Martha called Mrs Webber and told her that it was time to come down and the car was outside so we went down to the hotel lobby where people seemed surprised but pleased to see me then out to the front where some photographers and a few news crews were waiting. The hotel security made sure they did not come too close as we went out to the car and Martha had said I should not make any comments or anywhere any questions but to be friendly so I waved and blew kisses in all directions but acted like I didn’t hear the questions they were shouting. In the car I sat on the cushions again and Mrs Webber sat facing me, looking out the back of the car. We put the little TV on and it was showing me on the news waving and blowing a kiss at the camera as I walked to the car although my private parts were blurred which seems silly as they’re on posters all around the town for anyone to see! Then they cut to reporter outside the campaign office saying I should be there any minute and explaining that photographs were allowed inside but no filming but the press conference would be live-streamed with the footage free to distribute.

I started to feel a bit nervous and told Mrs Webber but she said not to worry and to think of it as another rehearsal like the one at the hotel. She reminded me that I am really playing a character who just happens to have the same name and ambition as me and to think of all the journalists as normal people in costumes too then the car stopped outside and people started crowding towards the car. I was pleased to see that Martha had arranged security here too to keep people back but it was not just journalists. There seemed to be a lot of normal people outside too including a lot of girls. Some were holding copies of my posters or the versions run in magazines that I’d not seen before but Martha said were out there. There were other people further back with big signs saying things like “Meat is Murder” or “Choose Life!” or with Bible verses on but Mrs Webber said to ignore them and not to try to talk to them. She gave me a kiss and called me sugar-pie and told me I was going to be awesome then the driver came and opened the door and I got out.

I was not prepared for all the noise! The car had muffled it quite a lot but as soon as I got out everyone was screaming at me and camera flashes were going off all around. I felt really dizzy and almost sick for a moment but then I got used to it. The red carpet was out for me again and metal barriers had been put up with big security men in Roebuck Hotel uniforms standing on the inside. Lots of the girls were holding out pens and wanting me to sign the magazines and posters so I did, using the logo signature I’ve been practising which is based on my real one but fancier and I posed for selfies with some of them. Mrs Webber followed behind and lots of people took pictures of her too as she did look very beautiful but it was clear I was the star.

Martha and Daddy were waiting at the door to greet me and I stood with them and waved to the cameras outside and blew kisses then they brought me in and closed the door. I saw some of the security men move to be in front of the door and Meat Girl 1 drove away. Inside it was a lot quieter and I saw the chairs in front of the stage filled with people and behind them was one TV camera. Nobody was at the desks and Claude and Moira were stood in the gap between the front and back halves and Mrs Webber went to stand with them. Everyone else who I had met yesterday were standing behind the camera to watch the press conference. Daddy went up on stage first and Martha said I should go next and sit in the middle chair. I waved and blew kisses again as I went to my chair and Martha sat on the end one beside me. Daddy went up to the microphones first and told everyone how proud he was of me and how pleased he was with the response my campaign had got so far. He thanked Martha for all her hard work then introduced me and it was time for my speech!


(To be continued...)