The Politics of Poetry

by: Lida Rose

Rating: YTEEN
Disclaimer: The West Wing and its characters are the property of Aaron Sorkin, Warner Brothers and NBC. No copyright infringement is intended.

Josh hated his office when there was nothing going on. He went prowling the emptying halls. His trail ended at C.J.'s office. He figured he could sweet talk her into late work and then dinner. He noticed Carol was already gone and C.J.'s door was closed.

Josh knocked and went right in. "C.J., I...C.J.?"

He heard a muffled voice from the back of the door. "Don't you wait for an invitation to come in?" She emerged from behind her door. "What do you need Josh?"

"A little bit of your time."

"Fine, what's up?"

"No, not now. I thought we'd do a little work on the Summit and then I'd buy you dinner." C.J. stared at him. Josh felt uncomfortable. "Do I have chocolate on my nose or frosting? Why are you looking at me like that?"

She laughed at him then. "You must really be desperate if you're offering to buy me dinner. I'm sorry Josh, no sale. I have plans."

"Oh. You sure?"

"Sure I have plans? Yes. Sure you're desperate? Yes again."

"I'm not desperate, I'm dedicated."

"Yeah, whatever. Your secret's safe with me. I won't reveal that the Hottest Heartthrob is dateless." She reached over and tweaked his ear, then hugged him. "Now get out of here. Go bother someone else." C.J. pushed him out the door and shut it behind him.

Josh kicked at the ground, hands in his pocket. Then his face brightened. "I'll go see what Toby's up to. Now I am desperate, in search of Toby for a good time and talking to myself."

**********

Toby hummed as he went back to his office. Bonnie and Ginger were at their desks but obviously about to make a getaway. They saw him and stopped. They figured they knew what was coming.

Toby looked at them. "Are you two still here? Get going. I'm sure you have some place to be."

The two women looked at each other in shock. Ginger found her voice first. "Toby, are you all right?"

"Absolutely. And about Valentine's Day..."

"Yes, Toby?", Bonnie asked cautiously.

"I'm sorry I didn't make a fuss."

"You never make a fuss, Toby." Ginger told him with Bonnie nodding in agreement.

"Well I'm trying to now. I'll take both of you to lunch before the week is over."

"Really?" Bonnie's tone was incredulous.

"Yes. Now leave before I find more work for you both." He headed for his office and turned back to say something. The two women were already gone. Toby chuckled.

He moved to his desk and found an envelope. It reminded him of the Valentine from Courtney. He checked his pocket to make sure it hadn't fallen out. It was safe. He turned his attention to the other envelope. It bore the engraved address of The Office of The First Lady.

Toby figured it was a thank you note for suggesting the party. Instead the envelope held a pair of tickets to the evening performance of the Symphony. Toby hadn't been in a very long time. The First Lady knew that and she knew why. Too many reminders for him.

He appreciated Abbey Bartlet's gesture. Toby was about to put the tickets away and just ignore them. There was plenty of work to do on campaign finance reform. And who would he take? But just as quickly as that thought faded, another thought of who to ask crossed his mind. Before he could tell himself it was a bad idea, Toby was leaving his office and heading down the hall.

*********

Josh and Toby didn't meet in the hall. Josh was trying to decide whether to leave a note for Toby when the First Lady and the President came by. Their Agents were a discrete distance behind. Abbey noticed Josh, "You're still here? This place is starting to look like a ghost town?"

"I serve at the pleasure of the President and I haven't been excused." Josh told her.

"Jed, excuse the boy."

"Josh, I figured you knew the day was over." The President laughed. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were looking for something to do and someone to do it with."

"Excuse me Sir, but I'm one of the Hottest Heartthrobs in the U.S. I'm just following procedure."

The First Lady didn't buy it. "Josh, come up and have dinner with us."

Before Josh could open his mouth, the President spoke. "NO."

"Jed?"

"No Abbey, Josh does NOT want to join us."

"That's right Sir. But thank you Ma'am for the invitation."

The President relaxed now. "He hates my poetry and would tire of me reciting to you things like,

'But love me for love's sake,
that ever more thou mayst love on through eternity.'"

As usual, his romantic side made Abbey spellbound. "Well, okay then. Sorry, Josh. He knows I'm an easy mark for Elizabeth Barrett Browning."

Josh nodded. The First Couple moved off arm in arm. Josh felt a twinge of envy.

***********

Toby stepped into the Oval Office area. Mrs. Landingham looked up from her work. Toby noticed there were flowers all over her desk including a pot of red tulips. The flowers were frivolous, her tone was not. "Toby, the President has already gone up to the Residence."

"That's fine. I was actually looking for you."

"Did you need something done?", she was all business.

"I needed something. I hope you can help."

"Be glad to try."

He took a deep breath. "If you don't have plans for tonight, I wondered if you would accompany me to the Symphony?"

"Excuse me?" There was surprise in Mrs. Landingham's voice.

"The Symphony. I was given two tickets and the seats look pretty good. It also sounds like an interesting program."

"Did everyone else turn you down, Toby?"

"No, Mrs. Landingham. You are my first choice and I hope you're not going to break my heart by turning me down."

She looked at him, looked at her computer screen, looked back at Toby and shut off the computer. "Thank you Toby for the invitation. It sounds lovely."

"Wonderful. It's at 8:00 P.M."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go home and change then."

"You look fine the way you are but that's no problem. I'll pick you up. Maybe after the concert we can go for coffee and dessert."

"People will think you're out with your mother."

"I doubt that. I think they'll envy my for having such a lovely lady on my arm."

"Toby, you're hallucinating."

"Simply thinking of the poet Walt Whitman and following his sage advice.

'Women sit or move to and fro, some old, some young,
The young are beautiful--
but the older are more beautiful than the young.'"

Her eyes softened. "Don't know how it happened but you picked up some of the President's gift for blarney, combined with your own chutzpah." She grabbed her coat and came around the desk.

Toby helped her on with it and said, "I'll see you soon." He left the office and bumped into Josh in the hall.

Josh was glad to see Toby. "Hey, you're here."

"Josh your powers of observation are astounding."

"True. Let's head back to your office and get some work done."

"I have a date and I'm leaving."

"Wait. YOU are going out?"

"Yes."

"You've become part of this madness?"

"Yes."

"So now I really look pathetic."

"Yes. And that is a bonus for me. Goodnight Josh."

"Yeah."

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

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