.
This is the third in the "Taking Care" series. This and other stories are located at my fanfic site: 'Boulevard of Misdirection'.
"You're late," scolded Toby as he opened Donna's front door.
"Yeah, I know," replied Josh as he shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it
on the hook inside the door. "I wouldn't have been late," called loudly,
"if my assistant hadn't absconded while I wasn't looking!"
"Who me?" Donna grinned innocently as she emerged from the kitchen.
"Yeah you," he replied flopping onto the sofa. "I go to my 11 o'clock with
Leo and O'Neill, finally make it back to my office at half twelve, and
there's a temp sitting where my assistant is supposed to be."
"I hope you were nice to her Joshua?" came Donna's warning tone as she
headed back into the kitchen.
"Of course."
"Joshua..."
"So I might have got a bit annoyed when she couldn't find the file with the
NPS stuff in it," he admitted.
"Josh?" Donna questioned come to the doorway, "you had that file in your
backpack this morning."
"Ah...yeah. That's were I found it an hour later when I was looking for
something else," he replied sheepishly.
"You're hopeless mi amour," laughed CJ.
"Hopeless would allude to the possibility that there was once hope," offered
Toby.
Sam chuckled and shook his head. "I don't know about the rest of you, but
this is Josh, and he's been nothing different from the first day I met him.
I don't understand why anything he says or does surprises you."
"Yes, but even the apes evolved," laughed CJ.
"Darwin's theory, CJ?" smirked Toby.
"Well the office was like a damn zoo this afternoon, not that either of you
could be found," she replied.
"I had somewhere to go," stated Toby.
"So did I," nodded Josh thoughtfully.
"And that was..." began Sam feeling like he'd been left out of cutting
class.
"Synagogue," replied Toby.
"Oh..."
"I went over to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The speaker had been a child
in one of the camps. She lost everyone," added Josh.
"An all too familiar story," nodded Toby.
"And speaking of all things Jewish," said Josh before turning towards the
kitchen and calling out, "Donna... what are you cooking? Whatever I can
smell, I'm having serious flashbacks to my Bubbe's cooking."
"You'll see," came the reply.
Toby smirked at Josh. "You can't figure it out?"
Josh inhaled deeply. I know what I *think* it is, but why would Donna..."
"Yom HaShoah," Toby stated simply.
"Yeah I know but... but Donna wouldn't... would she?"
"The two of you are together nearly twenty-four, seven. You didn't tell her
about this afternoon?" Toby questioned.
"No, just booked it as some personal time," he replied.
"Can we stop talking in half sentences and code here guys?" questioned CJ.
"It's bad enough trying to follow Moss-Lyman speak without you getting into
the act too, Toby."
"Well maybe Donna can enlighten us?" Toby suggested.
"I heard my name, what?" Donna queried, walking in and sitting on her
favorite ottoman.
"Yom HaShoah," stated Toby.
"Ah..." she replied.
"For the non Jewish amongst us?" questioned Sam.
Toby nodded to Donna, "Or those who aren't but for whatever reason, bothered
to find out."
"It's also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, which I guess is fairly
self-explanatory, but it's had a few different names over the years," she
offered.
"Continue Miss Moss," Toby indicated.
Donna curled her feet up under her on her ottoman. "Okay... well, the day
was set aside to remember the estimated six million Jews who were murdered
during World War II and they finally decided on a date back in 1951. Then
it was called Holocaust and Ghetto Revolt Remembrance Day and I'm not going
to *try* and attempt the pronunciation..."
"Yom HaShoah U'Mered Ha Getaot," interrupted Josh.
"Oh... okay... um, then it was changed to Devastation and Heroism Day which
was Yom HaShoah Ve... ah... help?" she smiled looking towards Josh and Toby.
"Ah... Yom HaShoah Ve Hagevurah?" said Josh, turning to Toby with a
questioning glance.
"Yes, that would be right," Toby replied.
