|
See Part 1 for info
"Are you ready?" I grab his coat as a gesture to get a move on. "For?" He can't possibly sit there and pretend like he doesn't remember. "I don't have time to play your little game Josh. You know exactly what I'm talking about." I know he doesn't want to go. I know he thinks this whole Caroling thing is completely stupid but the fact is that I don't. I think it's going to be fun and a nice change from my usually completely boring life..even if Sam is going to sing. So I just wish he'd humor me. "Donna why don't you just pick me up a sweatshirt when you go get yours." Ha! He's crazy. If he thinks I'm going to let him get out of coming with me he doesn't know me very well. "Josh I am not braving the mall alone three days before Christmas. I nearly got two black eyes last time. Come on. After the White House festivities tomorrow night you can go home crawl into bed and hibernate until the ball drops for all I care but now you are coming with me and your not going to whine." I have to take a stand. It's the only way to get through to him. And it seems to work. I can see him beginning to resign himself to the fact that I own him. "Fine. But don't say I never do anything for you. And for the record I dont' whine." "Yes you do." "Donna do you want me to go with you?" "Yes." "Then take it back." "No" "Why?" "I can't lie this close to Christmas. Santa might take me off his list." That makes him smile. He really can't resist me you know. "I bet right as we speak a little elf has stopped making one of your toys." "Say what you will but I live in fear of getting coal." "Okay Okay. I wouldn't want to put your Christmas on the line. I Josh Lyman are a big old whiner. Happy? Can we go now?" "Oh so now your in a hurry." "Donna!" He grabs the coat out of my hands and off to the mall we go. ********************************************************************* "I think the entire population of DC is in this mall right now." I am apparently saying this to myself because Donna is walking ten paces ahead of me parting the crowds. I must say she is a pro. Though I'm not really surprised. "Josh!" She is signally furiously for me to catch up. I didn't know I would be getting my workout for the day here. "Donna can we get the shirts and leave. PLEASE!" I am begging. And screaming. She doesn't hear me. This place is loud. "What?! Josh, say it again I can't hear you!" She's standing no less then a foot away from me but she doesn't stop walking. I'm killing myself to keep up. "I said CAN WE GET THE SHIRTS AND.." "WHAT???" She still doesn't hear me. Maybe if she would just stay still. But then again maybe she's just messing with my head. "I said DONNA I LOVE YOU. LETS GO TO MY PLACE!" I'm just seeing if she's listening. Nothing. Not even a flinch. Okay so she really can't hear me. "Josh!" She tugs on my arm. Her face is lit up like a Christmas tree. And she's pointing at something. "Look!" I turn to look at whatever it is that is causing that glow. It's Santa Claus. And a really shabby one at that. His costume is looking like it hasn't been changed since Keneddy was President. This poor excuse for St. Nick is obviously lost on Donna. "So. There is a Santa in every mall Donna. Or oops...did I ruin something for you?" I joke. She doesn't laugh. "Josh. You truly dont' see the magic in any of this? Look at the facs on those kids. They truly believe in him. They are asking for what they want for Christmas thinking that this is the man that is going to bring it to them. Don't you remember what it was like to have that much faith in something. Don't you remember what it was like to just trust in something. Not because you have a stack of facts to prove it or a great arguement for it but because you just feel it.?"I'm in awe of her. She's speaking with such a passion. I'm almost carried away by it. Because for a second I do remember what it was like. For a second I think that's how I feel about Donna. I don't have a million facts telling me I should feel this way or that way. I don't have a great arguement or a wise ass response. I have that unwavering faith. That trust. In her. I'm dumbstruck. Where is all this coming from? I feel like the Grinch after his heart grows. "Move it Asshole. Your blocking the path!" A woman who had to be around Mrs. Landinghams age is pushing her self against me and screaming obsenities. "So much for the magic of Christmas." I mutter. "Josh. Come on. Are you okay?" This time it's Donna. "Huh" I shake my head to get it clear. "You look a little green." She looks concerned. It warms my Scrooge like heart. For a second. "Yeah I'm fine. Can we get the damn shirts and leave already!" She flinches. I was a little loud. I can be heard above all the chaos around us. She raises her eye brows as I signal that I need to tone it down. "Fine" She gives me a look that is definately threatening. Perfect. There was a nice moment somewhere in this trip but it seems to have passed.
TBC.............
|
|
|