Not the regional champion. Not the national champion. The world champion. A Black man beat all the White Chess Grand Masters at their own game. An all...Black cheerleading team from the South took the gold crown at the national cheerleading championships. A bunch of young Black women beat all the blonde-haired and blue-eyed White chicks at nearly all-White sport of cheerleading. How do we do it? White people will say it’s affirmative action, or dumb luck, or favoritism. Give me a break. They. " Just one?" asked the suddenly nervous engineer."Yes, a big grouchy old bear, standing about a foot from me, wears lieutenant's bars ... you might want to watch out for him, he could be trouble." She looked at him."Cute, Little One. Very cute." As long as you're still thinking that I'm cute when I'm screaming your name on my birthday." They both looked to the corner of the display, where the countdown clock now read: Four Weeks, Six Days.Samantha, resplendent in dress grey, met Lieutenant. Darcie noticed first, "Jenna?" I'm sleeping over here tonight," Jenna said. Darcie and Emma exchanged looks. Darcie wondered what the heck was happening whereas Emma certainly knew. There was a quick whispered conversation in which Emma filled in her sister about the earlier conversation. Darcie couldn't believe what she had just heard.Darcie and Emma lay awake waiting. They heard the sounds of kissing. The fire was banked and provided little light but the moon was near full and cool white. The two women talked about all that was happening in their lives since their last phone call. They talked a bit about the book. Leslie was a bit nervous, not having been to a party with this type of theme before. Julia reassured her after hearing how thoroughly Leslie had read the book that she would be fine. They parked the car in one of the few vacant visitor spaces in the condominium project that housed Cynthia’s rental and walked to the stairs.They arrived at Cynthia’s apartment and knocked.