Day #1

Assignment: Write a short story in which the two principal characters are from different levels in the social hierarchy.

Story:
Emma was angry. She did not want to be at the meeting and she hoped she did not see anyone who knew here. "This is so damn unfair" she thought.
She had done a favor for a friend by holding an envelop for her. The friend had told her that the envelop contained something the person who gave Emma the envelop was returning. It turned out that what it held was marijuana. Now she had been kicked out of school. She had not been allowed to walk with her graduating class, which wasn't really a big deal to Emma.
"I don't care" she said to herself.
"I don't see that a high school diploma ever did anyone in my neighborhood any good, any way."
Now the judge not only ordered her to go through a treatment program, but the treatment program required her to attend these meetings. What made it worse was that she had to get a sheet of paper signed which meant the they would all know she was in treatment. They would know that she did not want to be there. Of course, anyone could have guessed that from her body language.
She had deliberately sat at the back of the room so hopefully know one would really notice her.

Ginny, was in a rush again as always. Her job at the publishing company meant that she had to rush to make it to an after work meeting. Ginny was a sober alcoholic with 12 years of sobriety. In that twelve years she had really cleaned up her act. She no longer called in to say that she couldn't make it to work, or would be late. She no longer arrived at work tired, with blood-shot eyes. None of her co-workers had complained of her smelling like alcohol. Because of all these things she had received several promotions and was not making a very good salary. She had a really nice condo in the good part of town. She just regreted that her mother couldn't see her now. Unfortunately, she died two years after Ginny got sober. Ginny was thankful that her mother got to see her sober. "Mom was so proud", Ginny thought. Ginny was also certain that her mother had been pleased that she did not die of alcoholism like her father had. Ginny climbed into her sleek little sports car and headed out of the parking garage. The meeting place was only five blocks away but Ginny knew if she walked she'd never make it in time.
When she arrived the only place left to sit was on that the back of the room with the newcomers. But at least she was there. Besides maybe she could say something that would help one of them.

Ginny found a seat next to an young girl that appeared very angry and clearly, from her body language, did not want to be there. The meeting was underway when she arrived and they had just finished the reguar readings and the chairperson was saying that the topic would be Step One. People, in turn, around the room began sharing. When it came around to the girl's turn she angerly whispered her name and that had to come. The Ginny shared about what her life had been like before she got sober. She shared that her life had been nothing like it was now. As she talked she notice that the girl began to really listen to what she was saying and her eyes opened wide and her express seemed to show her disbelief.

After the meeting Emma confronted this well dressed woman who said she had once been nearly homeless and lived in a lousy, roach infested apartment because that was all she could afford. The woman said she spent almost all of her money on alcohol and would spend every night in the bars. In the bars she would get men to buy her drinks by flirting with them and some nights she even allowed them to come home with her. Emma told her "that story wasn't true, there's no way you once did those things, look at you".

Ginny turned and looked at this anger girl; "Oh yes, honey every word is true. How I look now is due to being sober for twelve years."

"Oh come on, you haven't had a drink for twelve years", the girl asked?

"No, not one single drink in twelve years. Why do you find that so hard to believe"

"Well for one there is no way someone who is a real alcoholic could go that long without a drink. I know because my old man was an alcoholic and he never could stay sober for longer than three or four days."

"Look" Ginny told her, "I have been sober for twelve years. If you want to learn more about how I stay sober why don't you and I go next door to the dinner and have some coffee and a burger. I'll tell you all about it."

"I don't drink coffee." the girl spat out.

"A cola then, or whatever you prefer, they don't serve alcohol."

"You buying" the girl asked.

"Sure" Ginny said.

They headed out the door together. Two women who looked nothing alike. Who lived to completely opposite lives, and yet they had everything in common. The common bond of alcoholism.