"Anyway," she continued. "These days it's just shortened to Yom HaShoah and
by the Hebrew calendar is held on the 27th day of Nissan, which is
tomorrow."
"But, when it falls on a Friday, like any Jewish holiday, it automatically
goes to the day before," added Toby. "You have been busy."
"Marvelous what you can learn on the net," grinned Josh.
"And from your mother," she added, leaning forward.
Josh groaned. "You and my mother communicate way too much for my liking."
CJ laughed and slapped his arm; "Someone has to keep an eye on you."
"And she gave me a couple of recipes," Donna replied, before disappearing
back to the kitchen.
"Yeah? Which ones?" he questioned with interest.
"You'll see," she called.
"My grandmothers recipe for Tzimmes?"
"Wait and find out," she laughed back.
"He's like a kid in a candy store," chuckled CJ.
"Ah... but have you ever had Tzimmes?" questioned Josh.
"Where would I have ever..." she began and then turned to Toby. "Have I?"
"Did you ever make it to Yom Kippur with all of us in New York when Andi and
I were married?" he quizzed.
CJ stopped and thought. "No... I don't think I did. I was going to that
year... that year... oh I don't remember now, I was going to come but I
didn't make it for some reason."
"Then you probably haven't," he replied.
"How far back to you two go?" Sam asked curiously.
"Ohh, way too far," CJ laughed.
"1985?" questioned Toby, rubbing his fingers through the whiskers on his
chin.
"No, further back than that. Remember I met your sister Jo when I was in my
last year at Berkley."
"Well I was working in 1982 in New York. Did we know each other then?" he
asked.
"No, I don't... I think that's about the time I met Jo and she said she had
a brother who was working for 'some politician' at the time. It would have
been that summer."
"So that's '82 - perhaps '83?"
"Yes."
"I was just starting at college in '83," grinned Sam. "And Josh, you would
have been Yale?"
"No... '83, that was my Fulbright scholar year after Harvard. I was in
England. Hey Donna, what were you doing in 1983?" he called.
"Me?" she called back.
"Yeah 1983 what were you doing?" he repeated.
She walked to the doorway and leaned on the frame as she rubbed her hands
with a towel. "Probably playing with my cabbage patch dolls, pestering Mom
and Dad for a pony, you know... normal 10 year old stuff."
"Well, nowhere to follow that to anywhere we want to go," Sam stated
blankly.
"I suddenly feel old," added CJ.
Donna chuckled, "Well Josh asked, blame him. I'm about to put dinner out if
you'd like to take a seat. Josh, here," she said tossing a box of matches
across the room. "You want to light the candle?"
"Thanks," he replied as he caught the box. He and Toby exchanging glances
when they noticed a memorial candle placed in the center of the sideboard.
Toby followed him to it and spoke quietly. "Donna's something else there
Josh. Don't screw it up or I will punish you myself."
"She is and I won't. I... I spent some time in the Hall of Remembrance
today, you know... just well thinking about the past, what my family went
through, how lucky I am that I'm actually here. So many of my family didn't
make it, but for the ones that hung on... who made it through... it's not
going to be for nothing Toby. I won't let that happen," he replied as he
struck the match and put it to the wick of the candle. "You should say
something, I'd... it's been a long time and I'd probably make a mess of the
Hebrew."
"I think you said it all just then my friend," nodded Toby.
Josh offered a small smile. "Yeah, I guess I did."
"Donna, how many people are you expecting because you've got enough food
here to feed a small town," quizzed Josh as he and Toby took their seats.
"Well... your mother just kept giving me recipes and in the end I didn't
know what to cook so I cooked everything," she shrugged as she sat at the
table.
"Okay which are whatever Josh was getting so excited about?" CJ asked,
perusing the table of food.
"These," replied Josh, picking the serving dish up and helping himself, as
was the custom amongst the senior staff when they ate dinner at Donna's,
before passing it to CJ.
