Beginners

Story Archive: A Bunch of Phonies

From the Story Archive: March 1978

He found hope and learned willingness

The first thoughts that come into my mind go like this . . . . Are these people for real? Do they actually do what they say they do? They're probably a bunch of phonies, most of them. They talk a good show, but I can't believe anybody here is actually sober. Nobody's that strong. People aren't made that way. You'd need some kind of a stimulant just to go to one of these affairs.

They make me awful nervous, the way they sit there and the way they say hello to each other. One of them asks me, "Is this your first meeting?"

I almost jump out of my chair, and say,... Login to read more
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