It was love at first sight. I was taken by his blue eyes and that impish smile. And wonder of wonders, he took the seat in front of me in the much-delayed flight from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
As I gave him furtive looks, he played along. After an hour of hide-and-seek, he peered through the space between the seats and asked: "Wanna see something cool?" And as I smiled, he said: "I have a Garfield comic." Wow, my favourite character, but what a time to forget the dog's name. "That's Oddie," he said helpfully. Oh yes of course. He looked at my magazine and asked: "What you got there... Show." I reluctantly parted with my copy of Time showing John McCain and his pearly whites. Thankfully, he thought it was cool.
I asked: "You know him?" Of course, "John McCain," declared Drew Jason. Impressive. Very impressive. At least for a five-year-old. "He is running for the President. My daddy will vote for him," he said embarrassing his father by openly giving away his voting preference. He didn't stop at that. As he showed his transporters and drew rainbows for me, he revealed a peculiar family situation. He said his Mom was voting for Barack Obama - something his mother confirmed instantly. "No, not McCain for me," she admitted.
A white woman declaring that though her husband would vote Republican, she would not mind going for a Liberal. In the same family. So much for the doomsdayers and Bradley effect proponents. Maybe... just maybe... America will surprise itself on November 4.
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