On my far right is a short bookcase filled with what looks like homemade arts-and-crafts projects. There's a purple and blue birdhouse that looks like it was made by a seventh-grader--on the side of it are the initials 'N.H.' in peeling orange paint. There's also a papier-mache duck or swan--it's too warped to tell which--a ceramic ashtray or cupholder, and a flat piece of brown-painted wood with fifty or so protruding nails that're set up to spell the initials 'N.H.' To make sure the letters stand out, all the nailheads are painted yellow. On the bottom of the shelf, I even spot a few trophies--one for soccer, one for field hockey. In all, you can trace the quality of the projects from first grade all the way up to about seventh or eighth. After that, there's nothing new.
Nora Hartson was twelve years old when her father first announced he was running for Governor. Sixth grade. If I had to date it, I'd say that's the same year she made the swan-duck. After that, I'd bet the birdhouse came next. And that's where her childhood ends.
'C'mon, you're missing the good stuff,' she says, motioning for me to join her by the enormous window.
Crossing the room, I notice the VCR on top of the TV. 'Can I ask you a question?' I begin as I move next to her.
'If it's about the history of the house, I don't really know my--'
'What's your favorite movie?' I blurt.
'Huh?'
'Your favorite movie--simple question.'
Without pause, she says, 'Annie Hall.'
'Really?'
She lets out the sweetest of smiles. 'No,' she laughs. After today, it's not as easy to lie.
'So what is it?'
She stares out the window as if it's a big deal. 'Moonstruck,' she finally offers.
'The old Cher film?' I ask, confused. 'Isn't that a love story?'
Shaking her head, she shoots me a look. 'What you don't know about women . . . is a lot.'
'But I--'
'Just enjoy the view,' she says, pointing me back toward the window. When I oblige, she adds, 'So whattya think?'
'Sure beats the Truman Balcony,' I say, pressing my forehead against the glass. From here, I have a full view of the South Lawn and the Washington Monument.
'Wait until you see it face-to-face.' She opens a door in the right corner and steps outside.
The balcony up here is a small one, and although it curves like a giant letter C around the length of the Solarium, there's just a white concrete guardrail to protect you. By the time I get outside, Nora's leaning over the edge. 'Time for some fun--let loose and fly!' With her stomach pressed against the railing, she extends her arms and leans forward until her legs are lifted in the air.
'Nora . . . !' I shout, grabbing her by the ankles.
Lowering herself back to earth, she grins. 'You're afraid of heights?'
Before I can say another word, she takes off, darting farther around the long, curved balcony. I try to grab her, but she slips through my hands, turns the corner, and disappears. Trying to catch up and trying even harder not to look over the edge, I dash along the far end of the balcony. But as I make my way around the corner, Nora's nowhere in sight. Undeterred, I plow forward, assuming she slipped through another door and went back into the Solarium. There's only one problem. On this side of the balcony, no other door exists. Reaching the corner, I hit a dead end. Nora's gone.
'Nora?' I call out. There aren't many places to hide. From where I'm standing, the balcony runs flush against the mansion.
I press my hands against the wall, using my nails to search for cracks. Maybe there's another secret door. Within thirty seconds, it's obvious there's nothing there. Nervously, I glance toward the edge. She wouldn't dare . . . Rushing forward, I lock my hands tight around the railing. 'Nora?' I call out as my eyes scan the ground. 'Where are--'
'Shhhhhhh--lower your voice.'
Spinning around, I follow the sound.
'A little higher, Sherlock.'
I look up and finally find her. Sitting on the roof of the mansion, she's dangling her feet over the edge. She's low enough that I can touch her swinging legs, but everything else is out of reach.
'How'd you get up there?'
'Does that mean you want to join me?'
'Just tell me how you got there.'
She points with her foot. 'See where the railing runs into the wall? Stand on that and boost yourself up.'
I take a quick look at the concrete railing, then look up at Nora. 'Are you out of your mind? That's lunacy.'
'To some it's lunacy. To others it's fun.'
'C'mon down here--I promise, it'll be more fun.'
'No, no, no,' she says, wagging a finger. 'You want it, you got to come get it.'
I take another look at the railing. It's not even that high--it's just my fear I can't conquer.
'You're inches away from climbing the mountain,' Nora sings. 'Think of the rewards.'
That's it. Fear conquered. Straddling the concrete railing, I hold on to the wall for balance. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down, I tell myself. Slowly, cautiously, I attempt to climb to my feet. First one knee, then the other. As dizziness sets in, my cheek's pressed against the wall and my fingers scurry up the marble like startled spiders. What a stupid way to die.
'Just stand up--you're almost there,' Nora says.
Only a few more inches. Balancing on the railing and leaning into the wall, I let my hands scramble for the roof. Within seconds, I lock on to the marble molding and grab that sucker with everything in me. Then, anchored in place, I slowly stand up. Nora's no longer out of my reach. A hop and quick boost finish the job.
As I prop myself up on the ledge, I hear Nora's hushed clapping. Her feet are still dangling over the edge, and she's hiding behind a tall marble structure that looks like an exhaust duct.
'What're you--'
'Shhhhhh,' she whispers, motioning across the roof. As she waves me next to her, I realize who she's trying to avoid. On the other side of the roof is a man wearing a dark baseball cap and dark blue fatigues. In the moonlight, I see the outline of the long-distance rifle that's hanging from his shoulder. A countersniper--the executive branch version of Rambo.
'Are you sure this is safe?'
'Don't worry,' Nora says. 'They're harmless.'
'Harmless? That guy can kill me with a roll of Scotch tape and a highlighter. I mean, what if he thinks we're spies?'
'Then he'll stick us down and color us bright yellow.'
'Nora . . .'
'Relax . . .' she moans, mimicking my whine. 'He knows who we are. As soon as I got up here, he took off to the other corner. As long as we keep it quiet, they won't even report it.'
Struggling to act relieved, I scooch next to her and lean against the marble air vent.
'Still worried?' she asks as her shoulder rubs against mine.
'No,' I say, enjoying her touch. 'But I'm warning you--if I get shot, you better avenge me.'
'I think you should be okay. All the times I've been up here, no one's ever shot at me.'
'Of course not--you're the crown jewel. I'm the one who's target practice.'
'That's not true. They won't shoot at you without a good reason.'
'And what kind of reason is that?'
'You know,' she says, turning my way. 'Assaulting the complex, threatening my parents, attacking one of the First Kids . . .'
'Wait, wait, wait--define attack.'
'Oh, that's a hard one,' she says as her hand flits across my chest. 'I think it's one of those know-it-when- you-see-it things.'
