“Hey Bette are you going to join us?” Jenny asked. She had her arm possessively draped over a pretty Hispanic woman Bette didn’t know.

               “Sure,” Bette sat between Charlotte and Shane figuring that was the safest place to be. “Where is Dana?”

               Alice‘s face turned bright red, “She isn’t coming. She is angry with me.”

               Charlotte chuckled, “And the award for understatement of the year goes toAlice Pieszecki!” Charlotte ceremoniously hands Alice a croissant. The girl clapped as Alice takes her award.

               “Thank you! I never expected this! You are too kind.” Alice gave a fake modest smile. “I would like to thank all the little people I stepped on to get here. I will start with Charlotte and Tina who put me in this position. I can’t forget Bette! Without her I” Alice stopped when she saw that no one was playing along anymore. She turned to see Tina approaching the table. Thanks to Alice the gang knew most of what had transpired Friday night. What they did not know was what happened after Charlotte and Alice left. With the exception of Bette and Charlotte, the women sat tensely waiting for the yelling to begin.

               “Tina, would you care to join us?” Bette asks, giving her a welcoming smile.

               “For a little bit I don’t have too long before I need to be at work.”

               Bette stood up preparing to pull the chair out for Tina when she stopped herself. Bette sat back down at a loss for the proper protocol.

               The women sat in silence as the minutes ticked by only the three women seemed at ease in the quite.

               “Oh for Christ sakes” Alice began before Shane cut her off with a glance. The only reason Alice complied was because she knew she was on probation.

               Tina finally decided to be merciful and break the silence, “What will the CAC be showing now?”