Just for Today (3 page)

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.