A Second Chance

I started drinking at age eight. I would go into my parents' living room early in the morning and finish the Scotch and water they left from the night before. Next, I started sneaking beer out of the refrigerator and taking it to the cellar. I snuck Scotch out of the bottle my parents left on the floor in the kitchen. By the time I was thirteen, I was sneaking more and more booze from my parents and paying older kids of drinking age (eighteen at the time) to buy me six-packs of beer and wine and eventually whiskey and vodka. By the time I was fifteen, I was a full-blown alcoholic but didn't know it yet. I was never happy with one or two drinks. I had to drink until I passed out.