My name is Mercy Walker and I am an alcoholic....

“My name is Mercy Walker and I am an alcoholic”, Mercy declared with a pseudo conviction.

She cleared her throat and directed a piercing warning glare at her best friend of twenty years and unwilling accomplice, Garner. Garner wiggled uncomfortably in his seat, looking at Mercy and after a long pause he said, “My name is Garner Craven and I am, ehhem, an alco, an alcoholic”..?  His tone suggested this was more of a question than a statement. He barely managed to get out the sentence as he looked at Mercy with an uncomfortable stare. Mercy immediately put her arm around Garner with a small rub on the shoulder, to be evidence of her support. “Welcome, Mercy and Garner” said everyone at the lunchtime AA gathering inside the ultra chic Kent Towers. This was the AA meeting for all of the corporate elite of Memphis. This was also where Mercy believed she and Garner would expand their social catalogue to accommodate the New Year resolution they agreed on- finding a new circle of friends. The Kent Tower AA was a swiftly made choice. Mercy was a regular customer of “Town Nails”, next door and always noticed the unusual assortment of well dressed individuals as they were leaving the Towers. They always were laughing and hugging while exiting to their array of this year’s luxury automobiles. After the New Years Eve party Mercy and Garner hosted turned out to be a drunken fest full of drama and animosity, The Kent Tower AA was a clear choice- in their quest for new and sober friends.

“Wow, we REALLY are doing this”, whispered Garner in his usual sarcastic tone.

“Shut up, Garner! Seriously?” Mercy snapped, while maintaining a well glossed smile. “So sorry” he whispered while rolling his eyes, “must be the withdrawals”.

After much deliberation on New Years Day, after a bowl of southern flavored Black eyed Peas for luck, Mercy was determined to meet new people.

She and Garner both had been in the entertainment circle since they could remember. They met at a high school musical theater audition and were instant friends from then on. Mercy had seen two failed marriages, two grown children, a few substantial career successes that allowed her to retire at 35 and was bored. As hell. Garner, owned a prominent consulting firm and had expanded to the point of not being as needed as he once was. He was also a very active volunteer in the Memphis community which he always drug Mercy along so, he owed her one and was usually up for a “Mercy Adventure”. His AA attendance was less initiated by his lack of fulfillment and more by Mercy’s. Mercy was not one to face change alone. She always would bring Garner into her life changes and sometimes Kindle, her other and less willing best friend.

“Of course, Kindle managed to get out of THIS one. I hope to God I don’t know anyone here.” Garner said sipping on his second cup of coffee.

“Kindle has young children, asshole. She needs to drink,” Mercy replied with her always quick justifications.

“I need to drink! I am NOT quitting drinking, lady. ….am I”? Garner asked almost begging Mercy. Mercy looked away with guilt.  “Oh GOD! You NEVER mentioned we were NOT DRINKING, you said this was to MEET people…” asked a very concerned Garner. “God, Garner! You always get allll tangled up in details of things…” Mercy said casually glancing around the room and working on her third cup of coffee. “ Yes, I do, that tendency is why I have a consulting business, and a successful one at that”.

Garner was interrupted by his phone ringing. A loud stereo surround sound dance mix of Bruno Mars echoed through the room. Garner was so startled by the ring he spilled his coffee. Meanwhile Mercy, in a hasty fit, was putting her hands into his extra deep tailored pockets searching for it to turn it off. “Oh my GOD I TOLD you to turn it OFF, Shit”, she whispered very loudly and maintaining a fake smile. Finally, Mercy silenced it by grabbing it, along with a handful of change and a portion of Garners manhood.

Both, Mercy and Garner apologized, out loud, simultaneously to the group.

“I feel like I have been sexually assaulted, thank you so much- be respectful and call me tomorrow, will you?”; Garner said under his breath, while adjusting his tie and settling back into his seat.

