"You can still go as an alternate delegate," Phyllis offered sympathetically.

She didn't need to worry. Already, I had advanced farther then I ever could have dreamed a few hours earlier.

But I had been betrayed by the person who had occupied most of my schmoozing time--my lawyer-friend. He must have felt guilty because he came up to me afterward to explain his decision.

"I changed my vote at the last minute," he explained. "I just thought that it should go to the person who had been around longer."

Ageism at worst, but today an alternate, tomorrow a full-fledged delegate.

I walked back with a few of my loyal supporters. They encouraged me to join the Ward 8 Democratic Committee. Get more young people involved.

"Just don't bring a bunch of students and try to take over," advised Lansing, who said that he has long lobbied for more student participation. "My credibility will be ruined."

No one was anything to worry about. I won't bring a bunch of rabble-rousing students to the caucus. After all, I've got civic responsibility now. I'm an alternate delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic Party issues convention.