“I don’t see why you have to sit in on the interview”

Bette says as we are getting dressed.

“Because I want to see what rings this 7 year old is going to run around you”

“I am not going to have rings run around me “

“A 5 month old can do it - why can’t a seven year old?”

Bette grabs me and kisses me on the lips

“Because the 5 – almost 6 month old is my daughter “

“You think that’s the only reason?”

Bette laughs and picks a white shirt from the wardrobe and puts it on. It’s such a shame because I was really enjoying looking at her boobs.

“Yes that’s the only reason. It’s a fun thing – the kid is ill – she wants to interview the President – what’s the worst thing she can ask me?”

“What’s a lesbian?”

Ever since Bette announced that she was doing this TV interview with a child from the “Wishes for Children “ foundation there has been much amusement from the Senior Staff – all chipping in with their own silly questions that Bette might get asked. Even Shane – still in rehab has been emailing the stupidest questions to Bette and its been a good fun diversion from the usual struggles with the Republicans, the usual struggles with the economy and the usual struggles trying to get people to just stop killing one another and damn well talk.

Bette looks at me

“She is not going to ask me what a lesbian is and why I am married to another girl”

“Why – that’s what I would want to know if I was a 7 year old”

“You are just perverse though “

“I was a child with a healthy curiosity “

“Is that what Emma said?”

Its good natured stuff and its great to see that Bette is in such a good mood at the moment. The whole business with her mom seems to have started to fade away and she’s happy. Life is always so much easier when Bette’s demons take a holiday.

“Tell me about this little interviewer “

“She’s 7 and she’s called Amy McBride. She’s from New York”

“Smart mouth in other words”

“She’s from New York”

“What is wrong with her?”

“Leukaemia – she’s got about 12 months to live if she doesn’t get a bone marrow donor“

That slows down my wise cracking – poor kid.

“Hell “ a horrible reminder of my own experiences when my first girlfriend Danni died of that illness

“Yeah – and she could have asked to visit Disneyland or visit Hollywood but she wants to sit down and ask the President some questions “

“I hope the charity’s logo is going to be displayed all over the interview so they get donations”

“I told CJ to make sure that if a network wants to run any of the interview they donate a health amount to the charity and to other children’s charities and they give it some publicity”

I grin

“We will make you a press secretary yet “

“I wouldn’t go that far “she replies smiling “You really are going to come along?”

“Hell I have a day of grant applications and paperwork – I wouldn’t miss it for the world – what time is she coming with her family?”

“Noon – I have borrowed Lucy to show her round and relax them before they meet me at 1. We are going to do the interview in the Roosevelt room and then have lunch “

“It’s a really nice thing Bette “

“It’s the least I can do -make sure she gets plenty of goodies and hopefully raise a lot of money to help other kids “

“I don’t think you would have done this before Ella was born “

Bette sits down and puts on her boots “ I wouldn’t have – but Ella has given me so much happiness and fulfilment that I want to do everything that I can to help other kids who are not as lucky as her”

“You are getting soft “

“I am human and you and Ella have transformed my life in such a positive and wonderful way that I really do count my blessings every single day “

I walk across and take hold of her

“I couldn’t be prouder or love you more than I do Ms Porter”

>>

It’s a slow morning at the ranch – I have enough to keep me going but what I am looking forward to is meeting Amy and seeing how she gets on dealing with the President.

I finish for the morning just before 1pm and head over to the Oval Office. The TV crew are setting up in the Roosevelt and I stop and have a word with the producer who I knew when I worked for CNN – he’s a really sweet guy and I ask about his kids and we swap photographs of our children.

Bette is just being introduced to Amy and her parents when I stroll into the Oval.

“Amy – here’s a question for you – what do you think of the First Lady?” Bette asks when she sees me

“She’s really pretty “

“Well turn around and say hello”

The little girl spins round – she is thin and with blonde hair. She is wearing a pink and white dress with flowers.

“Hello Amy “

“Hello – eh “

“You can call me Tina if I can call you Amy “

“Thank you”

I shake her hand

“This is Annie and Chad her parents”

“Hello – pleased to meet you “

“Has my sister been looking after you?” I ask

Amy looks a little stumped “Lucy is my sister – though we both deny it “

She looks at Lucy who is looking very professional and smart

“Lucy is great “

“I will tell my mum that you said so – hey sis “

“Hey Tina – how’s my niece?”

“She is wonderful – you should pop up and see her”

“I am going to “

We stand around chatting – Annie tells me that over 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with leukaemia every year. The only cure that Amy can hope for is a bone marrow match – the odds are staggering and although its obvious that as parents you never give up hope it seems that Amy’s parents fear that no match will be found.

She tells me that she wants more women to donate their umbilical cord and cord blood which is more suitable for transplanting into small children. Damn I wish I had known that when Ella was born. I do assure her that this interview is going to do so much good for Amy and the charity that has helped arrange this.

I do wonder how I would feel if Ella was ever ill and I don’t think I could be as strong as her parents are being. But I guess you don’t know until you face it – I just hope that I never have to deal with a serious illness befalling my fantastic daughter.

Amy is polite with me but it’s obvious that she is totally smitten with Bette. She is staring her with total awe

“I hope you don’t mind me saying so but wanting to interview the President seems like an odd thing for a 7 year old to do”

Annie smiles

“She was nearly 4 when you and the President did that press conference when she kissed you – when you announced your engagement. She was just hooked from that moment on”

“She isn’t curious as to why we are both women?”

“She thinks it’s utterly normal. As far as she is concerned some girls like boys and some girls like other girls – she has not a single prejudice in her”

“That’s great “

Annie smiles “Your wife’s job would be a lot easier if more people had Amy’s attitude which is its more important to love than who you love”

“Well I think that Amy has fallen for my wife “

“When your daughter was born she immediately renamed our cat Ella “

“Male or female cat?”

“Male so we had to buy her a kitten “

“Will the TV camera’s unsettle her?”

“I think she will be too busy watching the President – thank you for this – you have no idea what it means to her. It’s obvious she is having a great time”

“Well let’s get this interview done and see if we can find a bone marrow donor for her or some other child.”

>>

Amy takes her lead from Bette who is on top form – she is calm and her attention is focused on making a little girl comfortable in front of the cameras. I am standing beside CJ and Alice– in fact there is a considerable audience for this interview.

The cameras start and Bette speaks to camera – at times like she is usually word perfect and she introduces Amy and asks her a few questions about leukaemia. Then she asks Amy if she has any questions for her. The smile that Amy gives could generate enough power to light up the west coast

“Madam President – do you like pizza?”

Bette smiles

“I love pizza - my favourite is probably chicken and mushroom. Though sometimes I get my chef to make one with two sets of toppings because the First Lady like ham and pineapple and I don’t “

Amy beams at the answer and the producer indicates that she should keep going