The White House was in what looked like a state of panic - trucks and delivery people, with a flurry of consultants and security swarming the grounds. It was just after dark, when Sophia drove them smoothly through the gates, in her nondescript brown sedan. The government license plate and the dark-tinted windows were the only hints to suggest that the First Daughter was paying her parents a visit this evening. She gave the keys to a waiting valet, as Mark slowly and carefully pulled himself into a standing position. Getting in and out of cars was still a challenge, but it was getting easier. He hooked his cane around one arm, feeling extremely intimidated, as he followed Sophia through the North Portico, eyes wide.
"You get used to it," she grinned at him, as he followed her to an elevator, neatly hidden by paneling.
Security officers gave little waves and smiles to Sophia, as they made their way to the Treaty Room, so that Mark could sit down and rest for a few minutes before dinner.
He couldn't resist taking some pictures for Oaiea, as he caught his breath. The artworks were legendary-he especially liked the large treaty painting-as he tried to do justice in pictures, to the two hundred years worth of historical artifacts.
"Ten minutes, Miss Sophia," a uniformed woman, housekeeping staff, he assumed, stepped into the room for a moment.
A paneled doorway opened, and President Roberts walked in, carrying a file folder. Mark stood up, automatically.
"First time in the White House?" his eyes crinkled kindly, as he shook Mark's hand and hugged Sophia.
"It is," Mark replied, "This place is like a museum." He smiled, "In a good way."
"Want to see my favorite part?" Perry Roberts gestured to the open door behind him.
"Now Dad's just showing off." Sophia rolled her eyes at him, as they followed him through an oval-shaped room, and out onto a large balcony.
"The Truman Balcony," he intoned, gesturing to a large, covered terrace that overlooked the expansive south lawn, complete with fountain. The Washington Monument, lit from below, glowed in the night sky background, American flags fluttering in the early evening breeze.
"Okay, this settles it. I'm running for president." Mark joked. It was an incredible view, though. He could totally understand now, why the White House had been built on such a scale. It lent a dignity and a certain gravity, to whatever event it was being used for.
Dinner was ready, and Mark followed Sophia blindly, as she wove through a twisty series of rooms towards the family dining room. It was just a quiet dinner this evening, just family, with the exception of Mark and Elaine Kohn, who was there to give him a final rundown of what to expect the following night, after dinner.
x x x
"Okay, Mark," Elaine began, "Generally, when we have one of these state dinners, the guest of honor will arrive, by car. The same entrance you came through, tonight. That's step one." Mark was already entering the information into a file to send along to Oaiea. "We're going to need to have you on hand earlier than that, and you'll be waiting right across the hall in the oval room, just in case we need you to translate."
Mark nodded. "Got it. Sit on my ass and wait. Next?"
"Okay, step two. The President, Oaiea, and the First Lady will pose for a portrait at the top of the stairs. Then we'll bring her into the oval room for about thirty minutes, while they're getting set up downstairs. A small group, mostly the heads of state of the largest countries, fifteen people all together. We'll have a glass of champagne or so, have a sort of informal pre-party."
"Chill time. Check."
Elaine laughed, "Okay, next up - the President will escort Oaiea down the main staircase. Mrs. Roberts and Sophia will follow behind. You'll ride the elevator and meet them at the bottom. The blue and silver chair will be there, next to the elevator, if you need to sit down."
Mark nodded, busily transcribing.
"Sit on my ass and wait some more. Got it. Next?"
"The next part, is when it starts to get noisy," Elaine continued. "The President's Own, um, they're the Marine Band? They'll play Hail to the Chief, followed by the Star-Spangled Banner. Oaiea will stand next to the President, you'll be standing next to Sophia, if you're ready to be back on your feet by then."
"Got it."
"Next up is the receiving line. Oaiea and the President will shake hands and pose for a photo with every guest that cares to, on their way into the dining room. Is she familiar with shaking hands?"
"I think someone has probably explained it to her by now," said Mark, "She's been out and about quite a lot this week. But I'll make a note, just in case."
"You and Sophia will also be in the receiving line, and I would imagine that most of the guests will be just as interested to pose for a picture with you. How long do you think you can manage to be standing up?"
"Thirty minutes, maybe forty-five?" Mark tried not to think of how sore he was going to be on Sunday.
Elaine frowned. "Okay, well, do your best. We'll have a chair or something at the ready. The receiving line will take a long time. Like, wear comfortable shoes, long time."
Mark nodded. "Then it's dinner time?"
"First, President Roberts will make a short speech. Ten minutes. Oaiea has the option of making a short speech, also. We've got a ten minute window for her as well."
"Then it's dinner time?"
"Yep." Elaine smiled. "They'll bring the food out in courses. It'll take about an hour and twenty minutes from start to finish."
"Stuff face. Check." He continued to transcribe his notes for Oaiea. He wondered what sort of speech she would make.
"Then, it's time for the grand finale. It'll be about 10:00PM by then, and as people finish their dinner, they'll walk across to the East Room, where we'll have some dancing, and performances from several different bands."
"What's Oaiea supposed to do?"
"Whatever she wants to," Elaine replied, "Dance, listen to music, sit and chat, mingle, whatever."
"So how late will this shindig run?"
"Late. We don't officially start shutting things down til after 2, but even then, yea. We'll probably still be clearing people out at dawn."
"Seriously?"
Elaine laughed. "Seriously. All bets are off, for this one. It's going to be quite the event."
"Sounds like it. Okay, so that's it? No dancing bears?"
"Not this time. Be here tomorrow afternoon, no later than 3 o'clock" Elaine smiled, pushing back her chair.
He nodded. It was a lot to remember. He followed Elaine past a staircase and several small, oddly-shaped rooms. She left him in front of a paneled doorway, motioning for him to go in, as she disappeared in the opposite direction.
x x x
Was this Sophia's bedroom?! Yes, apparently it was. As evidenced by Sophia herself, stretched out, barefoot, on the four-poster bed that dominated the small room, fiddling with her cell phone. Then he remembered, belatedly, that Sophia didn't live with her parents.
He must have looked confused, because Sophia cheekily informed him, tour-guide style, "...and on your right, you can see the bedroom I laid claim to, for when I stay here with my parents, every once in awhile. You about ready to get out of here?"