“I’m aware of that but I think it’ll be okay.”
“If you say so, Ma’am, but I’m still worried.”
“We’ll get through it, Trent.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He left but was still unsure.
“Bonnie, am I still on for my appointment with Clarise Wallace this afternoon?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good, I need to speak with someone who has something positive to say… even if they’re wrong.”
“What do you mean wrong?”
“Just kidding.” The President had lunch and waited for Clarise to show up. She was a domestic advisor and did have a Pollyanna view of the world.
“Clarise is here, Ma’am,” Bonnie said.
“Hello, Clarise. Please have a seat.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
“What’s on the agenda today?”
“Abandoned spouses.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you read that paper I sent you last week?”
“Clarise, it was three hundred pages. I don’t have time to read that much. Can you summarize it for me?”
“I think so. There’s a growing problem in this country.”
“Yes, there are many of those.”
“I know but I have one that is very disturbing to me.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“It’s about the abuse of women.”
“Men have been abusing women for decades,” Ellen reminded her.
“For centuries,” Clarise added.
“Okay, you’re right but I was referring to recent times.” Clarise stopped and took a breath. She was a person of passion, almost pure passion and when she hit a topic that irked her, she’d pace, wring her hands, talk non-stop all with fascial and hand gestures. It was her exclamation point. “Try and relax, Clarise… take a breath.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” She breathed in and wiggled her fingers which was her warm –up.
“Go on, I want to hear your ideas.”
“Recent laws in many states have attempted to prevent physical abuse of women stuck in bad relationships.”
“And that’s good I take it?”
“Yes, but now the men are finding another way to get around the law and still punish their wives and girlfriends.”
“How?” Ellen asked.
“Make them homeless.”
“You mean kick them out?”
“Exactly. They don’t have to pay alimony; they don’t go to jail for abuse and they get rid of their partner so they can be alone or go on to someone else.”
“And of course, the men are usually the breadwinner and in many if not most cases the house or the apartment is in the man’s name.”
“Yes, Madam President. So, the man does not break any laws and he gets what he wants plus he makes his partner’s life miserable.”
“Well that’s unacceptable. What are you proposing?”
“Garnish their wages, provide housing, food, clothes, whatever it takes.”
“So, these jilted women become a ward of the state?”
“Only temporarily, Madam President.”
“Explain.”
“They’d be given temporary housing and food vouchers until they get on their feet. If they have jobs then they’ll be on their own after a couple of months.”
“If no job?”
“We find one for them.”
“Kids, what if he throws the kids out too?”
“Then it gets complicated.”
“I’ll say.”
“Madam President, we have to help these women.”
“I agree but now we need a strategy. You need to meet with Darin Waters, my legislative liaison. You two can work out the framework for a bill.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
“Anytime, Clarise.” Clarise got up to leave then turned to Ellen.
“Enjoy your trip abroad.”
“I hope so,” Ellen said as she returned to her desk. “Well that wasn’t exactly Pollyanna Clarise,” Ellen said then chuckled. There wasn’t much chuckle time for the President of the United States. The responsibility was overwhelming. As vice-President her day was one of boredom on top of more boredom from the previous day followed by more boredom the next day. She cut ribbons, read to kindergarten classes, met with spelling bee champions and attended funerals that the President couldn’t fit into his schedule. She knew that when she agreed to run for the second spot so, it wasn’t a surprise but that didn’t make it any less stifling. Now, as President for the last ten months every day was on the precipice of crisis. She wasn’t complaining but it was demanding and at the end of the day she was exhausted.
“Ma’am, it’s your husband,” Bonnie said from the doorway to the oval office.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that guy. I wonder what became of him.”
“He married the President then disappeared,” a voice replied.
“Hello, Don.” Ellen said as she got up from her desk and they hugged. They met in college and married after they both finished law school. She was a civil litigator and he was a criminal lawyer for a big firm in D.C. His schedule was less packed than hers but he was gone to New York and Chicago frequently which meant their time together was rare… two kids, Shelly (Michelle) and Brian. She was seventeen and he fourteen. They attended a private academy in D.C. and saw their mother on occasion when she was in the Whitehouse. Their father even less because he was out of town so often or holed up in his office preparing a case for trial. In their own way the two children had begun to accept their fate and lived with it… not happily but it wasn’t up to them. No, being President was not conducive to a healthy family life.
“How’s the commander in chief?”
“Busy, buried in things to do, tired, etc.”
“I can imagine, you know there should be a day every week that you just take off. When I was a kid the town doctor was always off on Thursday. He took every Thursday off no matter what. He deserved it and I don’t think anyone held it against him.”
“Sounds like a great story but I’m lucky to have time for lunch.”
“Sit down, babe,” Don said and they took chairs across from one another.
“How is the Stern case going?”
“Not bad, I think I can get a plea of manslaughter. Maybe he’ll be out in ten years or even less.”
“Good for him.”
“Are you ready for your trip?”
“I guess so. You know, I’ll miss being President and having someone pack my suitcases for me. Bonnie does all that now.”
“Maybe I can borrow her for my next trip to Chicago.” Ellen grinned and leaned back to rest.
“She doesn’t come cheap.” Don chuckled then looked at his wife
“You look tired.”
“I am.”
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”
“Funny,” She said with her eyes closed.
“Are you worried about the summit?”
“It’s not an official summit, haven’t you read the papers,” she said with a grin.
“When the Presidents of Russia and the United States meet, it’s a summit.”
“Touché.”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“That’s okay, Bonnie we were just solving all the world’s problems,” Ellen said as she sat up and moved to the edge of her chair. Don chuckled and smiled.
“Promise Academy called and Brian is in the principal’s office.”
“So soon, it’s only been three days since he was last in trouble,” Ellen said.
“I’ll go,” Don said. If Ellen went it would mean a caravan of cars with secret service agents everywhere, sirens and the works. Don would go with his usual five agents and no sirens.
“Thanks.” Ellen said and Don left. “Sometimes I wish I weren’t President, Bonnie, if nothing else for the children.”
“No, Ma’am, the country needs you.”
“Loyalty, Bonnie?”
“No, Ma’am, oh yes, I’m loyal to you but it’s bigger than that. This country has needed the wisdom of a woman at the helm for a long time and now we have that.” Ellen looked at Bonnie and nodded as she grinned.