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See Part 1 for all the good info
Okay. It's twenty degrees. I'm standing outside the Hill in a red sweatshirt and antlers singing 'Oh Christmas Tree'. I, Joshua Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff of the most powerful country in the world, am standing on the steps of Capital Hill in antlers. I honestly can't even remember the words to this song. I just jump in on the OH Christmas tree part. It actually doesn't matter because nobdody can be heard over Sam anyway. "Okay everyone Smile Big this is a Photo Op!" The President is getting really into this. My big attempt at making an effort at holiday cheer is wearing thin. Somewhere along the line we have switched songs. We have moved on to 'Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. I was still singing Oh Chrismas Tree which might be why I'm getting this strange look from Toby. Or it could simple be look of a man in pain. I give him a nod of comiseration. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. May your heart be light...." I've given up on singing. They have it under control. I'm too caught up in the woman standing beside me. She's so focused. So caught up in the song. Her long blond hair is flowing around her and her cheeks and nose are all red from the cold. My heart is softening again. I'm two steps away from buying Tiny Tim a turkey dinner. "From now on our trouble will be out of sight....." She sings never taking her eyes from the masses of people who have come to watch the President and his staff make a fool of themselves. I'm entranced. So entranced in fact that I barely notice that my hand is traveling down to reach hers. Maybe this time of year really is magic because I'm definately being pulled by other worldly forces. I take her hand in mine. They are freezing. I rub my fingers softly over hers in effort to warm them up. She never takes her eyes away from the crowd but she doesn't pull her hand away. Maybe she doesn't feel me. Maybe she has hypothermia. Her finger slides a little. I take that as a sign she is not suffering from frostbite. I'm content now. Just standing here holding her hand. I too now feel compelled to sing. We stand straight ahead. Not looking at each other. Our hands are still joined. "Through the Years We all will be together, If the fates allow............" The song ends entirely too fast. The President walks up to address the crowd. He says something about the season and giving. I've zoned out. Until I hear "And now our Deputy Communications Director, Sam Seaborn has prepared a special number for us all to hear!" Donna drops her hand from mind and it flies to her mouth in horror. I hope this look is for Sam and not for me. "I almost forgot!" She squeaks. "Well I have a feeling it's something we won't be able to forget for a very, very long time." Sam steps out in front of all of us. His sweatshirt color is green but he accesorized with a red scarf and with those antlers atop his head he is one walking holiday cliched. "Hi, Ladies and Gentleman. I'm going to sing a holiday favorite. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to sing along." I feel compelled to yell "Stop! Please Don't!!" I want to yell "Run, Save Yourselves!!' I don't do anything. I can't move. It's like watching a train wreck and not having any power to stop it. "GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEEEEEERRRRRRRR!!!" Oh Dear God. It's worse then I have ever imagined. Donna grabs my arm as if she can not physically stand up she's so horrified. Toby has his head down and CJ has slumped to the ground no doubt living in fear the next press briefing. "WAAALLKIINNGG HOOOMEEE FFFRROOMMM OURRR HOOOUUSSSEE CCCHRRISSTMMAASSS EEEVVEE!" Sam is now running across the steps of the building. He appears to be dancing. Only it resembles more of the Elaine dance from that Seinfeld Episode. The hundreds of people who have come to see us our speechless. Their is a complete hush from the crowd. I think they are embarassed for us. As they should be. The President, ever the gifted leader, walks out towards Sam. I wonder if he's going to stop him. To stop this whole event. He doesn't. All he does is get Sam to stand still. Then the two of them proceed to finish out the song. "YYYOOUU CAANN SAAYYYYY THHHEEEEEEEEERRRES NOOO SUUCH THIINGG ASS SANNNTTAAAA......" Mercilously they finish. MY ear drums are still in tact and I actually hear applause from the audience. They think it was a joke. That is was all a cheap attempt at humor. If they only new. The President thanks them all for coming as we gather ourselves together to go back to the White House for the holiday party. I look at Donna. She's shivering. "Well that went well." She says as her teeth chatter. I smile. "And the fun is not over yet we still have the party. Maybe this time Sam and the President will give us a rendition of "All I want for Christmas is my too front Teeth." "Do I detect a note of bitterness in your voice? What happend to the grand effort you were making?" "The moment has passed." She crinkles her nose. It's all red. She looks like Rudolph. It's really very cute. "You never told me what it was that I said to even make you think about changing your ever pleasant attitude." I grab her arm and pull her towards the rest of the gang waiting for us. "Donna! Can we go enjoy the festivities now?" She looks at me for a moment. She looks slightly disappointed. "Fine Joshua."
TBC.............
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