The following podcast contains explicit language.

All along, this was what was supposed to happen.

A novella about the inauguration, written and read by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Part 2 of 5.

Yesterday, the Obama and Biden family is departed by train from Philadelphia for Washington

in an elegantly choreographed bit of political theater.

Today, the Philadelphia train station is chaos.

Patrice had anticipated as much and gotten them there more than an hour in advance of their departure time.

But still, when their gate listing appears on the sign in the station center,

they end up in the rear half of a long, snaking line that she checks three times to confirm is the

correct one. Today is Sunday, almost 48 hours before the inauguration ceremony, so she suspects

the crowds will only get worse between now and then. But already,

rumors are swirling that all of the trains en route from Boston and New York are overflowing.

Why don't you sit on that bench over there and I'll hold our place, Patrice says, but Aunt Lettie

declines. She has struck up a conversation with a husband and wife behind them, a couple from

West Philly, who are telling her they have it on good authority from their minister that the

Obamas will be acquiring a labradoodle because those are good dogs for someone with Malia's allergies.

More people than not are wearing variations on Aunt Lettie's Obama apparel, hats and pins and shirts.

Is anyone present not headed for the inauguration?

In one way, Patrice is reminded of the time seven or eight years ago when she agreed to join her friend

Corrine in the Broad Street Run, Philadelphia's annual 10-mile road race.

In the morning, as she and Corrine rode the subway to the start of the race,

...