Making Amends

Overnight after The First Day Of The Month, our hypothetical employee spent some time not sleeping. While not sleeping, he did some reading and some honest thinking. He said some prayers, and read about "making amends" in the Big Book. He thought about how surprised he was, in early recovery, to find the truth of AA's promises.

In the morning he prepared for work, and set off. 

He entered the scene of the crime cheerfully and went about his "opening up" chores. As he was turning on printers and unlocking cabinets, he told his superior, "I would like a moment of your time."

Superior acquiesced, wearing a searching and cautious look. 

Our man smiled. He sat in the superior's guest chair.

He said "I realized that I hadn't apologized yet. So I want to apologize to you for the shock and the stress and the time that you lost on Friday afternoon."

Superior smiled, "Apology accepted."

Our man said, "I was so happy when I left Friday afternoon. It was so nice to have had things right!"

"I was too!" the boss said. "That's why I was so upset when I found cash and checks in the garbage."

"I want to make amends to you," said our hero.

"Okay."

He said "I think I know how it happened. I wasn't operating on all cylinders on Friday...and I think it was because of some things I think I can do things differently, when you get to where you feel like you can trust me again."

The boss said, "The problem is that you're working out of class right now, and the class you're in . . . you aren't supposed to handle money. I don't think our insurance would cover a loss."

"Oh," said our friend, feeling better already to know it wasn't hatred or disgust but purely a business decision. 

(What? What? It isn't all about me???)

The boss said, "I understand your title might be changing..."

"Yes, the Power That Be is looking into that."

"...and if you're reclassified then we would be covered if money was lost."

Our friend asked, "Can't I even enter the payment data? That was kind of 'my thing'."

"Yes," said the boss, "My plan yesterday was for you to do that, but by the time we got the mail and got it sorted, it was getting too late so I had Phyllis do it. I'm still going to have you enter the payments, but you'll only get the slips, not the checks or the cash."

Disappointed, our boy made a sick face.

"...because of the insurance," continued the boss.

"Oh, good," said the employee. "Well. I'm going to go enter these receipts now," and he rose and took the receipt book to his work station and went to work, feeling much better. 

"We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. His faults are not discussed. We stick to our own. If our manner is calm, frank, and open, we will be gratified with the result." (Big Book Chapter 6)

Making Mistakes Means Making Amends ~Daily Herald October 24, 1998