b a b y s i t t i n g t h e p r e s i d e n t 's d a u g h t e r

Chapter 18: Making A Run For The Rain

What were the chances of the First Daughter was living right upstairs, in fact, living in the same room, in the bed next to mine. What were the chances of Megan or my parents believing such a story? It was so unheard of, and I sometimes found myself at a loss with words to say, things to do. But Amanda was constantly pleading to be treated the same as before this big secret.

How could I not, when I had a ton of questions for her? The shock had worn off. Now, I was burning with questions. After all, its not everyday a person gets to meet somebody famous. It was a one in a million chance and how Uncle Winston was involved with the whole thing, became the very first question I needed to ask.

"Your uncle worked for my father for many years, even before his appointment, and my father trusts him with all his heart, as do I. But your uncle left many years ago, nobody knew where he went, they just knew he quit and my father gave him that Egyptian manuscript as a gift. When I came into the picture, he made sure to keep the manuscript so people won't assume or suspect he had anything to do with the White House and therefore wouldn't have anything to do with me," Amanda answered, as detailed as she could possibly tell, "He saved me from that lowlife at the White House and kept me here so I wouldn't be found and taken under the care of that...that...animal."

"Who?"

"I can't tell you everything now," Amanda refused to give a name, "Meanwhile, I have to say thank you for being around and keeping me safe all the time. I know it wasn't easy when you had to check on me from time to time."

"It's okay," I replied, "You did seem familiar but I couldn't quite figure out how."

"But didn't you see me in papers my uncle brought home?" Amanda asked as she grabbed a box of cookies from the table and sat down again next to me as we were both huddled in my room, "I thought you would've known."

I shook my head, "Not at all. In fact, I don't remember my uncle bringing home any papers."

Amanda looked confused, "He always brought a paper home to update me. He knows how much I wanted to be informed."

But he always came home empty-handed, well, except for takeaways.

Amanda later revealed a few things that the newspaper reported such as the FBI findings leading to dead ends every time. They also reported on how her wardrobe was practically cleared and the suitcase taken; which was the biggest puzzle of them all.

"But there is something I wanted to know," I asked, "Is it true you followed your father wherever he went and you had to sit in a different car for your safety?"

Amanda laughed at my question as she answered me, "Yes, I have to travel in a different car. And I love following my father around. Not a fan of the news reporters though."

I nodded as if I understood the life of a kid under such intense scrutiny; I just had so many questions, "Are they always around wherever you go?"

"Everywhere!" Amanda rolled her eyes, speaking of reporters like they were the pests difficult to get rid of.

I remembered the news that had made headlines several years back when Megan had told me about the President reserving a day in the mall catering to him and his family alone, citing the reason of not being able to carry out the same things as other normal civilians do. Megan spoke of how the President was forced to live a life completely under the limelight. Megan also made sure to mention, that although the newspapers and magazines reporting the day's events were merciless to the private family time, most Americans were pretty receptive, citing it to be 'rather sweet' that the President was a family man. An important picture for a public figure, isn't it? It would prove that he was just like everybody else. Personally, I thought he was just as human as everybody else so why had there been a need to prove he was any more than what he already is?