The group eyed each other, despite their pleasant-enough chit-chat. Most of them knew each other, at least by sight. The one woman who most of them had in common—that is, they knew her enough to carry on a conversation with her in the grocery store cereal aisle—suggested that everyone find a seat. This week they were meeting in Sue’s basement, so they had a variety of chairs and sofas to choose from. They each had a notepad with them, and a couple of pens. As they focused on her, everyone felt the tension and knew: something was beginning.