Washington D.C., the West Wing of the White House.
Today was a big day.
The Boston Celtics, fresh off their NBA championship victory, were scheduled to visit the White House in an hour.
It was supposed to be a feel-good political photo-op.
The President would receive the giants in the Rose Garden, accept a number 1 jersey with his name on it, tell a few jokes about teamwork, and then everyone would pose for a few perfect photos before heading home.
But today was different.
The team's star player, the new-generation leader who had averaged 38 points per game in the Finals, had already made a statement on X, expressing his dissatisfaction with the administration's recent silence on certain social justice issues.
He had threatened to stage a protest in the Oval Office, in front of the whole world, if the President couldn't give him a satisfactory answer.
It would be a disaster.
The door to the White House Chief of Staff's office was shut tight.
