Page 139 of Never

She asked Pippa: ‘How are you getting on with Ms Judd now?’

‘Old Judders is off my case, thank God,’ Pippa said.

If Pippa was no longer attracting the attention of the school principal, it probably meant that her behaviour had got better. It was the same at home: there had been no more rows. Pauline thought the improvement might be due to the threat of home schooling. Regardless of how much Pippa rebelled, school was the centre of her social life. Pauline’s talk of a tutor had served as a reality check.

Gerry said irritably: ‘Amelia Judd is not old and she doesn’t judder. She’s forty, and an extremely competent and capable woman.’

Pauline looked at him in mild surprise. He did not often reprimand Pippa, and this was an odd issue to choose. The thought crossed her mind that Gerry might have developed a little crush on ‘Amelia’. Perhaps it was not surprising. The head teacher was an authoritative woman in a leadership role, like Pauline but ten years younger. A more recent edition of the same book, Pauline thought cynically.

Pippa said to her father: ‘You wouldn’t like Judders so much if it was you she was trying to push around.’

There was a tap at the door and Sandip came in. It was unusual for staffers to disturb family meals at the Residence; in fact, it was forbidden except in an emergency. Pauline said: ‘What’s up?’

‘I’m very sorry to interrupt, Madam President, but two things have happened in the last few minutes. CBS has announced a long interview with James Moore, live at seven thirty.’

Pauline looked at her watch. It was a few minutes after seven.

Sandip said: ‘He’s never done an interview with network television.’

‘As I pointed out this morning,’ Pauline said.

‘It’s a scoop for CBS, which is why they’re rushing it.’

‘Do you think he was stung by my calling him Timid Jim?’

‘I’m sure of it. A lot of the broadcasters used those words in their reports of the press conference. That was very clever of you. It’s forced Moore to try to prove you wrong, and for that he has to stick his neck out.’

‘Good.’

‘He’ll probably make a fool of himself on CBS. All they have to do is put up an interviewer with a brain.’

Pauline was not so sure. ‘He may surprise us. He’s slippery. Pinning him down is like trying to pick up a live fish with one hand.’

Sandip nodded agreement. ‘In politics, the only thing that’s certain is that nothing is certain.’

That made Pippa laugh.

‘I’ll watch the interview here then come over to the West Wing,’ Pauline said to Sandip. ‘What was the second thing?’

‘The media in East Asia have woken up, and South Korean television is saying that the rebels in North Korea now have control of both nuclear bases and two regular missile bases, plus an unknown number of ordinary military bases.’

Pauline was perturbed. ‘This is no longer just an incident,’ she said. ‘This is a real rebellion.’

‘Do you want to say anything about it?’

She considered this. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘I’ve raised the alert level, and I’ve told Americans that we’re ready for anything. I see no reason to add to that message, for now.’

‘I agree, but perhaps we should talk again after we see Moore’s interview.’

‘Of course.’

‘Thank you, Madam President.’

Sandip left. Gerry and Pippa both looked thoughtful. They often heard hot political news, but this was more dramatic than usual. The family finished dinner in silence.

Just before seven thirty Pauline went into the former Beauty Salon and turned on the TV set there. Pippa followed her, but Gerry said: ‘I can’t bear to spend half an hour in the company of that fool Moore,’ and disappeared.

Pauline and Pippa sat on the couch. Before the interview began, Pauline asked Pippa: ‘What does Ms Judd look like?’