"It looks like carrots..." began CJ.
"With sweet potato, prunes and something else," Josh added with a
mischievous glancing to Donna.
"Hey you think you're going to get what the 'something else' is out of me?
If you mother wouldn't tell you, I'm certainly not going to," Donna grinned,
as Josh rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I don't know where to start," stated Sam.
"Here," stated Toby in his usual brisk manner as he thrust a platter at his
deputy. "Holubtsi - cabbage stuffed with rice and mushroom."
"Okay... what is..." started CJ.
"I'll make it easy for you," smiled Donna. "Listen carefully and if my
pronunciation are off... Toby, Josh, don't correct me, okay?"
"Deal," replied Josh as he and Toby helped themselves, knowing exactly what
each dish consisted of.
"Chicken Rimonim, which is with pomegranate. This is garlic braised
eggplant and chick-pea casserole..."
"My mother used to make it with a decent helping of curry powder," offered
Toby.
"Mine didn't, she preferred tumeric," grinned Josh as he handed a serving
dish to CJ. "This is Vegetable chabotte, a basic mix of tomatoes, leeks,
garlic, onion, celery and... zucchini, Donna?"
"Yes, your mother said I could use either zucchini or eggplant, but since I
made the other with eggplant..."
"Did you put the oregano in?" Josh quizzed.
"Josh, I'm shocked that you *know* what tumeric and oregano are, let alone
when to use them," deadpanned CJ.
"All I know is Dad and I liked *this* with oregano and Mom wasn't a big fan
of that particular herb," Josh smiled to himself as he chased a piece of
tomato around the serving dish with the spoon. "Dad would add more when she
wasn't looking... he always thought she didn't notice, but she knew. It was
always a game between Mom and I... she's pretend to be busy with something
and not see him. I'd sit at the bench watching her and Dad cook sometimes.
She'd get me to help with the dough for the fig bread or something and she'd
smile when she'd see him out of the corner of her eye adding more."
"Yes your Mom mentioned to put plenty of oregano in it," Donna smiled.
"Everything else is what it looks like."
"I've been hearing things Spanky," CJ nodded towards Sam as she put more
food on her plate.
"I'm sure there's medication to fix that," Toby smirked.
"Toby, you're funny you know. Why aren't you writing for Letterman or Leno
instead of working at the White House?" CJ shot back with a grin.
"The hours would suck," laughed Josh.
"There's that," nodded Toby. "And I'm sure the salary would be nothing like
what I earn here."
"Oh yes, I see your point," replied CJ sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "but
I asked our friend Sam a question and I haven't heard his answer yet."
"Technically you made a statement more than asked a question," Sam replied.
"Quit the stalling tactics, I work with the press. I know every move
because I created most of them... You and Joey Lucas. Am I hearing
correct?" CJ continued.
"Where did you hear that?" Sam asked calmly.
"Around..."
Sam gave Donna and then Josh a long glance.
"Hey don't look at me, I didn't say a word," offered Josh.
Donna held her hands up in defense, "Not me."
"What! You both knew and didn't think to pass on the office gossip to me?
I suppose you're going to tell me you knew too Toby?" CJ quizzed.
"You think I would take any sort of interest in the social activities of a
man who, after over five years writing for the President, still has
difficulties in applying the correct punctuation to a paragraph?" Toby
stated, pretending to demonstrate total non-interest. "Pass me the
cauliflower please, Josh."
"So, Sam... you and Joey?" repeated CJ.
"We're friends, CJ," offered Sam.
"Friends who fly to Kansas and spend the weekend tucked up in the Topeka
Holiday Inn? Who were spotted strolling hand in hand through the Ward-Meade
Botanical Gardens nearing dusk?" supplied CJ.
"Who... you're just... how did you..." spluttered Sam.
"Sam! You were holding out on me my friend. You didn't tell me this?"
complained Josh.
