PPS: I love this story. Hope you do, too…

[Richard Allan Jenni]

“It is was a hot and humid summer afternoon. 23 August 2012, to be exact. Yes, that was the year- 2012. I’m sure of it. An elderly little black man with wooly white hair was sitting in Lafayette Park near the White House. Charles Peak. Private Charles Peak. Of a sudden, old Charlie rose to his tired feet and approached the high wrought iron fence surrounding the White House. He began rapping on the fence with his heavy wooden cane.

Due to recent tumultuous events, US Marines now patrolled the perimeter of the White House lawn. A tall rugged Marine in full battledress approached the old man and declared loudly, ‘Sir, please stop that!’

‘I don’t mean to be a bother, sir,’ Charlie replied in a soft kindly voice. ‘I should like to have a word with Barack Hussein Obama.’

Said the Marine sternly, ‘Mr. Obama no longer resides here, sir.’

Charlie nodded in affirmation. The old man turned and slowly walked away.

The very next day, Charlie was back again at the White House fence- rapping resolutely with his cane. As fate would have it, the same Marine approached him- this time just glaring at Charlie.

In a subdued but determined tone, Charlie repeated his request from the day before. ‘I should like to have a word with Barack Hussein Obama.’

Said the Marine, his words now more deliberate and slow, “Sir, I informed you yesterday that Mr. Obama no longer resides here. Please move on.”

Charlie managed an audible ‘Thank you’ and slowly turned away- his steps a bit quicker than the day before.

The third day, the same Marine saw Charlie coming and hastened to intercept him before he started hitting the fence with his cane.

Once more Charlie requested, ‘I should like to have a word with Barack Hussein Obama.’

Perhaps any other Marine would have been short-tempered, but this massive warrior took it all in stride. As his steel-blue eyes narrowed slightly, he looked down at the wrinkled WWII Army veteran and said quietly, ‘Old man, I’ve told you twice before that Obama no longer resides here. Why don’t you understand?’

Charlie noticeably stiffened, his old body bolting upright as much as his 94 years would allow. His pearly whites shone brightly through his weathered lips. “On the contrary, sir. I understand perfectly. I just like hearing you say it.’

The young Marine snapped to attention and saluted Charlie. ‘I’ll be looking for you tomorrow afternoon, sir.’

But Private Charles Peak never returned. He died peacefully that night in his sleep as he sat in his favorite overstuffed chair. On his lap was a worn copy of the Washington Post with the headline, ‘Obama’s Out!’

Old Charlie was still smiling.”

I love this story. Hope you do, too…

[Wolfy Ghalkhani]

I really like the story. Maybe we'll have an opportunity to have a worn copy of "Obama's out". by the way, Oregon Country Girl, heading to Crater Lake tomorrow then Eugene. My first time in your state, and it is beautiful!!!

[Oregon Country Girl]

Funny story. President Obama lacks leadership skills.