P. O. Box 1980

A mixed group was sitting around a dining-room table, coffee cups in front of them. All at the table had their eyes fastened on the man who sat by the speaker. The setting wasn't unusual. The unusual bit was the man making swift motions with his hands while the speaker gave his pitch. In all the forty-five minutes, Herman, the interpreter, had to stop the flow of words only twice, so he could catch up. Herman has been sober and a member of AA for over a year. "The only thing is," Herman told me, "I learned the sign language in German. I still have to interpret to myself!"