Chapter meeting held early in order to accommodate the formal pledge dinner. During chapter, as has happened before, I was asked to leave while I was being discussed. On my return, I looked for clues to the verdict on faces and mannerisms, and I noticed that nobody really looked at me much. Apparently, one brother even shielded his eyes from me. So naturally I thought the worst. I did a pretty good job forgetting about it during the formal dinner at Olive Garden, where I ingested in turn several breadsticks and bowls of salad, a generous helping of chicken and pasta, and two servings of tiramisu. I believe the word is “satiated.”

As it turns out, I was initiated. I was not so much happy as relieved to have this obstacle out of the way. I expect the happiness to kick in over the next week.