Fic: Of Romans
Title: Of Romans
Characters: Bartlet, Toby, CJ, and Josh
Rating: G
Word Count:
Summary: They should know better by now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Feedback: Is always appreciated.
Author's Note: This was written for amy_119's birthday. Sorry it's a bit late. The history in this is true.
“Alright, what’s next?” Bartlet asked.
“That’s it for us, Sir,” Josh said, pointing between Toby and himself.
CJ closed her black portfolio. “Your calendar’s full for the rest of the month. Besides the gala this Thursday, the heavier events are towards the end.”
“Calendars are an interesting topic in the course of history.” He frowned as his three senior staffers began to rise from their seats. Clearing his throat, he gave them a stern look, and said, “No.”
They slowly sank back down to the couches.
“Are we going to get a history lesson on the calendar, Sir?” Josh queried.
He placed his glasses in his breast pocket, no longer needing them for the moment. “Yes, we are. And you know why?”
“Because you’re the President of the United States,” they chorused.
“Exactly, because I’m the President,” he nodded his head and continued. “We use the Gregorian calendar today, but before that the Romans were responsible for dating. We won’t go into the Asian calendars and such. Or the Mayas who were the most correct. The Romans, for all their famed architecture, didn’t quite get it right. Their year was three hundred and fifty five days, which screwed with all of their crops every few years. That is until one man came along and fixed it. Do any of you know who that was?”
Josh mumbled something under his breath. CJ chose to remain quiet. Toby was the one with the answer.
“Julius Caesar.”
Bartlet snapped his fingers in affirmation. “Correct. Julius Caesar, as pontifex maximus,” he gestured his hands. “Had the astrologers of Alexandria create the Julian calendar. They fixed the ten day gap. However, the Romans were still behind on all the days they had missed. So, to take that into account, the year before the new calendar went into effect was four hundred and forty five days long. It was the Year That Never Ended.”
There was silence until CJ spoke, “That’s fascinating, Sir.”
“It is. You could have your birthday twice in one year if you were lucky enough.” He gazed at their faces and decided to pity them. “You may go now. I’m through with you.”
The three left in haste, a fact that did not go unnoticed. He rose and moved to his desk. Sitting, he remarked aloud, “Now, the problem of the leap year, that’s where the fun stuff’s at.”
Characters: Bartlet, Toby, CJ, and Josh
Rating: G
Word Count:
Summary: They should know better by now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Feedback: Is always appreciated.
Author's Note: This was written for amy_119's birthday. Sorry it's a bit late. The history in this is true.
“Alright, what’s next?” Bartlet asked.
“That’s it for us, Sir,” Josh said, pointing between Toby and himself.
CJ closed her black portfolio. “Your calendar’s full for the rest of the month. Besides the gala this Thursday, the heavier events are towards the end.”
“Calendars are an interesting topic in the course of history.” He frowned as his three senior staffers began to rise from their seats. Clearing his throat, he gave them a stern look, and said, “No.”
They slowly sank back down to the couches.
“Are we going to get a history lesson on the calendar, Sir?” Josh queried.
He placed his glasses in his breast pocket, no longer needing them for the moment. “Yes, we are. And you know why?”
“Because you’re the President of the United States,” they chorused.
“Exactly, because I’m the President,” he nodded his head and continued. “We use the Gregorian calendar today, but before that the Romans were responsible for dating. We won’t go into the Asian calendars and such. Or the Mayas who were the most correct. The Romans, for all their famed architecture, didn’t quite get it right. Their year was three hundred and fifty five days, which screwed with all of their crops every few years. That is until one man came along and fixed it. Do any of you know who that was?”
Josh mumbled something under his breath. CJ chose to remain quiet. Toby was the one with the answer.
“Julius Caesar.”
Bartlet snapped his fingers in affirmation. “Correct. Julius Caesar, as pontifex maximus,” he gestured his hands. “Had the astrologers of Alexandria create the Julian calendar. They fixed the ten day gap. However, the Romans were still behind on all the days they had missed. So, to take that into account, the year before the new calendar went into effect was four hundred and forty five days long. It was the Year That Never Ended.”
There was silence until CJ spoke, “That’s fascinating, Sir.”
“It is. You could have your birthday twice in one year if you were lucky enough.” He gazed at their faces and decided to pity them. “You may go now. I’m through with you.”
The three left in haste, a fact that did not go unnoticed. He rose and moved to his desk. Sitting, he remarked aloud, “Now, the problem of the leap year, that’s where the fun stuff’s at.”