Free Just for Today by Tana Reiff

Chapter 10
    Biff went
    to another meeting
    the next day.
    And the next.
    And the next.
    In a week
    he got his 7-days chip.
    “But it’s so hard,”
    he told the group.
    “I’m out of a job.
    I’m afraid
    that alcohol
    will get me
    before I can get
    a new job.”
    An older man
    handed Biff
    a little card.
    It was the same
    as the big sign
    on the wall.
    “Read this,”
    said the man.
    “Remember these lines
    when you feel down.”
    Biff read the card.
    He burned every word
    into his mind.
    Just for today:
    I will live
    through this day only.
    I will not tackle
    all my problems at once.
    Just for today:
    I will be happy.
    Just for today:
    I will fit myself
    to what is,
    not to my own wishes.
    I will take my luck
    as it comes,
    and fit myself to it.
    Just for today:
    I will make
    my mind stronger.
    I will study.
    I will learn something useful.
    Just for today:
    I will make
    my soul better.
    I will do somebody
    a good turn
    and not get found out.
    I will do
    at least two things
    I don’t want to do.
    Just for today:
    I will be and look
    as well as I can.
    I will not try
    to work on
    anybody but myself.
    Just for today:
    I will have a plan.
    I may not follow it
    just right,
    but I will have it.
    Just for today:
    I will have
    a quiet half hour
    all by myself.
    Just for today:
    I will not be afraid.
    Most of all,
    I will not be afraid
    to enjoy what is beautiful.
    As I give
    to the world,
    so the world
    will give to me.
    Just for today:
    those words
    made Biff
    feel so much better.
    Just reading
    those words
    was good for his soul.
    He tucked the card
    in his wallet.
    On the way out,
    he stopped
    the older man.
    “Will you be
    my sponsor?”
    Biff asked him.
    “I will,”
    said the man.
    “My name is Henry.
    Here’s my card.
    Call me anytime,
    night or day.”
    “Hey, thanks, man!”
    said Biff.
    He put the number
    in his wallet
    with the card.
    From the meeting,
    Biff went to a flower shop.
    He felt like
    getting a present
    for Abby.
    He had flowers
    sent to her,
    with no card.
    Abby would know
    the flowers were from him.
    Maybe this “good turn”
    wouldn’t count.
    So he stopped
    at a coffee shop.
    He bought one cup
    and paid for two.
    “Do something for me,”
    Biff said
    to the counter guy.
    “Give a free cup of coffee
    to someone who needs it.
    Okay, buddy?”
    From there,
    Biff headed off
    to the career office.

Chapter 11
    The woman
    at the career office
    asked Biff
    what he liked to do
    and what he
    was good at.
    “I like machines,”
    said Biff.
    “And I like
    to make things work.
    But in a factory
    you never see
    how things come out.
    You only see parts.”
    “Might you like
    fixing office machines?”
    asked the woman.
    “There is a growing need
    for people in this field.”
    “That’s a great idea,”
    said Biff.
    “Can I get some training?”
    “Yes, you can,”
    said the woman.
    Biff remembered
    some of the things
    on the AA card.
    ... I will live
        through this day only.
    ... I will be happy.
    ... I will learn something useful.
    ... I will have a plan.
    ... I will not be afraid.
    Learning how
    to fix office machines
    fit the bill.
    “So far,
    I’m doing okay,”
    he said,
    very low.
    “What did you say?”
    asked the woman.
    “Oh, nothing,”
    said Biff.
    “I’m just thinking
    out loud.
    How can I sign up
    for the training course?”
    “You can sign up
    right here,”
    the woman said.
    So Biff signed up
    on the spot.
    Then he left
    the career office.
    He wanted
    to go home.
    He wanted
    a half hour
    all by himself.

Chapter 12
    The training course
    lasted only a few weeks.
    Biff caught on fast.
    He learned
    to spot trouble
    inside an office machine.
    And then he learned
    how to fix it.
    So he soon found
    a job in the field.
    The rest of his training
    would be on the job.
    It was a good day
    when Biff found out
    about the job.
    But not for long.
    Biff was so happy
    that he did
    what he always did
    to mark a happy time.
    He went
    to the pub
    to tip a glass.
    He didn’t even