"Hey, Liz!"
"Hi, Sarah."
"How have you been?"
"Good...you?"
"Great! We have to hang out some time! I'll call you!"
"Um...ok!"
Hmm. Peculiar.
"Lizzers! Hey!"
"Oh...hey, Brian."
"Long time, no see. How was your summer?"
"It was good."
"Cool. Let's hang out."
"Ok."
"See ya around."
It went on quite like that until finally she reached Mallory's locker.
"Mal!"
"Hey!"
"Everyone's being so nice to me."
"Well, yeah...that's good, isn't it?"
"I guess. But it's just weird."
"Why?"
"Why do you think, Mallory?"
"I don't know, Liz. But I think this is gonna be a really good year. For everyone."
"Welcome to Science class. I'm Mr. Dollen, and you will be seeing me every day for the next 179 days. Can anyone tell me why it is that you have the same teacher for every course except science in the 6th grade?"
Eleanor Bartlet's hand immediately shot up.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Because Science is a very special course and the instructor must be specifically trained."
Mr. Dollen looked down at his seating chart.
"Very good...Eleanor."
"Ellie, please."
"Ellie. Thank you, Miss Bartlet. Pop Quiz. What do you call have animal without a backbone?"
"Chicken," Bobby Miller said.
All the kids laughed, except Ellie.
"In this classroom, Mr. Miller, we raise our hands. And if we are so confidant that we are compelled to speak without raising our hands, it helps to be certain our answer is correct. Now. Can anyone give Mr. Miller a hand? No pun intended ofcourse."
Ellie's hand shot up, yet again.
"Yes, Miss Bartlet?"
"An animal without a backbone is an invertebrate," Ellie said.
"Well done. An invertebrate is absolutely correct. You're on a roll today."
Ellie grinned.
"Thank you."
"Hi!"
"Hi there! What's your name?"
"Zoey Patricia Bartlet."
"Well, hi, Zoey! I'm Ms. Maguire."
"I'm gonna learn how to write WORDS," Zoey said.
"Yes, you are. Do you know what else you're going to learn?"
"Numbers?"
"That's right," Ms. Maguire replied.
"My daddy loves numbers."
"He does!"
"Mmm HMM! Daddy loves numbers. Mommy loves sick people."
"Why's that, Zoey?"
"She works at the hopistal."
"At the hospital?"
Zoey nodded.
"Is your mommy a nurse?"
"No! Mommy's the real thing. That's what Daddy says."
"So she's a doctor?"
"Yeah!"
"You said your last name's Bartlet?" Ms. Maguire asked.
"Yep."
"What's your mother's first name, Zoey?"
"Mommy!"
"No, sweetie, what does your dad call her?"
"Daddy calls her Sweet Knees."
Ms. Maguire laughed.
"What else does he call her?"
"Hot Pants."
"Ok, let's put this a nother way. What do your grandparents call her?"
Zoey put on her best grandmother voice and her "angry face."
"Grandma says, 'ABIGAIL ANNE!'" Zoey shouted.
Ms. Maguire grinned at her.
"Can I tell you something, Zoey?"
"Sure!"
"Your mommy saved my life!"
Zoey gasped and her little eyes widened.
"She did!"
"She sure did! I was in a car accident last year, and if it wasn't for your mother, I would have died right there on the operating table."
"Wow!"
"Zoey Patricia Bartlet, you tell your mom she's the best darn doctor on the entire East Coast!"
Zoey grinned.
"She already knows that."
"You know something?"
"What!"
"I think I'm going to love having you in my class this year!"
A smile instantly appeared on Abbey's face as she walked briskly over to Steven Wright, who sat by the reception waiting for her. He stood when she came into view.
"Steven. It's so good to see you."
She shook his hand.
"You too, Doctor."
"Look, you can call me Abbey. As far as anyone here is concerned, you and I are old friends."
"Ok!"
"Good, now come with me. Let's get you one of our famous white coats."
"Really!"
"Yeah! You're gonna love it. It's such a powerful feeling, wearing the coat," Abbey said.
"Oh, I can imagine. I've always dreamed of wearing it. I know that once I get it on, I'll never want to take it off!"
Abbey laughed at how excited, not to mention nervous, the young medical student was.
"That's nothin'. Wait till you get to wear that stethoscope around your neck!"
In high school, the bell is a sacred thing. Sitting at a desk, staring blankly at the wall while they try to block out the teacher's tedious voice, students long for the joyous moment when the bell will ring and save them all from the utter misery and boredom known as high school. Nevre underestimate the capabilities of the bell. Saved by the bell? Truer words have never been spoken. In fact, over time, the bell has saved students from innumerable tragedies and suffering. Lectures, exams, lab work, presentations, lessons, class work, group projects, orals, and in-class writing. In a world where little is certain, the bell will always come through. There are only seven small words that can defeat the purpose of the almighty bell.
"I need to see you after class."
And sadly, Elizabeth Bartlet had to be the one to hear them.
The bell rang and the students of Ms. Martin's 7th period Advanced Placement European History class engaged in a mass exodus from the room. All except Liz.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk to you about something."