Sam opened and closed his mouth a few times and then finally found his
tongue again. "Well your informant was incorrect... we stayed at the Plaza.
The Holiday Inn is apparently fine if you are looking for somewhere to take
your prom date if you get lucky. So, who saw us?"
"You know Katherine from the Washington Leader?"
"Oh God, someone from the press?" gapped Sam.
"Do you remember seeing a wedding party near a gazebo or something?
Apparently Katherine was a bridesmaid and thought she recognized a
particular couple happily strolling through the gardens. It wasn't until
you... *you* dropped Joey's hand and starting signing that she suddenly
realized who the 'cute couple' were," smirked CJ.
"Can you find correct punctuation when you sign?" Toby asked. "Not that
you've told me you could sign."
"Donna's teaching me," he shrugged.
"Donna, I didn't know *you* could sign," offered CJ, turning to her.
"Donna has many special qualities," smiled Josh.
"And one of them would be putting up with you," replied CJ with a laugh.
"Hey! Donna, doesn't have to put up with me," complained Josh. "Do you?"
"What do I get if I say it's a total joy to work for you?" she grinned.
"To joyously continue to work *with* me," he replied.
"Eat you dinner Josh," Donna laughed.
"How's the speech going for next week in Wisconsin?" Josh asked turning to
Sam, still grinning at the way Donna brushed off his comment.
"Good," Sam said between bites. "Should be ready for Toby to destroy early
next week."
"You're from Wisconsin Donna, did you go to the University there?" CJ asked.
"Hang on, which campus are we going to?"
"Madison," supplied Josh.
"Yes I went there. My family lives in Madison," Donna replied.
"Your Mom and Dad?" questioned Sam.
"And my sister Fi and her husband Peter, they have three kids. My brother
Bill is still there too. He took over the clinic when Dad retired. He has
a daughter Cassandra and sees her every second weekend and part of school
holidays. It's not his weekend Saturday week, but he and Jen get along okay
so she's letting him swap so I can see her," Donna offered.
"Your father and brother are doctors?" quizzed CJ.
"Only if you're an animal," grinned Josh. "And I don't know if I've heard
that about you? Although there was the time you announced in the Oval
office that you were good in bed, so..."
"Josh!" interrupted Donna, swiping his upper arm with her hand.
"I'm just saying..."
"We heard you and now it's time to stop saying it," Donna laughed. "But
yes, Josh is correct, my Dad and my brother are Veterinarians."
"It will be nice for you to get home for even a little while," added CJ. I
think something should be scheduled for our home cities every year. It
would be nice."
"My Mom complains that's if it wasn't for the times I get my face in one of
the papers, she'd forget what I look like," shrugged Josh. "But it's not my
fault she moved to Florida."
"Would you visit with any more regularity if she was still in Connecticut?"
questioned Sam.
Josh smirked, "Probably not. Is Joey coming to Wisconsin?"
"No. Why would she be?" replied Sam.
"Oh I don't know, a weekend in Wisconsin, it's closer to California than
DC," shrugged Josh.
"We didn't clarify before CJ," started Sam. "Katherine from the Leader,
it's been nearly a week... she's..."
"Don't worry Spanky, she's not going to say anything. I mean really, it's
no big deal," CJ replied. "Joey comes in when we need her to punch the
numbers and polling. It's not like she works directly with or for you."
"Yeah," replied Josh, he and Donna exchanging a brief glance.
CJ noticed, and smiled sadly when she realized exactly what it meant for her
friends. "Guys I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I said that. I..."
"Don't worry CJ, it's fine," offered Donna. "But you know Josh is right.
Sam, if you're in Wisconsin, why don't you head to California after the
President has given his speech? You could surprise her?"
"I don't know whether she'd like that. You think she'd like to be
surprised?" Sam asked of the group.
"Hell Sam, you're seeing her. Surely you'd know best what she would or
wouldn't like?" declared Josh.
