"Hey, you need a ride?"

 

 

I was walking down the hill, and the car was driving up it.  When it came next to me it stopped and the passenger side window lowered.  I recognized him from meetings but hadn't seen him in upwards of a year.  He didn't look too well, but then, a lot can happen in a year.  I remembered him as kind of an angry person; nice, but conflicted.

"Hey, you need a ride?"

"Aren't you going to offer me any candy?" I asked.

He didn't get it, tilting his head sideways and giving me the "huh?" face.

"Never mind.  Thanks, but I'm good."

"So... do you still go to meetings?"  he asked.

Wow.  Right to it.  I shrugged.  "Sure."  I rattled off the current roster of meetings in my orbit.  I had a good idea where this was going -- to be honest with you I've been in this same conversation many times over the years, all that changes is who I'm talking to and what reason they use.

"I haven't been to a meeting in... oh, a while now.  Close to a year."

"Ah." I nodded noncommittally, and we fell silent for a few minutes, the only sound the cars driving past on the hill.

"Well," I said, "I'm on my way to get cat food and some..."

"I couldn't stand the religousness of it."  He blurted it out as if I had asked him -- or accused him.

I nodded again and shrugged a little.   There was a time in my sobriety when I would have... I don't know, not argued exactly, but... debated a little.  At this point in my life I just... if I'm not your sponsor, then I don't know that it's my place anymore.

We were silent for another minute. Me leaning through the car window.

"I like the Sunday morning meeting."  I offered.

Silence.

"I'll be there this Sunday."

"Yeah?"

"I can save you a seat if you want."

He looked at me.  "That's nice of you to offer."

I shrugged again.  "No big deal.  It's not like I'm offering to donate one of my kidneys or anything."

He laughed.

"I'll be there, I'll save you a seat.  It's a good meeting.  Be nice to have you there."

"Thanks.  Sure you don't want a ride?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Okay, well... later."

"'kay" I answered. "See you Sunday."

He drove off.

Maybe. I thought.

 

 

Comments

[Tami]

I've been on both sides of this. For a few years now the person saving a seat. And grateful whether they show up to take it or not for my own "current roster of meetings in my orbit". Thanks Mr. SP.

[Bobby D.]

Reminds me of a photo you published some time ago (I stole it and made it the homescreen on my phone) that said, "Never Give Up on Anyone—Miracles Happen Every Day."

I love that. Think I'll put it on there again.

Also reminds me of a group I attended in Massachusetts. It was always a packed house, but every time someone took the last chair, someone would get up and place an empty chair in the circle—so they always had a seat waiting...

Hope you friend showed up. I'll pray for him.