"It's only the first day. I couldn't have screwed up yet. Oh, but don't worry. Give me time. I will."
"No, no, Elizabeth. You're not in trouble," Ms. Martin said.
"Oh. Well, good then."
"I just wanted to see what your plans were. Regarding your obvious pregnancy."
"I don't...really have any plans. I mean, as of right now, things are going to continue as usual."
"Even after the child is born?"
"Well...yeah."
"Can I ask, when are you due?
"December 13th."
"I see. And who is going to take care of the child while you are at school? A parent?"
"No...both my parents have very important jobs. We haven't really discussed that situation yet."
"All right. But listen. Seriously. If you need anything...I'm here."
"Thank you! I really do appreciate that."
"Anytime."
Liz started to walk out.
"Hey, Liz?"
She whipped around.
"Yeah?"
"You said your parents have very important jobs. What do they do?"
"My mom's a doctor at GW and my dad works on the Hill."
"An elected official?"
"Yes."
Ms. Martin smiled at her.
"Good genes."
The door of the Operating Room flung open as Dr. Abigail Bartlet passed through them, followed by her intern, Steven Wright, who scurried to catch up.
"So! What'd ya think?"
"That...that was incredible. You're incredible."
"That's very nice of you, Steven."
"Really. I'm so impresed. You made a triple bypass look so easy."
"Well, generally, I don't do heart surgery, but Dr. Kagan was out today so I had to fill in," Abbey explained.
"For someone who doesn't usually do heart surgery, Abbey, you are damned skilled at it!"
"I try to be flexible in most areas of medicine so that when a situation like this arises, I can handle it like a pro. I'm a perfectionaist, what can I say?"
"Can I ask you something?" Steven inquired.
"Ask away."
"Are you planning to take a leave of absence or anything?"
"A leave of absence? No, of course not. Why?"
"Well...you're pregnant."
"Wow, you're really going to make a great doctor someday. But, um, no. I didn't take time off for any of my previous pregnancies and I won't do so now. I can't. I just can't stay away from this place. I'm addicted."
"Well, let me say then, that this city is much better off with you in this hospital then without you."
When Jed walked in the door that night, the first thing he heard was loud music blaring from the kitchen. A few seconds later, he recognized it as "Baby Love" by the Supremes. He broke into a smile when he entered the kitchen and found the four women in his life dancing and singing as they prepared dinner. At first, not one of them noticed him. Only when he walked up behind his wife and circled his arms around her waist did he get any attention- and that was only because she screamed.
"Jesus, Jed! You scared the living daylights out of me!" Abbey said, turning around in his arms.
"Nice to see you too, sweetheart."
She smiled and kissed him.
"Ok, that's enough of that," Liz said.
"Not quite. Just one more..." Jedsaid, kissing his wife again, this time for much longer.
"Ew, gross!" Ellie complained.
The song on Liz's mix tape ended and switched to "Crimson and Clover" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Jed took Abbey's hand and began to dance with her slowly around the kitchen.
"Guys, this isn't the type of song you slow dance to," Liz pointed out.
"Nonsense," Jed argued. "We can slow dance to anything."
"Not Joan Jett."
"Awe, you're just cranky, Lizzlebit."
"Don't call me that!"
"Why? You're my itty bitty Lizzlebit," Jed said, continuing to dance with Abbey.
"Not so itty bitty anymore, Dad," Liz replied.
"My little Lizzums."
"Dad."
"Lizzie with a Z. Two of them, in fact."
"Dad."
"Lizzeroo!"
"Dad, don't you think I'm getting too old for this? I'm having a baby of my own and you're calling me baby names," Liz said.
"That's right. You're never too old. And when you have your child, he or she will have nicknames as well."
"Jed, maybe Liz is right," Abbey said, guiding him further from Liz as they danced.
"Oh, no, you don't. You get nicknames too, Sweet Knees."
"Oh, boy."
"Mmm hmm. Abs..Abbers...Abbums...Abberoo.."
"Ok, I think that's quite enough."
"AbbeyLove."
"AbbeyLove?"
"Makes me sound British, huh?"
"Not exactly..."
"Suave and debonair. Like Sean Connery."
"Sean Connery's from Scotland."
"I meant James Bond! You knew what I meant!"
"I just like to see you sweat a little."
"Daddy!" Zoey cried out.
"Yes, Miss Zoey?"
"I want nicknames too!"
"Oh, you do? Well, let's see. You are my...Zo-Zo, my Zoalee, my Zoerific, my Zoable, my..."
"Jed, stop," Abbey begged, unsuccessfully holding back her laughter.
"That's not what you said last night."
"Jed!"
She hit his arm.
"Ok, that was officially digusting. I'm moving out," Liz said.
"Yeah, seriously. Get a room."
"We already have a perfectly nice one upstairs," Abbey said.
"Then use it!"
"Don't mind if we do," Jed said.
"I wanna use it too!" Zoey insisted.
Ellie and Liz burst out laughing.
"Let's eat!" Jed exclaimed.
"Ellie, could you pass me the potatoes please?" Abbey asked.
"Sure."
"Thank you. Jed, Scott called for you today."
