JOSH: I sense I'm being mocked.
DONNA: Congratulations, Josh.
JOSH: What did I do?
DONNA: You won our award for best gift valued over twenty-five dollars on the
financial disclosure report.
JOSH: Really?
DONNA: Yeah.
JOSH: What won it for me?
DONNA: The eleven-hundred-and-eighty-nine dollar Viennatelli silk smoking jacket
from Miss Sarah Weissenger.
JOSH: Ah, yes.
DONNA: You're also the runner up, by the way, with the three-hundred-and-forty-five
dollar antique Scrimshaw cigarette holder, also from Miss Sarah Weissenger.
JOSH: Well, Sarah was very fond of me.
DONNA: I'd imagine with that smoking jacket and the cigarette holder, you were quite
the dandy.
JOSH: All right, this was fun, but Sam and I are busy making critical decisions, and I'm
sure you have a lot of typing to do. So I'll talk to you later.
“I’m making critical decisions too.” Donna pointed out.
“Such as?”
“Just how to ask Ms. Weissenger if there are any photo’s of you in the smoking jacket
holding the scrimshaw cigarette holder. We could attach it to the award and pass it
around the West Wing.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Donnatella, but I never even tried it on.”
“How disappointing for Sarah.” Donna paused. “Was that her ONLY disappointment
where you were concerned, Joshua? How old do you think she was, Sam?”
Sam held out his hands in an ‘I’m not getting in the middle of this gesture’.
“Donna…” Josh gave her the warning voice which apparently had no effect
whatsoever on Donna.
“I think you should bring it in and try it on for us.” She continued.
“Not on a bet.” Josh replied.
“Oh! Excellent idea. What should we bet on?” Donna rubbed her hands together and
Sam chuckled.
“I’m not betting on…” Josh began.
“802. I’m betting you can’t get the five votes back.” Donna grinned. “And if you can’t,
you have to wear the smoking jacket to work.”
“You’re betting AGAINST your boss getting the votes?” Josh clarified. “You know this
is about gun control right?”
“Oh, I think you can round up the votes with Leo’s help.” Donna patted his shoulder.
“I’m just not sure you can do it all by yourself.”
“Your confidence in me is astounding.”
“No, I’ve just seen how you piss people in Congress off and one of the people you’ve
recently pissed off is someone whose vote you now need on 802.” Donna
summarized. “So no bet then? A little chicken?”
“I’m not a little…and just what do I win when I get the 802 votes on my own?” Josh
pushed back.
“It hardly matters since you’ll never be able to do it.” Donna said confidently.
“Fine. Then when I win, you wear your band uniform to work.”
“My HS band uniform? Are you kidding me?” Donna exclaimed.
“What does it matter? You’re going to win, right? Or are YOU a little chicken?”
“You. Are. On.” Donna shook his hand in the age old custom of sealing a bet.
“Can we get back to work now?” Sam asked, tired of the Josh and Donna show.
“Yes. I’m feeling highly motivated as a matter of fact.” Josh grinned his shark grin and
Donna had just a moment to regret her hasty bet.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
“And bring the cigarette holder too.”
“That was NOT part of the deal.” Josh objected from his bedroom closet. Donna had
dropped by before work to make sure he brought the smoking jacket with him.
“But it will complete the outfit.”
“Dream on.”
“At least let me see it.” She requested, giggling.
Josh came out carrying the garment in question and tossed the box with the cigarette
holder in it to Donna. She opened it and was struck by the intricate carving.
“Wow…just what did you do to deserve this?” She asked with one eyebrow raised.
“Not. A. Thing.” Josh insisted. “Are you really going to make me wear this today?”
“You made the bet.”
“But 802 passed.” Josh objected.
“With help from Leo AND the Vice President.” She reminded him. “Try it on.”
“Trying it on was not part of the bet.”
“Come on.” She cajoled and held it out for him to slip on. Reluctantly, he did so and
prepared for the onslaught of Donna’s humor, but nothing was forthcoming.
“Well?” Josh prompted her. “Aren’t you going to make fun of me?” He knew it was
coming and he’d prefer to hear it here in his apartment rather than in the office in
front of others.
“Uh…” Was Donna’s only response.
“Donna?”
“Ummm…maybe you SHOULDN’T wear it to the office today.” She suggested.
“I told you it was ridiculous.”
“That isn’t the word I’d use.” Donna muttered and fanned her face.
“Donna?”
“I’m…I’m fine.” She swallowed hard. “You just look…in that jacket you seem…”
“What?!”
“Sarah has a very good eye.” Donna nodded slowly and Josh finally got the picture.
“You think I look hot in the smoking jacket.” He smirked.
“Don’t be silly. It’s just not appropriate for work. Take it off.” Donna held her arms out
for the jacket but Josh shook his head no and stepped closer to her.
“Does it…bother you, Donna?”
“A jacket? A jacket bothers me? Please. Just take it off and let’s go to work.”
“No, a bet is a bet. Besides, I want to see if I have this effect on other women with my
hot smoking jacket on.”
“If only you’d thought to wear it while you were lobbying for votes on 802.” Donna
quipped.
“Well, now I know for next time.” Josh moved closer still. “Should I take out the
cigarette holder too?”
“Only if you want to look completely…”
“What? Hot?” He took another step forward until they were nearly touching.
“Joshua!”
“It’s okay, Donna. I have this effect on many women.” He teased.
“Name one.” She shot back.
“Sarah Weissinger.” He shot back and they both grinned. Donna reached up and
fingered the lapels of the smoking jacket. “She does have good taste.” Donna
allowed.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Donna stepped back. “We need to get to work. Come on.”
Reluctantly, Josh pulled off the jacket and handed it to her. “I’ll find a suit jacket and
be right out.”
Donna nodded unable to speak coherently, then waited until he left the room before
she held the jacket to her face inhaling Josh’s cologne on the garment. She was so
gone. Good thing she’d talked him out of wearing the jacket to work.
Josh returned a moment later and took the jacket from her; tossing it on a nearby
chair. It had been the first time he’d tried it on, but now that he knew the effect it had
on Donna, it wouldn’t be the last.
The End.