SHORT STORY (The First Family)

The Johnsons always knew their family was a little unconventional, but life took a wild turn when James Johnson, a former high school principal, became President of the United States. Now, instead of PTA meetings, James had cabinet briefings, and instead of dealing with unruly students, he had to wrangle world leaders—and his in-laws.

The White House quickly became a circus. Grandma Pearl, who insisted on running her online baking channel from the Oval Office, frequently interrupted meetings with demands for taste-testers. Uncle Clyde treated the Situation Room like his personal poker den, and the First Kids, Maya and Jamal, often snuck out of official dinners to explore the secret passageways of the historic building.

On one chaotic evening, the Johnsons prepared for a high-stakes dinner with a visiting prime minister. Just as the event began, Maya’s science fair volcano erupted in the East Wing, Uncle Clyde misplaced a priceless artifact, and Grandma Pearl accidentally served her famous bourbon-laced pie to the foreign dignitaries.

But when James stood to deliver his speech, he smiled at his chaotic but loving family. “If we can handle each other,” he said, “we can handle anything.” The room erupted in laughter, and the Johnsons proved once again that even in the White House, family always comes first.