"Yeah, well... maybe... maybe I might think about it," he said with a small
smile.
"You are so smitten," chuckled CJ.
"I'm not smitten, I'm just... well I don't know what I am but I'm sure
smitten isn't what it is," Sam countered.
CJ nudged Josh, "He's sooo smitten," she stage whispered.
"Oh yeah," Josh grinned.
~*~
"Thanks for tonight Donna," offered Josh as he closed the front of the
dishwasher and started playing with the dials.
"I enjoy cooking," Donna replied with a smile as she nudged him out of the
way with her hip and opened the front of the dishwasher again. She flipped
a compartment open to place a washing powder tablet inside, before closing
the door again and setting the dials.
"I didn't mean just dinner," he replied sincerely, leaning back on the
counter top and resting his hands on the edge either side of his body. "I
meant for everything. For Toby and I... it was a very thoughtful gesture
and you went to so much effort. Not with just the cooking, but you know...
bothering to find out what it means for us, especially to me."
"It's part of who you are Josh," she answered. "And I happen to be
extremely fond of who you are. The part that isn't about politics just as
much as the part of you that is."
"And I happen to be extremely fond of you too," he smirked. "And because I
am extremely fond of you, it's time I headed home before I do something that
would perhaps make you want to change your mind."
"I don't think I'd change my mind, " Donna replied. "I actually think...
but yes, it's probably best."
"Thank you again," Josh offered as he pushed himself away from the counter,
stepping over and kissing her softly on the forehead.
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. "Thank you for coming
over," she replied as they stepped apart. "Staff at eight and you have
Senator Mika'ek Kaimana at ten for the NPS proposal."
Josh rolled his eyes at the ease in which Donna could switch back into
professional mode. "You don't want to sit in on my meeting with Mika'ek?"
he questioned with a smile as they headed for the door.
"Why would I want to do that?" she questioned innocently.
"Oh I don't know Donna," he began, as he reached for his suit jacket and
threw it over his arm, "perhaps to convince him that the best thing would be
for us to take a trip to Hawaii and check out the area ourselves?"
"You know that would be an excellent idea," she grinned.
"Hmm... not going to happen."
"I think I know that much," she laughed. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Night Donna."
She opened the door and watched him step out. "Goodnight Josh."
~*~
"Damn!" exclaimed Josh as he slammed the phone receiver down.
"Not good?" came the call from Donna's desk.
"No!" he shouted back. "I need you to book me a flight to Boston."
"When?" came the tentative reply.
Josh was sitting at his desk, his forehead resting on his arms when Donna
walked into his office.
"When Josh?" Donna questioned again.
Josh looked up and scrubbed his hands across his face.
"Today. Damn it, Toby had this all sewn up the other week and now Guinett's
having second thoughts."
"Donna looked at her watch. "It's a little after 11, Josh. Do you need me
to cancel your meetings this afternoon?"
"No... no... shit. I have to meet with Ellison, and I don't think I can get
out of the one with Fordyce either. What time are they?"
"Well, Fordyce was at one, but Ellison wasn't until five. You're supposed
to see Congressman Ludwig between them."
"Okay... well Toby can take Ludwig they're old friends so I'm sure he will
get further with him than I will. He was going to sit in on it anyway.
Phone Ellison's office and see if we can move that meeting from five to say
2.30. Tell them if they can't then I won't be able to see him today. Then
see if you can get me a 4 o'clock flight to Boston or there about. I want
to get this done as quickly as possible."
"Have you packed for Wisconsin yet Josh? Tomorrow is Friday and we're meant
to be leaving for Wisconsin early in the morning."
"Yes we were... are. We *are* going to Wisconsin tomorrow. It will be just
you from here with the other senior staff and the President. I will need
you to also book me a flight from Boston to Madison. I just don't know what
time yet, probably early afternoon tomorrow. Damn! This was all planned
out. I should have known it wouldn't come together this smoothly."
