code: def _get_selected_item(self):
          
          selection = self.get_selection()
          if selection.get_mode() != gtk.SELECTION_SINGLE:
              raise AttributeError('selected_item not valid for select_multiple')
          model, selected = selection.get_selected()
          if selected is not None:
              return self._object_at_sort_iter(selected)
docs: The currently selected item