Harriet says she will take Gayle to A.A. meetings. Lois offers to pay her extra for gas and time, but Harriet says no, being of service is essential to her own sobriety. Plus, she gets a kick out of Gayle.

Gayle climbs into Harriet’s Corolla and together they cross town to the noon Keeping It Simple meeting at First Congo. En route, Gayle taps her window, says, “That corner there, you can get any pharmaceutical you want.”

Photographs by Mike Slack

“Not today, thanks,” says Harriet.

Back in her day, Harriet took a few pills. And…