I am walking out of New Seasons market when I pass two boys, about ten or eleven years old, milling around out front by a column. I’m carrying the eggs I bought hurriedly on my lunch break.

Both boys have skateboards and are loitering in the truest sense of the word. One holds a bottle of Pepsi. He’s wearing a stunning shirt tiger-striped in black and fluorescent green. It’s jungle safari meets psychedelic Jimmy Hendrix poster.

I overhear this boy say to his friend, “It’s impossible to be Barack Obama. Like, almost impossible. Tony Hawk is way more likely.”

I wish I could become invisible. I would stop in my tracks and hear where a conversation like this is headed.

All the way back to the office I will try to imagine. Does he mean that becoming a pro skater is much more conceivable than becoming president? I agree with that appraisal. Does he mean that becoming the most famous skater ever and having numerous video games bearing your name is also way more likely?

Alas, I remain wholly visible and stopping to eaves drop will stick out. I keep walking, though I do steal a glance back over my shoulder. Dying to hear the rest. I will the boy to expound on this thesis in a way that makes these two men’s juxtaposition clear.

This may be the first time Tony Hawk and Barack Obama’s names have been mentioned together in this context.

Let’s hope it’s not the last.