I tap the microphone gently, it gives a dull feedback hum. I squint out into the auditorium to see the assembled crowd. I can only see the faces of some, others sitting back in the shadows at the further ends of the room.
I lean in close to the microphone, not quite accustomed to public speaking, “Listen up everyone. This is what’s going on. My name is D. Arthur and I have brought you all here for a reason.” The audience shifts in their seats.
“D. Arthur, what’s the ‘D’ stand for.” In the second row a handsome, sandy-blond haired man in an expensive brown suit is squinting up at me. His head rests on his fist, which rests on its elbow, which rests on the uncomfortable armrest between him and another attendee.
“I prefer not to say.” I hear him chuckle and mutter something. “Now, as I was saying, thank you all for coming and responding to my invitation. You are all here because I need some information from you.” I pull out a folded piece of paper and scan through the attendance list, reading off each name. As I read, they raise their hand, grunt, or acknowledge with a brief ‘here,’ or ‘yeah.’
“Great. There may be others joining us as we continue and I may be asking some of you to leave.” I pull out some blank note-cards. Where to begin? I pick up my pen and lay the cards out in front of me, ready to take notes. “So, here it is. I need to understand you all a little better. What I’m going to do is ask you a series of questions as a group and individually. The quicker we get some answers, the sooner we’ll be on our way.”
The door in the back of the room opens and a young woman walks in. “Hi, is this the ‘Coming to Life’ meeting?” She holds up a small piece of paper matching the size of the invitations I sent out. I nod and she smiles. “Good, I thought I was in the wrong building for second.” Her voice is unique, almost jagged and sensual at the same time. Like a whisper that carries despite the stillness in the air of the room.
“Alright. The first person I’d like to speak with is Peter Archer.” I point to the chair beside the podium on stage with me. “Come have a seat Mr. Archer.”
