All pertinent information is in Part 1.
Part 6
For a moment they sat silently on or around the bench contemplating the
water. Toby looked over at CJ, who was biting her lip. He tentatively
grabbed her hand and held it in his lap. She looked at him lovingly
before tilting her head in the opposite direction, resting it on Josh's
shoulder. Josh smiled without looking at her and snuggled his cheek on
top of her head. CJ reached her hand down to ruffle Sam's hair as he
sat on the ground between her legs facing the water of the Reflection
Pool.
Josh spoke up, "I don't want us just to be remembered for this thing. I
don't want this to be our only legacy. Is...is that selfish?"
CJ responded, "No...of course not. I don't want this to be the only thing
*I* remember about our time together. I mean we've had all these
wonderful, unforgettable experiences, and I'm afraid this will
overshadow them all.
Toby agreed, "I want us to remember a great President and a great man.
Hell, I would be happy if we remembered sitting here together. And
before anybody says anything about my being teddy bear...shut up."
Sam hadn't said much. He listened intently and sighed.
"I hated high school."
*Silence*
Toby frowned questioningly at CJ, who shrugged in return. Josh put a
hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Go on, Sammy."
Sam returned to the present, "Hmmmm? Oh, I was just saying, I really
hated high school. I was kinda of a geek, you know."
"No, really? Never would have guessed it, buddy." was Josh's joking
reply. "Ooof!"
CJ jabbed him with her elbow. As he looked over, Josh saw two angry
glares directed his way. Sam, not seeing the exchange, continued.
"Before graduation, my friend from computer class and I talked about
how we didn't have any great memories of high school. It was actually
pretty pathetic. All through our lives we weren't going to look back on
those years with any fondness. So, two o'clock in the morning on the
day of graduation, we got drunk, went to school and buried a time
capsule."
"A what?"
"You know, a time capsule...a container with mementos in it to be dug up
at some future date. Paul, that's my friend, and I made a pact that in
twenty-five years we would meet at the spot and dig it up. It's the one
good memory we laugh about every time we talk. It's this inside joke we
have that confuses the hell out of our more popular classmates at high
school reunions. We're the ones with the inside joke and for once,
they're the ones feeling left out."
"Where'd you bury it?"
"In the flowerbed at the foot of the clock tower."
"What'd you put in?"
"Don't remember all of it... my first debate speech... a copy of Queen's We
Are The Champions...the newspaper...Paul thought it would be funny to put a
Trojan in it."
CJ and Josh began to snicker. Letting go of CJ's hand Toby stood up and
began to stroke his beard and stare at the water.
Sam was getting pretty good at recognizing these new fanatical glints
in Toby's eyes. He scrabbled to get up and stand toe-to-toe with his
boss. Pointing a finger at the older man Sam accused.
"Oh crap...you're not thinking about...okay...you know what...Caped
Communications Lunatic...we're so not going to do that."
CJ and Josh remained confused, but also stood up.
Toby looked at Sam deviously, but asked Josh the question.
"Hey wingman, do you think Mrs. Landingham's cookie jar would work?"
Josh wondered what the hell he was talking about. Then it dawned on him
as he smirked his reply.
"I don't know Dark Blight, I think it's gonna be too small."
Sam looked at the two of them. Damn those two were off an running
again. He looked to CJ for support.
"Hey, guys what about Gail's fishbowl?"
Sam dropped his face into his hands.
"Holy Deep Shit, Batman. I'll get the Bat Mobile."
Part 7
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