“So this could all just be coincidence.” Dorthy felt a little bit more secure.
	“I’ll look into it anyway.” Gertrude pushed her chair out. “Now I’m interested. We’ll meet at my place tomorrow for Tea, but you can leave her at home.” she pointed at me.
	“I’m just going to tell her everything that’s said. Besides what a hassle to have her wheel me all the way down there and I have to call her to wheel me all the way back.” Dorthy defended me.
	“You act like I live halfway across town!” Gertrude made light of it with half laugh, “It’s only a couple of floors up.” she motioned to the ceiling.
	“Oh let her have it.” the gentleman stood up from the table. “She only observes, she doesn’t interject. I don’t see the problem.”
	“The problem is etiquette.” white gloves replied then fished her tea and stood up from the table.
	“I vote she stays.” one of the ladies spoke out.
	“And I tie break, so this tea is adjourned.” the last stood up. She looked Gertrude dead in the eyes and tossed her napkin on the plate as she stated, “She stays.”
	As they filed out, Dorthy explained the rules of tea voting. “When two have a disagreement it’s up to the rest of the group to take sides. The last vote is always called the tie breaker because of the even number of people, but only if they are not causing a tie. If the last four are evenly divided, there’s something called a tea duel. That’s how disagreements are resolved.”
	The Sacred Tea Order of Alpine, was started long before this group of tea drinkers and would continue long after. It had rules, etiquette, and membership restrictions. There could only be six, no exceptions. So even if I wanted to participate I couldn’t, it’s against the order. Also I do not meet any of the other membership requirements. I am not over the age of sixty, I don’t reside in the Alpine Side, and I don’t own a single tea dress or anything like it. What exactly does the STOA do? Well I’m not a member, and neither are you. So I don’t know.