Page 226 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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OUR SOUTHERN FRIEND 211
It is ten o’clock of a Saturday night. I am working
hard on the books of a subsidiary company of a large
corporation. I have had experience in selling, in collect­
ing, and in accounting, and I am on my way up
the ladder.
Then the crack-up. Cotton struck the skids and col­
lections went cold. A twenty-three million dollar
surplus wiped out. Offices closed up and workers dis­
charged. I, and the books of my division, have been
transferred to the head office. I have no assistance
and am working nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. My
salary has been cut. My wife and new baby are for­
tunately staying with relatives. I feel exhausted. The
doctor has told me that if I don’t give up inside work,
I’ll have tuberculosis. But what am I to do? I have
a family to support and have no time to be looking for
another job.
I reach for the bottle that I just got from George,
the elevator boy.
I am a traveling salesman. The day is over and
business has been not so good. I’ll go to bed. I wish
I were home with the family and not in this dingy
hotel.
Well—well—look who’s here! Good old Charlie! It’s
great to see him. How’s the boy? A drink? You bet
your life! We buy a gallon of “corn” because it is so
cheap. Yet I am fairly steady when I go to bed.
Morning comes. I feel horrible. A little drink will
put me on my feet. But it takes others to keep me
there.
I become a teacher in a boys’ school. I am happy
in my work. I like the boys and we have lots of fun,
in class and out.