A Way Out

ONCE upon a time, an alcoholic shook himself out of a blackout, to find himself perched on a narrow ledge near the bottom of a deep, dark gutter. Looking down into the murky depths, he saw death and destruction; looking up he saw a bit of bright blue sky. Looking down he knew that he was alone and helpless; looking up a ray of hope came into his consciousness. The possibility of a "way out" prompted him to look up again and he saw, dimly at first, steps leading upward. Steps, which became more clearly defined as the alcoholic vapors cleared away, becoming finally twelve steps leading toward the bright blue sky.