Julia DeVillers - Liberty Porter, First Daughter

I F YOUR FATHER IS ABOUT TO BECOME PRESIDENT of the United States, there are a few things you might want to know.

1. Inauguration Day is the day a new president starts the job.
2. Riding in the backward seat of the limo to Inauguration Day seems really cool. But it actually can make you kind of sick to your stomach.
3. And then if you ask your dad to switch seats because you are feeling sick, dont forget that you put something on the seat next to you: a congratulations card that you decorated in glitter glue. And maybe the glitter glue hadnt exactly dried yet. And your dad sits on it.

Liberty was learning all this new and important information today! Inauguration Day!! It was a historical day for America. And also a historical day for Liberty Porter.

Because Liberty Porters father was the guy who was going to be president!

This meant that LIBERTY PORTER WAS ABOUT TO BE FIRST DAUGHTER!

Liberty had been nonstop excited since the election. But she needed to be serious now for just a moment. Liberty had watched out the windows at theyd driven through Washington, D.C. And now the limo had pulled up to the Capitol, the building where the countrys laws are made.

Her mother smiled at her as she slid out of the limo. And then her father was getting up too.

Um, Dad? Liberty said. Before you get out, I have two things I have to tell you.

Of course, honey, her dad said.

The first thing is that I made you a card! Liberty said. The second thing is that its stuck to your, um, butt.

Her father turned around and looked surprised. He peeled the card off his pants and held it up. Whew! The glitter smiley faces had smudged, but the rest of the card still looked good.

Well, thank you, he said. What a surprise. You usually just hand me the cards you make.

Read it! Liberty said.

Her father read out loud:

Youre PRES-TASTIC! Youre PRES-TACULAR!

Youre PRESIDENT!!!!

Love your First (and Only!) Daughter,

Liberty Porter

I love it, her father said. Ill hang it up in my new office.

The Oval Office!!

And what was the second thing you wanted to tell me? he asked her.

The glitter glue wasnt dry, Liberty told him.

Um, yeah. There were very sparkly faces smiling from the back of his pants.

The next few minutes were kind of busy. Libertys family had to Hurry! Because it was almost time for the Big Ceremony!

But the new president couldnt exactly go with sparkly smiley faces on him. So first there was this whole Oh, no! What gets glitter glue off of a suit? situation. The bad news was: You cant. The good news was, the suit jacket was long enough to cover it, mostly.

Well, now Im happy on the inside and outside, her father said. Libertys father smiled at her, and she knew everything was totally fine. Everyone always said Liberty and her dad shared the same smile, black hair, and laugh.

So finally they were ready. Liberty followed her parents up the ginormous steps of the Capitol building. This was where a new president took the oath of office.

Libertys dad had told her a couple days ago that the oath of office was a promise. He would raise his right hand. And in front of millions of people, he would say a promise to do his best as president.

There had been fewer than fifty people ever who had been president of the United States. It started with George Washington. And today it would continue with William Porter.

Liberty had put that fact in the research report shed written the month before at her old school. It was about all the presidents and their families. Shed called it What Happened Before the Porters Took Over the White House.

Liberty had gotten an A+ on it! A+ = Awesomely Perfect! She did not always get an A+ Awesomely Perfect on her schoolwork.

Liberty suddenly felt nervous. What if she was not an A+ First Daughter? What if she was really bad at being a First Daughter?

Liberty Porter First Daughter First Report Card:

F = First Daughter FAIL!

Libertys stomach suddenly felt sickish again.

Its almost time, sweetie, her mom said to her.

Liberty looked up at her mother. She looked very happy, but a little frozen. There were snowflakes melting on her moms medium-length brown hair. Her moms cheeks were almost as red as her deep red coat.

Liberty shivered. She didnt know if it was from the cold or from her nervous feeling.

Mom, Liberty said. Im not one hundred percent positive I know how to be a First Daughter.

I think thats okay, sweetie. Her mom smiled. Youll learn as you go. And to be honest, Im not one hundred percent positive I know how to be a first lady. Ive never been one before, you know.

Well, at least I know I wont do what President Theodore Roosevelts son did, Liberty said. He dropped a giant snowball off the roof of the White House onto a policemans head!

Then youre off to a good start, her mother said.

And Im not going to bring a pony into the White House elevator like he did either, Liberty said.

And I appreciate that, her mother said.

But some First Kids had ponies and they never brought them inside! President John Kennedys daughter had a pony named Macaroni.

Yes, I know. Libertys mom smiled. And I think I know where this conversation is heading.

Oh, Liberty said. Then Ill just skip straight to the part where I ask really nicely: May I pretty please have a pony?

Sorry, but no, her mother said.

Well, it was worth a try.

However, you may take Franklin in the elevator, her mom said. Hell like that.

Libertys dog, Franklin, would like that! Thinking about her dog made Liberty feel much happier. Her mom reached over and gave her a big hug. Liberty suddenly felt the sickishness leave her stomach. Not all of it. But most.