Toby had used the excuse - quite legitimately, in his
opinion - last year and the year before during the transition to
the White House. Surely someone with his much vaunted
intelligence and political ability could find a different reason
to avoid all the holiday busywork.

"CJ, work on a theme for Christmas this year and let the
Parks department know what you have in mind." Leo ordered. CJ
nodded.

"Anybody got a problem with a Norman Rockwell type theme?"
CJ asked to the room in general. "We just replaced some old pop
art decorations from the '60's with some very nice country style
ornaments and tableaux and the Parks department spokesperson was
all excited about using them. We have lots of greenery and red
ribbons as well."

"Fine." Leo nodded, after a quick glance around for any
dissent. "Sam, go over the plans for the placement of the
decorations. We're supposed to get snow over the holidays. Adam
Hastings has the floor plans and the outdoor layout."

"Sure. Once we know what we want, I'll hand it over to
Maria Sanchez to put it together. She's been asking for that
assignment."

"Fine." Leo nodded. "Toby, I want you to take care of the
music this year. Hire someone for the Congressional Christmas
party, a choir for the President's photo op and something for the
White House itself."

Everyone stopped and looked at Toby, expecting a blunt
refusal or, at least, a well worded and blistering commentary on
the wisdom or lack thereof in asking him to have anything to do
with the holiday. A variety of expressions crossed Toby's face,
too swiftly to be positively identified, and he finally smiled
that tiny smile that indicated a plan of diabolical cunning.

"I would be delighted." Toby said graciously. Jaws dropped
and Toby's smile grew more cunning. Leo felt a slight stab of
fear, but he couldn't back down now.

"Good." Leo said, rather weakly. "Work it out with Mrs.
Landingham."

"Okay, Leo, are you totally insane?" Josh demanded as soon
as Leo's office cleared. "Asking Toby to have anything to do
with Christmas? He's not going to be filled with Christmas
cheer. He doesn't even celebrate Christmas. I'm not even sure
he knows what Christmas is."

"Would you rather do it?" Leo inquired, annoyed that his
little moment of amusement had been co-opted by Toby actually
agreeing.

"No." Josh subsided. He was more than happy to be left out
of this part of White House business.

"Toby will do a good job on it." Leo said, with more hope
than conviction. "He knows not to screw around with the musical
selections for the parties. Besides, Toby knows more about music
than you do."

"I still think it's a bad idea." Josh grumbled.

"Okay, what are you up to?" CJ demanded, walking with Toby
and Sam. "Why didn't you whine about it being inappropriate for
you to do this, like you usually do?"

"I do not whine."

"Yes, you do."

"I do not whine. I complain, bitch, reproach, gripe,
protest and argue eloquently about inappropriate usage of my time
and energy. I do not whine."

"Why are you doing this?" CJ demanded.

"Because it bothers you."

Toby chuckled as he sat down in his chair, savouring the
look on the faces of his coworkers. He had a plan and it was
going to work.

First of all, he had to get the parties figured out. He
knew that he had to get someone good for the Congressional
Christmas party. At least this year, he would get someone
tolerable instead of going for cute and musically dubious.

Picking up the phone, he called his father. Avram Ziegler
had been first violinist for the New York Symphony and knew
everybody in the music world.

Avram was delighted to hear from Toby and gave him all the
phone numbers he needed. Toby and his father shared a laugh
about the meeting and wished each other a happy holiday before
hanging up. Then Toby phoned the man he wanted for the
Congressional party. Having met him before, Toby found it easy
to convince the talented musician to come to Washington and play
for the President.

A few more calls and he had found the perfect choir for the
President's photo op and, to indulge himself, asked a string
quintet he liked to play for the staff party.

Acceptances in hand and dates figured out, he went into the
fun part of his plan. Calling in a couple of favours, he found
exactly what he wanted for the hallways of the White House. Them
with list in hand, he went to Mrs. Landingham for her approval.

"Well, you certainly didn't dawdle at getting this done."
Mrs. Landingham commented as she took the list. "I was a little
surprised to hear that you would be doing this."

"I'm just trying to be helpful." Toby replied. Mrs.
Landingham gave him and unamused smile.

"Let's see who you asked." She perused the list. "Yo-yo
Ma? How did you get him to agree so quickly?"

"I called and asked." Toby shrugged.

"That's going to be a beautiful concert." She smiled. "The
choir is a good choice, too. A string quartet. You should be
more careful. You may get stuck with this job every year."

"Look at the rest of the list."

Mrs. Landingham read the rest of the list and got a most
peculiar expression on her face.

"Toby, I am an old woman. It is not fair to make fun of me
like this." She said sternly.

"I'm not making fun of anybody." Toby explained. "I wanted
to be inclusive. To provide a venue for a variety of musical
styles that have been most unfairly marginalized."

"And you think you can get this past the President?"

"No. But you can." Toby gave her a winning smile. "You
are the most powerful person I know and I am asking, not for me,
but for all those musicians who have worked so hard for so little
recognition. You can make their hard work and dedication
worthwhile."

"And if I do get this past the President, you will never be
asked to have anything to do with Christmas celebrations again."

"That, too."

"You're a wicked man, Toby."

"Yes, I am."

"Very well."

"You'll do it?"

"I'll try." Mrs. Landingham smiled sweetly. "Have a
cookie."

"Sir, I need you to approve the musical selections for the
Christmas season."

"Who are we getting?"

"Yo-yo Ma for the Congressional Christmas party." Mrs.
Landingham replied. "And he will be invited to dinner with you
and Mrs. Bartlett that evening."

"Wonderful." Bartlett grinned. "And a decent choir for the
photo op?"

"Yes, sir. And a string quartet for the staff Christmas
party."

"So we're going traditional this year, are we? Excellent."

"If you would just sign off on this, we can finish the
arrangements for the music in no time."

"Sure." Bartlett took the paper and scrawled his initials
on it. Mrs. Landingham took the paper back and started to
scuttle away.

"Just a second, Mrs. Landingham." Bartlett commanded. "Let
me see that again."

Without a word, she handed the paper back. Bartlett read
the list carefully, then took off his glasses to look at her.
She met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Who was put in charge of this?"

"Toby."

"I might have known." Bartlett sighed, then handed it back.
"Go with it, but I get to see Leo's face when he finds out. Make
sure he has to walk by when they are playing before our morning
meeting."

"Yes, sir." Mrs. Landingham nodded.

"You know, there's a certain brilliance to those choices."
Bartlett continued. "A brass quintet. Bluegrass banjo.
Bagpipes. Native drummers. Accordion and spoons. Do you see a
common thread?"

"Yes, sir."

"They are all musical styles enjoyed by different people.
All different tastes are being accommodated and all different
origins of the people of this great land are being included."
Bartlett said, with a smile. "And they are all very loud."

"I think that was the point, Sir."

"I think the point was for Toby Ziegler to never be asked to
do this again." Bartlett corrected. "And he did it in such a
way as to be beyond any criticism for it. The man is a genius."

"I wouldn't point that out to him, Sir."

"I wasn't intending to."

"So he agreed?" Toby asked, in a conspiratorial tone.

"Yes, he did." Mrs. Landingham replied, in the same tone.

"You are a genius."

"Yes, I am, Toby. Never forget that."

END