"Don't get so worked up Josh. Nothing we can't handle. Now, you had a
2p.m. meeting in Madison tomorrow. You'll need me to reschedule it?"
"No... can't. They couldn't meet me any other time."
"Cancel it then?"
"No."
"Josh, you're not going to be there. You can't just stand them up. You
know that it's hard enough being Democrat in Wisconsin without getting off
side with our own people.
"You'll just have to take it."
"What?"
"You. You'll have to take the meeting. It's not like you haven't taken
meetings before Donna. You're more than capable of handling it. You're
from Wisconsin, it's not like you don't speak the language."
"Which is still English... Josh I can't."
"Why not? Okay this is policy stuff and you've not taken a meeting on this
level before, but you've done all the groundwork for me. You were just as
passionate about raising junior wages and you know as much if not more about
what they want. You know what we have to offer them. I trust you to put
our position on the table and stick to it. You get your point across and
they will love you because you're one of them."
"Excuse me? One of them? I hope, Joshua Lyman, that you're not making some
sexist crack about the fact that the three are congress*women*?" she glared.
"No! Donna, no. That's not what I meant at all. Hell... I meant you're
one of them because you are a smart Wisconsin Democrat. You know exactly
what this policy is about and you believe in it. This has absolutely
nothing to do with sex."
"What has nothing to do with sex?" came the question from Leo from the
doorway.
"Ah... Leo... I... it's not what you're thinking," stammered Josh.
"I think I'll be the judge of what I do and don't think," came Leo's stern
reply.
"Josh said I'd be the best one to talk to Cara Darcy, Loretta O'Shaunessy
and Maxine Lawson tomorrow because I was one of them."
"And I told Donna it was because she was from Wisconsin and a Democrat like
them."
"You also said I was smart," grinned Donna turning from Leo to Josh and then
back to Leo, "and it wasn't because I was female that he thought I was the
best person to do it."
"Meaning it wasn't about sex," concluded Leo for himself. "Good, glad we
clarified that. So, okay... Josh why aren't you meeting with them
yourself?"
"Because Donna is about to book me a flight to Boston to talk to Guinett."
"I thought Toby fixed all that the other week?"
"So did we all. Apparently someone has gotten to Guinett and I have to do
some damage control, which is best done face to face rather than over the
phone."
"So, tomorrow...?"
"Ohh I'm going to Wisconsin... I'm not missing the whole weekend. I'll get
Donna to book me a flight from Boston tomorrow afternoon that's all."
"Good. Keep me updated. We need Guinett on our side Josh. It's
important."
"I know Leo."
"Donna, has he let you organize some time with your family?"
"Well I was going to see them while he took this meeting, but I guess that's
off now," she sighed. "Honestly I don't know if I should do this meeting.
I'm technically only an assistant."
"Yeah, you're probably right," nodded Leo. "Josh what do you think?"
"How about a title bump?" Josh grinned.
"Oh yeah," she laughed and rolled her eyes. "I could handle 'President for
the Day,' Josh."
"Getting a bit ahead of yourself Donnatella," smirked Josh.
"She'd be President before *you* Josh," Leo deadpanned.
Josh took the comment with a chuckle and a nod. He knew Leo was probably
right. "Yeah... so Donna. I was thinking how about... oh I don't know...
Senior Advisor? Clinton's Chief of Staff had a Senior Advisor, so why can't
Bartlet's *Deputy* Chief of Staff have one?"
"Fine by me," nodded Leo as he began to leave. "I have work to do.
Remember, keep me posted."
"Good. Donna, contact Darcy, Lawson and O'Shaunessy in Wisconsin. Give
them my apologies, but let them know my Senior Advisor will be meeting them
instead. No... actually, before you do that, can you do the other first.
Ludwig to meet with Toby, Ellison moved to 2.30 and then book my flight
before phoning the Wisconsin trio."
"What just happened?" Donna said bewildered.
