They talked for a few more minutes, then took a break. When they came back, Karen said, “We have four more people we want to introduce. Two years ago Patti and Diane got a phone call from a woman after a show. The three of them went to grade school together. Over time they got back together. I want to bring out Julie Higgens, her husband Carl, son Carl Jr. and daughter Janice.”

The four came out and were seated. Karen met them when they came in for the show and compared their appearance to the one that she remembered from the first night. Carl was clean shaven and very polite. So was Carl Jr. That night Julie and Janice seemed tired, haggard and worn out and they limped badly on their cosmetic prosthesis. Today they were on Canadian crutches. Both had a plain pylon clipped to the one crutch, something Carol had suggested to them and helped them get set up. Both were in frilly blouses and knee length skirts and both were wearing a two inch heel. They might not be described as super hot but they certainly would be called very warm.

When they were seated Carl looked at Diane.

“Before anyone asks a question or we go off somewhere else I have something I need to do if I may.”

Patti nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”

“I want say thanks to Diane and Carol for a night of climbing steps and a bunch of other things for my family. I want to thank Patti for having us out to dinner that night. I want to thank the people at AA for their help. I want to thank the guys I work with for their support. Let me tell you, I expected them to make fun of me. They didn’t and they have been there at times to help. I can tell you that I have had twenty five months of total sobriety. My family has benefited from having a sober husband and father. I am far from perfect but I am starting the right way. At work I have gotten a promotion in the last three months that the boss told me would not have happened if I had not gotten the alcohol under control. On top of everything else it made a big jump in our income. We are able to not borrow any more for Carl Jr. to go to college. He will be getting out about the time Janice starts and we may only have his initial loans. Life is not perfect. But it is better. Thank you all.”