Box 16.

I walk into the the classroom style meeting area about ten minutes before the meeting is set to begin. I expected to be in the company of only a few people but was very surprised to see a decently full room. The white walls, fluorescent lighting and cold, tile floor weren't especially comforting to me. The gray aluminum and beige cushioned chairs lined three of the four walls, the line of chairs underneath the windows were almost full. At the front of the classroom, there is a long desk with four chairs set up behind it facing the lines of chairs. The classroom is a little chilly and I'm glad I brought a jacket. A projector is ready and the screen behind it is halfway pulled down, I can tell there is going to be some type of presentation.
Groups start to form and chat amongst themselves. I hear giggling and am nosey and curious to know what they're laughing about. A surprise: the treasurer came up and introduced herself to me. I shook her hand and began to think that the President told her who I was and why I was there. Finally, the President announces that the meeting is soon to start and everybody takes a seat. I sit close to the door and was asked to close it when they began.
I notice that there a lot of different types of people in the room. Black, Hispanic, Caucasian, boys and girls, and some more flamboyant than others in their choice of clothing. The chairs of the group introduce themselves to everybody and the President takes any announcements. Four people in the room of maybe twenty-five have announcements. As the meeting goes on, I start to wonder if anybody wonders why I'm taking so many notes. I'm also worried about who thinks I'm gay and not gay. Is that wrong? Am I a bad person for being worried about something like that? I get over it and regain focus.
As the meeting goes on, most of the group offers suggestions and talks about their different events going on. I am surprised at how passionate everyone is and am all of a sudden assured that they are going to do great things.