"Yeah? What'd he want?"
"Just to say hi, I guess."
"Did he put Millie on after?"
"Yeah, we talked for a bit," she answered. "I think they're gonna bring the boys and come down for a visit soon."
"That'll be nice. Oh, there's gonna be a formal dinner thrown by the minority leadership in a few weeks. You wanna go?"
"I'll check my schedule," Abbey replied.
"I wanna go!" Zoey cried.
"No, sweetie, it's adults only."
"Oh."
"We should really go, Abbey."
"I told you I'd check my schedule, Jed."
"Ok. So," Jed began. "Who wants to talk about their first day of school?"
Liz all but ducked.
"Me!" Zoey volunteered, enthusiastically.
"Go ahead, baby doll," Abbey said.
"Well, my classroom is soooo big! And my teacher, Ms. Maguire is so so so nice and she knows EVERYTHING!"
"Wow, honey, that's great!" Jed commented.
"And guess what! Mommy saved Ms. Maguire's life!"
"She did!" Jed said, looking over at Abbey.
"Yeah! Ms. Maguire got into a car accident and said that MY mommy saved her at the hopistal!"
"Hospital, Zoey," Ellie corrected.
"That's what I said! At the hotispal!"
"Hospital!" Ellie repeated.
"Hosbatle."
"HOSPITAL!" Ellie and Liz shouted at once.
"HOPISTAL!"
"We give up," Liz conceded.
"Hey, Zo, say spaghetti," Ellie said.
"Bisketti."
Ellie and Liz laughed hysterically.
"Spaghetti," Liz said.
"Askettis!"
"Stop taunting your sister!" Abbey ordered.
"Yeah, stop taunting me, you meanies!"
"That's enough, Zoey," Jed admonished.
"Who's next?" Abbey asked.
"I'll go," Ellie said. "Um...it was pretty cool, I guess. Especially Science. I knew all the answers!"
"To what?"
"Mr. Dollen's pop quiz."
"Very good, El. I'm proud of you," Jed said.
"I'm glad you're taking such an interest in Science, Ellie," Abbey added.
"It's really interesting."
"That's cause you're a dorkwad," Liz remarked.
"Shut up!"
"Stop it, the both of you! I've had quite enough of your instigation for one night, Elizabeth," Abbey said, sternly.
"Whatever," Liz muttered, under her breath.
"Don't backsass your mother, young lady," Jed said.
"I wasn't!"
"You're doing it right now."
"I'm not doing it to her, I'm doing it to you!" Liz shouted.
"Then you can march right on up to your room, smart mouth."
"Fine!"
She slid her chair back, stood up, and stomped out of the room.
"Well. That got out of hand," Abbey said.
"Yeah, well, she's being a little tart."
"You know she did it on purpose, Jed."
"What?"
"She wanted you to send her to her room so she doesn't have to talk about school."
"Yeah, she does it every year, Dad," Ellie said.
"And every year you fall right into her trap. She knows exactly how to fire up your temper. First she starts going after me, which gets you going, and then she just continues on from there. Works every time," Abbey said.
"Well, aren't you the voice of reason. How come you've never told me this before?"
"Because it's fun to watch," Ellie said.
"Uh oh!" Zoey exclaimed, eyes wide. "I need more milk!"
"Liz!" Abbey called, knocking on her bedroom door.
"What!"
She didn't wait for approval, she just walked right on in.
"Sure, Mom, just walk right in," Liz said, sarcastically.
"You need to go apologize to your father."
"Ok."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. I was wrong."
"Wow, ok. That was easier than I thought."
"Yeah..."
"Hey, how was your day anyway?" Abbey asked.
"It...was actually good."
"See? I told you you had nothing to worry about."
"We'll find out as the year goes on, I guess."
"Ok. Well, Zoey and Ellie want me to watch a movie with them. Join us if you want," Abbey offered.
"Maybe I will."
"Go talk to Dad."
"Ok. I'm going to now."
"Thank you, Liz. Lizzers. Lizzums."
"Oh, now, don't you start!"
A few minutes later, Abbey sat on the couch watching "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" with her two youngest daughters. Zoey was leaning into her and Abbey had hre arm around her and Ellie was laying with her feet on her lap. While Ellie was completely enthralled by the film (despite the fact that she had seen it close to a hundred times), Zoey was only focused on one thing- Abbey's stomach. She suppressed all the questions she so desperately longed to ask her mother because she knew her sister would yell at her. Ellie hated when people talked during movies.
"Hey, Abbey?" Jed called, bounding down the stairs.
"Shh!" Ellie said.
"Sorry," Jed whispered back. "Abbey, I'm going out for awhile. Leo and I are gonna go have a beer."
"Oh, no, you're not. You make sure he drinks ginger ale, Jed!"
"Yeah. Ok."
"Ginger ale!"
"Ginger ale. Goodbye."
"Have fun, honey."
"I will. Leo won't."
"Better safe than sorry."
"If you say so."
"Hey! Did Liz apologize?" Abbey questioned.
"Yeah, a few minutes ago."
"Good. Now leave."
"I'm gone."