"It is, daddy. Look at the cover. I made it all by myself."

"Whose idea were the pretty yellow ribbons to hold it together?"

"Mommy's."

"Ahemm, Mr. President," interrupted one of the aides, "don't you think some critics may possibly consider it a bit improper to allow your daughter to prepare reports on matters of utmost national and international importance?"

The president asked Amy to leave the room and then explained. "Amy just does these things for fun. You don't think I would actually use them. I always solicit information from a variety of outside sources," Carter said, pulling two reports from his briefcase. "These on China were prepared by Marie and Tommy, two of Amy's classmates. They're rather insightful."

"Mr. President, I really think we should return to discussing your problems with Billy."

"Well, it all started when we were little. Mama always liked him better because he was younger. But I was always smarter," Carter began.

"Not those problems, Mr. President; the one regarding Libya."

Another aide interrupted, "Mr. President, I have a cable we just received from your brother."

Carter took the cable and read aloud: "Dear Jimmy, I'm running out of travelers' checks and the Libyans say they'll let me stay in the country for another week only if you promise to send over another ten F-14 fighters. Love y'all, Billy."

The president looked up from the cable, his face bright red. "Why, that's totally out of the question. Just impossible," he yelled. "Tell those Libyans it's ten F-14s in trade for a month of keeping Billy, or nothing."

"Mr. President," the first aide persisted, "the Senate and the American people are going to demand your response to your brother's behavior and an explanation of how it has influenced your decisions. You must prepare an answer."

"Just tell them Billy is a private citizen, free to do whatever he wants just like everyone else. Besides, I'm not my brother's keeper."

"I'm beginning to think it's the other way around," the aide muttered.