"You were given your long overdue title bump and asked to do some flight and
meeting scheduling. I would think these tasks fall into your multi-skilling
domain. I'm going to go home and pack very quickly. I haven't organized my
bag for Wisconsin either."
"Okay... look you just worry about Boston, I'll go over to your apartment
later and pack for Wisconsin. I'll take your bag for the weekend with my
stuff on Air Force One."
"That would be... thanks Donna. If it's not too much trouble, my good suit
is at the cleaners isn't it? Could you please get it too?"
"What sort of an assistant would I be if I couldn't handle this? Come on,
move Josh. Get home and pack and get back here in time for your one o'clock
or you will throw the schedule out totally.
"Thanks Donna," he smiled as grabbed his backpack. He stopped and gave
Donna a kiss on the cheek as he passed her. "Just... thanks."
"Anytime Joshua," she smiled softly. "All part of the service."
"It's just that I couldn't... if I didn't have you to..."
"I know, I know... just move already!" she laughed.
"Okay, I know when I'm not needed," he replied trying to pout which was
basically impossible when a dimpled smile had control of his face.
Donna laughed and gave him a shove out the door. "Move or your Senior
Advisor will take a more permanent role around here!"
****
"So, how did the meeting go?" Josh questioned into his cell as he adjusted
the strap of his backpack over his shoulder.
"Well in the end they agreed to support the proposal," she replied as she
wandered her room, hanging up her clothes for the next day. "How was
yours?"
"Victory is ours," he grinned as he looked out the window at the plane. "It
took a bit of talking, but you know, I was born to negotiate."
"I'm sure you're mother thought that as she looked at you in your crib after
you were born," Donna chuckled.
"You may laugh," he stated, "but I think you'll find she will agree.
Anyway, don't think you can distract me Donna. I asked you a question. You
said I was okay in the end. Tell me what happened in the beginning and the
middle?"
"I should mention at this point that I went to school with Lynette Darcy the
daughter of Cara Darcy. She wasn't overly impressed that the Deputy Chief
of Staff's 'secretary' was taking the meeting and from a few things she said
I'm wondering if she didn't memorize that trash the Enquisitor published
earlier in the year."
"She said something?"
"To me directly, no. But she insinuated plenty. Anyway, I battled on. I
believe in this bill Josh and I wasn't going to let them talk us down."
"What did they try to use?"
"Oh they tried to tell me that by raising the minimum wage the economy would
suffer due to the extra expenditure by small business to pay more. They
said it would send them to the wall and increase the domination of the
larger corporate entities."
"And?" he asked, shaking his head to the ticket clerk as they queried as to
whether he had more luggage than his carry-on.
"And I told them that by raising the minimum wage the economy would be
boosted by the increase of expendable income. The level of government funds
in welfare that are required to compensate the disadvantaged at the lower
income levels could be freed up to go towards improvements in health and
education. I quoted them the statistics I quoted current wage levels and
conditions."
"So..."
"I told them this would benefit the community, their constituents," she said
changing from one ear to the other as she sat down on her bed "I said if
they wanted to stand back and not lend their support, then fine. But when
this bill is passed I told them their constituents would remember they
weren't willing to support legislation, which would benefit them. And when
it came time for us to remember..."
"You said what?"
"Um... yeah I know. I'm sorry Josh but they were wavering and not backing
this was just wrong. So... I told them. I guess my mouth got a little
carried away."
"Yeah well... I guess there have been a couple of times over the years where
I've got a bit carried away."
"A bit Josh?"
"Yeah well..."
"...your God was too busy being indicted for tax fraud...' ring any bells?"
"Ah, look I have to go now Donna. They're boarding. You organized a car
for me at that end didn't you?"
"Yes," she chuckled. "I'll see you at the restaurant. I've booked for
seven, okay?"
"Fine... see you," he replied, clicking his cell phone closed and heading
for the boarding gate.
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 |
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