SHORT STORY... STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS... BARACK OBAMA AT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE'S DEBATE....

"Omigod! I swear if that old bastard says he fought for the country again, I will go veteran on him! For God's sake -- IF I WAS AS OLD AS HE WAS, I'D HAVE BEEN IN EVERY GODDAM WAR THERE EVER WAS, TOO!!!!!!".... these were the thoughts going through Barack Obama's mind as he sat down with his staff in the room given to him and his staffers before the second presidential debate.

No one said anything. It was one of those moments where Obama demanded silence -- not by using words, but by simply gently raising his index finger (with the thumb sticking up straight just so, like a slanted 'V', apart from the index finger and the other three fingers bent just so slightly -- all at a slight angle) at the person who was just about to say something.

His staffers knew that Obama sometimes needs some silent time before a big occasion. Through the expression -- a frown that brought creases to his forehead or an internal smile that lit his eyes from inside or a look of uncertainty or anger... he was obviously thinking of things and mulling about them.

"That old bastard called me a socialist! What about that stinked-up plan of his to bail out homeowners and letting them stay in their houses? Isn't THAT socialism?! What a moron that old bastard is! All he is going to do is screw things up and ruin this glorious nation of ours exactly as Bush did!"

"He is old and disrespectful! At this stage of the elections, is there a need to be disrespectful?"

Hmmm, Obama reflected on something... "Looking back, I suppose I was slightly mean to Hillary as well. I should not have been. I will not listen to my advisors the next time they suggest I take potshots at a fellow Democrat! I should have put my foot down! I wish I did. All that mudslinging between me and Hillary really did no one any good! I should have nominated her as my running mate. That would have made things easier!"

"But God is not a believer in making things easier. HE wants us all to earn our keeps and places in this world! And I sure as hell will do all I can to take America back to the days of her glory!"

Sir, we have to take our place near the stage. It's time, his aide told him gently.

(Barack Obama portrait shot by Martin Schoeller.
Photo of Obama seated from New York Times)