Page 99 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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78 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to
tell him what he should do. His faults are not dis­
cussed. We stick to our own. If our manner is calm,
frank, and open, we will be gratified with the result.
In nine cases out of ten the unexpected happens.
Sometimes the man we are calling upon admits his
own fault, so feuds of years’ standing melt away in an
hour. Rarely do we fail to make satisfactory progress.
Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are
doing and wish us well. Occasionally, they will offer
assistance. It should not matter, however, if someone
does throw us out of his office. We have made our
demonstration, done our part. It’s water over the dam.
Most alcoholics owe money. We do not dodge our
creditors. Telling them what we are trying to do, we
make no bones about our drinking; they usually know
it anyway, whether we think so or not. Nor are we
afraid of disclosing our alcoholism on the theory it
may cause financial harm. Approached in this way,
the most ruthless creditor will sometimes surprise us.
Arranging the best deal we can we let these people
know we are sorry. Our drinking has made us slow
to pay. We must lose our fear of creditors no matter
how far we have to go, for we are liable to drink if we
are afraid to face them.
Perhaps we have committed a criminal offense
which might land us in jail if it were known to the au­
thorities. We may be short in our accounts and unable
to make good. We have already admitted this in con­
fidence to another person, but we are sure we would
be imprisoned or lose our job if it were known. Maybe
it’s only a petty offense such as padding the expense
account. Most of us have done that sort of thing.