*Acuariana's Note: This story occurred in October 2011.*

"Welcome to the International Club, and I mean that sarcastically!" snapped Cara Stewart.

"What do you mean by that in a sarcastic manner?" asked Courtney Brown.

Cara made a face. "We're all African-American, at least! Ain't none of us white!"

Brenda Carter looked around at everyone in the room. Yes, Cara was right about everyone being African-American, at least. But that was where the similarity ended. Brenda and Courtney were African-American. Cara, Melissa Araujo, Dina Araujo, and Rosalinda Rodrigues were African-American and Cape Verdean. Charlotte Del Negro was African-American, Peruvian, and Italian. Giuliana (Julie) Dominguez was African-American and Dominican. Lucille (Lulu) Rodrigues and Rachel Aveiro were African-American, Dominican, and Cape Verdean. It was certainly an international flavor!

Rosalinda chuckled at the last statement Cara made. "Thank God for that one," Dina said with a smile. Lulu, Melissa, and Rachel all hooted! Julie and Charlotte just smiled.

Courtney looked at Cara and cracked up laughing! The thought of anyone being white in the room was an understatement although Charlotte could pass for being white, along with Rachel, Lulu, and Melissa! Oh yeah, Dina, too! But they weren't pale, pale apricot, as Courtney called it. (Brenda didn't care for that joke too much! And who could blame her?)

When the laughing died down, Julie said something, and she had a smile on her face which everyone loved. "As the late Michael Jackson said, 'It don't matter if you're black or white.' And that's the truth. It shouldn't matter if we're black or white, but to some people, it does matter, and it's a darn shame!"

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, and Melissa added, "It is, Julie, you're absolutely right. I don't see what's wrong with me dating an Italian-American guy I'm about to have a baby with. There are some folks in my family who see something wrong with that."

Rachel stifled a laugh while she said, "That's why black folks gotta stay black, and white folks gotta stay white." Courtney, Lulu, and Brenda couldn't help but stifle laughs themselves.

Melissa smiled at Rachel. "My sentiments exactly!"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at Rachel. "Rachel Dear, you're missing Melissa's point." Rachel cringed at the fact that she was called Rachel Dear.

"No, Charlotte, I did not miss the point." Rachel was firm.

Rosalinda said, "Rachel and Charlotte, it doesn't matter when or if we understand the point or not. And don't worry, because we all have different opinions about different issues."

Julie had a smile on her face. "This is why everyone in the world is different and unique. If we were all the same, this world would be boring." And when she said that, everyone shook their heads in agreement, because even though Julie was on the autism spectrum (along with Rosalinda), she would say certain things that made sense and got people's attention (along with being positive, for the most part). Charlotte gave an apologetic hug to Rachel, who beamed.

Moments later, it was time for the meeting to end. Cara announced that she would call everyone (or e-mail) about when the next meeting would be.

Cara certainly had a big smile on her face as everyone left (with Courtney being the last to leave, due to last-minute instructions). Even though everyone had African-American blood, they all had an International Flavor so tasteful!