Authors: Tana Reiff
in his wallet
with the card.
From the meeting,
Biff went to a flower shop.
He felt like
getting a present
for Abby.
He had flowers
sent to her,
with no card.
Abby would know
the flowers were from him.
Maybe this “good turn”
wouldn’t count.
So he stopped
at a coffee shop.
He bought one cup
and paid for two.
“Do something for me,”
Biff said
to the counter guy.
“Give a free cup of coffee
to someone who needs it.
Okay, buddy?”
From there,
Biff headed off
to the career office.
The woman
at the career office
asked Biff
what he liked to do
and what he
was good at.
“I like machines,”
said Biff.
“And I like
to make things work.
But in a factory
you never see
how things come out.
You only see parts.”
“Might you like
fixing office machines?”
asked the woman.
“There is a growing need
for people in this field.”
“That’s a great idea,”
said Biff.
“Can I get some training?”
“Yes, you can,”
said the woman.
Biff remembered
some of the things
on the AA card.
... I will live
through this day only.
... I will be happy.
... I will learn something useful.
... I will have a plan.
... I will not be afraid.
Learning how
to fix office machines
fit the bill.
“So far,
I’m doing okay,”
he said,
very low.
“What did you say?”
asked the woman.
“Oh, nothing,”
said Biff.
“I’m just thinking
out loud.
How can I sign up
for the training course?”
“You can sign up
right here,”
the woman said.
So Biff signed up
on the spot.
Then he left
the career office.
He wanted
to go home.
He wanted
a half hour
all by himself.
The training course
lasted only a few weeks.
Biff caught on fast.
He learned
to spot trouble
inside an office machine.
And then he learned
how to fix it.
So he soon found
a job in the field.
The rest of his training
would be on the job.
It was a good day
when Biff found out
about the job.
But not for long.
Biff was so happy
that he did
what he always did
to mark a happy time.
He went
to the pub
to tip a glass.
He didn’t even think.
He just walked in
and ordered a drink.
He sat with Jerry
for hours.
Before Biff knew it,
he was
falling down drunk.
The bartender
called a cab
for Biff.
He crawled
into the car,
feeling like the biggest fool
in the whole world.
Abby was not pleased.
Nor was she surprised.
She had been waiting
for this day.
She helped Biff
to bed.
He was asleep
as soon as his head
hit the pillow.
Then morning came.
“What have I done?”
Biff cried to Abby.
“I can’t believe
I went to the pub.
I’m so so so sorry.”
“You’re human,”
Abby said,
with love in her voice.
“You had a slip.
We all stumble
sometimes.”
She gave him
a long hug.
Biff pulled
Henry’s number
out of his wallet.
He turned over
the little card.
He looked
at the number again.
And then he called.
Henry did his job
as a sponsor.
He listened.
He talked Biff down.
He told Biff
to read the card
and the books
from AA.
Then Henry said,
“See you tomorrow
at the meeting.”
And he did.
Biff was there,
good as new.
“My name is Biff,
and I’m an alcoholic.”
He went on
to tell about his slip.
“I don’t know why
I messed up,”
he said.
The group
helped him
think it out.
The day after that,
Biff went
to the meeting
to pick up
his 24-hours chip.
Biff picked up
his 24-hours chip.
And then he got
his 7-days chip.
And his 30-days chip.
He kept on going
to meetings.
After some time
he did not go every day.
But he did go
two or three times
every week.
He had not seen
his friend Jerry
from the pub
since the night
of his slip.
Then one night
there was Jerry,
at a meeting.
It was great
to see him.
Biff had missed
his old friend.
He just couldn’t go
to the pub.
And that was where
Jerry could always be found.
Until now.
After the meeting,
Biff and Jerry
went out
for a cup of coffee.
They started
going for coffee
after all the meetings.
Some days
they went out
for a bite to eat.
Sometimes, other people
came along.
Biff was having
a good time.
He didn’t even notice
the good times came
without a drink.
And without
a bad stomach.
And without
a bad hangover.
And with a good job
to go to the next day.
At home,
making dinner with Abby
became an every night thing.
They tried new dishes
and gained a few pounds.
For both Biff and Abby,
it was the best time
of the day.
One night
Abby asked Biff
a question.
“Do you think
you’ll ever drink again?”
“I don’t want to, Baby,”
said Biff.
“But I can’t look
that far ahead.
I’ll think about tomorrow
when it gets here.
Right now,
I’m living
just for today.
One day at a time.
In the present.
Because right now
is all there is.
You know what I mean?”
“I do,”
said Abby.
“Just for today.”
They lifted
their water glasses.
“To today,”
said Biff.
“To today,”
said Abby.
Then they tapped
their glasses together
in a toast to today.