Key takeaway
You promised to read a page and you forgot, and now you want to skip the meeting so nobody finds out. Go anyway. A desire to stop drinking is not a homework grade. You can say you did not read it, or you can listen while others talk. The page can be read late. The meeting is tonight.
Last updated: Tue Oct 06 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The page is still unmarked. You said you would read it, and the day ate the promise, or you stared at the paragraph and nothing went in. Now the meeting is soon and you are inventing a reason to miss it that sounds better than "I did not do the reading." There is no better reason. There is only the chair.
Go without the page done.
You are welcome with a desire to stop drinking, not with a completed assignment. You can listen while other people talk about what they read. There are no dues or fees. Sponsorship questions live in P-15 as shared experience. A pamphlet does not expel you for a skipped paragraph.
Tell the truth if you are asked, and stay
If it is a book study, sit where you can hear and not perform. If someone asks what you thought, you can say you did not read it yet. That sentence is cleaner than a bluff. You can read it tonight after, or tomorrow. The meeting does not reschedule itself around your guilt.
If you truly cannot walk into that particular study, go to a different meeting rather than to none. Meeting Guide lists them. aa.org does not. The meetings search is unverified. Confirm the time. A phone meeting has no page to wave.
Tonight
Show up unprepared and listen. Read the page when you are home if you still said you would. Do not drink the undone homework. If you might hurt yourself, call or text 988. A treatment referral is (800) 653-9376. Calling is free. Treatment providers pay for the referral.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- A.A.: What to Expect at an A.A. Meeting
- A.A.: Need help with a drinking problem?
- A.A.: Questions and Answers on Sponsorship
- A.A.: Find A.A. Near You
- A.A.: Meeting Guide app
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- SmarterRecovery meetings search
- SmarterRecovery about page
Common Questions
Should I skip because I am unprepared?
No. Skipping is how a forgotten page becomes a forgotten meeting. You can walk in and listen. If someone asks, you can say you did not read it. There are no dues or fees. The desire to stop drinking is the requirement.
Will my sponsor be disappointed?
Maybe, and they have been new too. P-15 is shared experience, not a gradebook. Tell them the truth in a sentence. Do not build a week of silence around one page.
What if I do not even own the book?
Then say that. You can follow along if someone reads aloud, or you can pass. A literature table is not a toll. You can listen without a copy in your lap.
What if the meeting is a book study and I will be lost?
You can still sit in the back and hear it. You can also choose a different meeting tonight and read the page tomorrow. Meeting Guide and the meetings search can show you options. Confirm the listing. aa.org is not a finder.
What if I feel too ashamed to walk in?
Go ashamed. Or join a phone meeting and be a voice that listens. Call or text 988 if the shame makes you want to hurt yourself. Call (800) 653-9376 for a treatment referral. Calling is free. Treatment providers pay for the referral.