Tracy was up at just after seven o’clock, had her breakfast and was ready to start her “therapy.” The first order of business was accomplished by the White House Beautician. She styled Tracy’s hair like Mitzi’s and helped her prepare her makeup to look as much like Mitzi as possible. The nurse came next with bandages for both knees. She unhooked the braces, bandaged Tracy’s knees and then replaced the braces. While the braces were unhooked Tracy longed to stand and feel her feet on the floor. She realized that Mitzi must have the same longings, the difference was simple, she could elect to take off the braces at any time, for Mitzi, it was forever. She fought to push back the tears.

By nine thirty Tracy was ready for her trip to PT. All four women struck out for the PT department, the first family went to the usual room while Tracy was shuttled to a room that had other patients. There she performed her therapy session making sure she was seen by patients and staff. If anyone had seriously considered this based on the exposure they would have known this was not the wife of the president.

Meanwhile the other three were in the private PT room learning how to live. All three were shown how to wrap their stumps properly so they would shrink. They were told that they could now remove their pylons any time they wished and wrap their stumps. Jaci suddenly saw an opportunity. If she could take off her cast and wrap her stump she would be less encumbered with her crutches. She got up and tried a couple turns around the room. It was like being free. In addition they were told they should be wrapping their stump before retiring and use crutches if they needed to be mobile during the night for a few days as this would enhance the shrinking and ultimately help them be fitted with a permanent leg.

The CNN Newscast at two PM was the first to carry the news. The president’s wife had been spotted in PT by several patients. She was wearing braces and using crutches but as the one man described her, “She looked great.” The two thirty newscast reported even more people had seen her. One thing was mentioned several times. No one had spotted the two daughters. By three PM the firebrands were at it again, one anti-gay orator who was interviewed by the press pointed out that this probably meant that the daughters were still unable to get around and thus were more seriously injured. He speculated that they might even be in a coma or dead. Possibly the president was hiding them to protect the gays, possibly he had some complicity with them in his family’s wounding to gain political advantage. The vitriol of reporting was reaching a fever pitch. Even the bashing of GWB by the left seemed tame by comparison.

By three PM CNN was reporting more violence. Up till now it had generally been confined to the hours after dark. Today the problems were starting early. Tracy’s appearance had either produced no effect or a negative one. Most cities were declaring a dusk to dawn curfew. Things were getting bad. By midnight it was obvious that the troublemakers didn’t care about the curfews. They were out in force and anyone who looked like a target soon became one.

The First Family: Chapter 1 – Introduction

The First Family 45: Jason and Kathy’s Meeting with the President is Delayed

The First Family 47: Kathy Wakes From the Surgery