Robin looked the same, but more exhausted. Her dark skin was pale incomparison to the dark circles that encompassed her eyes. The pimplesI remembered were now black scars that ran across her cheeks. Her smallafro she used to wear was now divided into well-rowed braids, each anexact distance apart and identical in size with beads at the end of thebraid that clicked as she moved her head around.

But what was most different about her was her demeanor. She was strong,focused, and worthy. I liked her right away. Her righteousness hadn'tdisappeared, but soothed the ugly duckling. She was now her swan. Someone with purpose, important purpose, trying to changelives for the better.

She told me the things she had done: set up a hostel for gay runaways,raised funding for young gay filmmakers, and arranged a small amount fundingfor parent discussion groups. That was her proudest accomplishment shetold me, "because that's where it has to change, in the home, withthe parents. All children need are their parents approval and loveforever, even gay children. That's my goal, to see relationshipsbetween parents and their gay teens develop into 'normal' relationships." She looked at me and genuinely asked me, "You think that's possible?"

"Not for all."

"I suppose. But for some. I know that."

"Your parents support you?"

"Totally. It was a long battle, but now they get most of it. And whatthey don't get, they accept because they love me and I accept that. Why?Because I love them more than anyone, except, of course, for Sarah."

I must admit my heart sunk a little when I heard about Sarah. I knewRobin and me weren't right for each other, but I felt endearedimmediately upon seeing her again. I decided not to remind her of who Iwas because, well, we were both two different people now andthere was no need to concern ourselves with the past. I had a feelingthe past was probably difficult and lonely for her, and I didn't wantto remind her of it.

*******

Helen had been screaming at me for a straight ten minutes.

"I'm sorry." I said, "I didn't know you had such a problem with it."

"God damn it Fran, look at me. You think I want to live in the closet? Now look outside. Look at all those people going in that door. Look atyourself standing in this trailer. You picked up your paycheck today? Did you?"

"Yes."

"Well God damn it Fran, you think you'd have a paycheck if I came out ofthe closet?"

"I just thought going to this meeting with me would help your strainedparental relationship. I didn't want to get you upset."

"Just forget about my strained relationship and worry about your job andeverybody else's job, because believe me this show would be canceledwith in minutes if it came out that I was gay. So keep your pamphletsand your ideas to yourself when it comes to...to...well you know, justleave me out of it."

I felt terrible. I didn't even think about the pressure she was under. "I'm sorry Helen. I won't bring it up again."

"Good. Now could you get me a cappuccino?"

"Sure."

I left and I could hear Helen start to cry.