunningly. She knew he was dreading having a lengthy conversation with his mother-in-law.
"Oh yeah." He started to turn away, then looked back at her.
"Looking good tonight, by the way," he said.
She winked at him.
"You're not so bad yourself"
He smiled.
"See ya."