“Better be glad I didn’t just snap the poor thing off, dumb ass”, said Mercy sipping on the now cold coffee and quickly reengaging her ‘concerned eyebrows’ while listening to another story from the attendees. Garner looked at Mercy and said, “I am sooo ready to go, these sad stories are starting to affect my Xanax- negatively. Jesus, Mercy!”

“Damn, you whisper so loud! You better hope no one heard you”; Mercy replied.

Garner finished his coffee and popped a breath mint, “Yes, Mercy, God forbid anyone here in the ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS here my comment about my Xanax. It is all the same. Damn, didn’t YOU once say, (mimicking Mercy)‘Xanax is the CHRISTIAN way to drink’”.

Mercy leaned in,” No it is NOT the same!  THAT is a whole other group. One that is in another area with a WHOLE ENTIRE demographic! Mercy said speaking between her teeth. “People that we would not enjoy, the “strung-outs” and poor people, the victims and crack heads… You really are stupid. You will never fit in here not being able to distinguish the difference. I am certain it goes over all of that in the AA Instruction manual thing- that blue thing…” Mercy regained her composure and immediately regained her concerned eyebrows and directed them towards the new story told by another attendee.

“…and if NOT, I will ‘E-How’ fitting into AA, if you like. Garner noticed his growling stomach. “Damn, I am hungry”, Garner said, eyeballing the room for snacks.

Mercy also began looking around, “Yeah, me too. I think someone said first timers get chips…I don’t see them, though.”

The meeting adjourned. Everyone was hugging and saying goodbye. A lot of the group members were inviting Mercy and Garner to another meeting across town tomorrow night. Mercy spotted a familiar face. Shocked, she grabbed the hem of Garners sleeve and pulled into his ear, “Holy shit. Look who is here.” Mercy said almost with a vindictive hint in her breath. Garner cased the room and stopped where Mercy’s eyes were posted.

“Lucas Peters”, they both said excitedly and in unison. Lucas Peters was a well known, newly awarded, Grammy winning, singer/songwriter. Who also happened to be Mercy and Garners favorite. “I can not believe he lives in Memphis”…said Mercy with her eyes focused on him still. “Stop staring! He is looking at us.” Garner said while grabbing his scarf, as a detour, and laughing as if they were having a conversation about it.

“HE IS LOOKING AT MEEE”, Mercy said defiantly.

Before he was able to respond, Mercy began sashaying over to the Lucas. Garner followed. “Hello, I am Mercy Walker. So very nice to meet you. I must say, you happen to be one of my favorite artists.”  Lucas extended his hand and replied, “ So nice to meet you as well.”

Mercy, not containing her self, leaned in to hug him. Garner gave an uncomfortable chuckle. “Well, guess that is how it is done in Memphis, huh?” Lucas responded after Mercy’s show of affection.

“Are you not from here”…Said Mercy.

“No…actually I am from Ohio. But, I live in Nashville and am just visiting some friends for the New Year.”

“Well, Garner and I would love to have you over for dinner and drinkkkk…”, Mercy abruptly caught herself. Regaining her newly established sobriety she finished, “ Drink, my cat, who also is a fan would love to meet you.”

“You have a cat named, DRINK?” Lucas inquired while holding back a laugh. Garner also was holding back a ferocious roar of laughter.

Mercy, with careful cleverness, replied, “Yes, I had to. I mean, it just reminds me how much I want to stay sober. That is why I named herm, him, that.”

“Nice save.” Garner said under his breath while coughing.

Deviating from the awkward conversation Mercy began digging into her purse recovering a business card. She handed it to Lucas, “Here is my number. Please call and let us fix you a delightful southern dinner, will you? Lucas replied, Thank you, Miss Mercy, I just might. Have a good one” and then he exited.

Mercy and Garner continued out the front door to the car.

“Why the hell do you start talking like Suzanne Sugarbaker when you are around a good looking man?...and let me remind you that your son is older than him.”

Mercy got her keys out of her purse and said, “When I say I hate you sometimes I am just saying that to be funny. But, THIS time- I really DO HATE YOU.”