7-14-97, 4:00 PM

At 4:00 PM, Kourtnee and I were sitting in a conference room in the plant of Shimmers. The Research and Development was in the plant, so we went out there. This conference room was not as grand as the conference room on the seventh floor. The room matched, like the conference room on the seventh floor. I wanted to go look at all the conference rooms at Shimmers. I bet all the rooms had matching carpet, curtains, and furniture. There was a medium sized table in the room. There were two cabinets on the wall. On the countertops of one of the cabinets, were cookies and juice.

Colt was over at the cabinet getting some cookies and juice. I ran over to Colt. I hugged him. He pushed me off him and said, “Girl, you can’t be hugging me at work. Folks are gonna start talking and spreading rumors.” He pinched my cheeks as he asked, “Where’s your mama?” I gave him a devious look. He stuck his tongue out at me. He asked me if I wanted some cookies. I told him no because I wasn’t hungry.

Everyone began to sit down. I walked with Colt and sat down beside him. This guy sitting next to me tapped me on the shoulder. When I looked at him, he pointed to Kourtnee. She motioned me to come sit by her. I looked at Colt. He gave Kourtnee a look. She motioned me to come over and sit with her again. Colt told me to go ahead. I slowly walked over to where Kourtnee was and sat down. She leaned over and whispered, “You are supposed to be spending the week with me. Remember?” I frowned. She said, “Stop wrinkling your face.” I was about to respond, but Kourtnee hushed me because the meeting was starting.

The meeting was called to order by Rogelio Putnam, the manager of the department. The secretary for the department, Brianne Hutchins, read the minutes from the last meeting. Next, some guy named Craig Davidson went on about a project that the Research and Development department had underway. He went on for 20 minutes. I looked at Kourtnee. She was doodling hearts again. The lady on the other side of her said something to Kourtnee and Kourtnee giggled.

I looked at Colt. He made a face at me. I suppressed my urge to laugh. Mr. Davidson was finally through. The lady sitting on the other side of Kourtnee, Gabrielle Shoren, took the floor. She talked about some upcoming science symposiums, classes, fairs, and events. She was very excited about the events. She encouraged everyone to attend the events. She said that the company would pay the fee for employees to attend. (If Barry Anderson would have heard that, he probably would have pop a vein calculating the cost.) Ms. Shoren kept on going. Colt kept making faces at me, trying to make me laugh. Kourtnee finally figured out what was going on and gave Colt a stern look. Colt dropped his head. Kourtnee gave me the same look.

A lady walked into the conference room and walked over to Kourtnee. She whispered in Kourtnee’s ear. Kourtnee got up out of her chair and left the room with the lady. Some guy was up talking about something. Five minutes later, the lady came back and got me. I walked outside the room. Kourtnee said, “I have to go up to my office. I need you to stay here and take notes for me. When the meeting is over, come up to my office. Don’t play around down here. Come straight to my office.” I nodded ok. I was about to go back in the room when Kourtnee said, “Do not go in there, and sit with Colt. Don’t let me find out that you and Colt were acting silly.” I looked at her innocently. She made a face at me. I walked back in the room.

Colt was up talking when I walked back in the room. I don’t know what he was talking about. He was a great public speaker. He had the audience’s attention. I finally figured out what he was talking about, confidentiality. He went on about confidentiality and its importance. He finished his part of the meeting by giving out rewards. There were ten all together. The meeting was adjourned.

5:29 PM and I Should Have Left Already

I know I was supposed to leave immediately after the meeting was over, but I hung around to wait for Colt. Colt talked to a group of guys for 5 or 6 minutes. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was walking towards the door. Colt called my name. I stopped and waited for Colt. FINALLY, he came over to me. He said, “Why do you look nervous?” I responded, “Kourtnee told me to come up to her office right after the meeting.” Colt said, “Ooh, you’re gonna get in trouble,” teasingly. I walked off from him towards the door. He caught up with me and said, “I am teasing you. I’ll talk to Kourtnee.” We walked towards the Shimmers Office building.