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Proud
Cinnamon
I work in the White House.
My name is not well-known. I don't have a high-profile position like C.J.
Cregg or Josh Lyman. I've never been on television, and I probably never
will be. But I work for a very powerful and influential man, and the
President of the United States knows my name and asks about my family. I
could be doing a lot worse.
I mean, I'm making a decent amount of money. I'm not rich, but I bring home
enough to take care of my little boy. His name is Teddy, and he looks just
like his father. I still can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
He's three, and I'm trying to pay for clothes and doctor bills and food, and
save for his college education. My boy is going to college, that's for sure.
My boss reminds me a lot of my son, actually. He hates it when he doesn't
get his way and sometimes, I just have to laugh at his expectations. Not
that I'd ever do that to his face. I don't actually laugh anyway. I just
kind of laugh on the inside, and...you know what I mean.
My boss also reminds me of my dad. I'll never forget the look on my dad's
face when I told him that I was pregnant. You know those people who can
break your heart with a look? My dad was like that. He just sort of
shuffled his feet and said, "I see." I wanted to die. Daddy came around
after the baby was born, though. I'm just glad that he lived long enough to
see where I work and to meet President Bartlet. He told me he was proud of
me before he died, and that was nice.
He also said that he wanted me to find a good man. I think he'd like the man
I'm seeing now. He's really great with Teddy and he's really nice to me.
Nicer than anyone has been to me in a long time. Truthfully, I think I'm
falling in love with him. There. I haven't said that out loud yet, not even
to my sister. But I'm falling in love. He sent me roses this morning with a
little card that said he wanted me to have a good day. I know, it sounds
corny, but it was really very sweet.
We're going out tonight. I think we're having sushi. Which reminds me, my
boss has a meeting this afternoon with Leo McGarry and two Japanese
diplomats. And probably, you know, a translator. He's not looking forward
to it, I can tell. He seems to be especially grouchy this morning.
Sometimes, I still can't believe he hired me. My resume was less than
impressive and I'm sure there were a truckload of people who were better
qualified for the position. When he interviewed me, he asked why I wanted
the job, and I told him that I wanted to show my son that there are good
people in the world. I figured I'd blown it because he didn't say anything
for a very long time, but when he did, he offered me the job.
So that's me. My life isn't terribly exciting, but I'm happy. I really do
love what I do. My boss is tough, but fair, and it's sort of like a little
family around here. I'm sounding corny again, aren't I? But it really is
true. My boss spends more time in this building than he does with his actual
family. Or at least, he would if he had a family. He lives and breathes
what he does, though. Sometimes I wonder what he'll do when our time here is
over.
"Bonnie!"
I have to go. Duty calls.
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