I looked at Alli. Alli looked at me. We looked back at them to find them watching us, their eyes shifting back and forth between me and my wife, waiti...g for a response, none of us saying a word for what seemed an interminable time period. Finally, I cleared my throat, and just to break the awkward silence, said, “Just to be sure we’re clear here, so that we’re on the same page, we’ll assume you’re not talking about anything that involves any actual playground equipment…” Michael laughed a split. For one thing, we had an extra eighty citizens to account for. I’d made some big decisions that week and they were going to learn about them. During the week, I’d watched carefully how the refugees interacted with my people and vice-versa.Kathy, Toby and I also hadn’t mentioned our change of status to anyone outside of my four girls. I didn’t have much choice in telling them. I had to ask Gale if she wouldn’t mind if Jina joining and me and her on Tuesday night.Poor Gale just couldn’t get me to. She ignored the old magazines and sat with her kneestogether, hands resting on her handbag in her lap, and stared ahead at thelight blue wall. No one would describe Consuella as beautiful and it seemed she almost wentout of way to appear stern and plain in her simple black dress, black hose,sensible shoes and her dark hair pulled back into a tight bun. An unkind observer would say that Consuella was a little overweight and hernose was elongated with a slight hook at the end which, at times,. She looked at me and knew I was telling the truth. It scared her a little. She quickly changed the subject and mentioned that Nancy's boys would be up within the hour and would need breakfast.I told her I'd take care of it, cereal isn't that hard to make. Then she left for her appointment with her Boss, Mr. Little.She later told me about the meeting.When she arrived at the office, everyone became very quiet. Mr. Little asked her to step in his office.They both sat down as Mr. Little began to.