
    ,,*APT] ;,V
  ,? PHYSICAL LOA?+ = ALCOHOL ,I H N"E
GOT OV]4 ,B ,I H 3QU]$ X4 ,6? "D ,I 3QU]
X E "T ,I TAKE A DR9K4 ,! PALATE N"E
C1SES 6REBEL1 &! PALATE C 2 TRU/$ 6"K
:AT IS GD =! BODY4 ,B M5 D N DR9K =!
E6ECT ALCOHOL PRODUCES ON ! BODY4 ,:AT
!Y DR9K = IS ! BRA9-E6ECT2 & IF X M/ -E
"? ! BODY1 S M* ! WORSE =! BODY4
  ,& YET1 DESPITE MY PHYSICAL LOA?+ =
ALCOHOL1 ! B"RE/ SPOTS 9 MY * LIFE 7 !
SALOONS4 ,SITT+ ON ! H1VY POTATO WAGONS1
WRAPP$ 9 FOG1 FEET /++ F 9ACTIV;Y1 !
HORSES PLO4+ SL[LY AL;G ! DEEP ROAD "? !
S&HILLS1 "O B"R VI.N MADE ! WAY N"E TOO
L;G4 ,! B"R VI.N 0 ! SALOON AT ,COLMA1
": MY "F1 OR :O"E DROVE1 ALW GOT \ 6GET
A DR9K4 ,& ,I GOT \ 6W>M 0! GRT /OVE &
GET A SODA CRACK]4 ,J "O SODA CRACK]1 B
A FABUL\S LUXURY4 ,SALOONS 7 GD = "S?+4
,BACK 2H ! PLO4+ HORSES1 ,I WD TAKE AN
H\R 9 3SUM+ T "O CRACK]4 ,I TOOK !
SMALLE/ NIB#S1 N"E LOS+ A CRUMB1 & *EW$
! NIB# TILL X 2CAME ! ?9NE/ & MO/
DELECTA# ( PA/ES4 ,I N"E VOLUNT>ILY
SWALL[$ ? PA/E4 ,I J TA/$ X1 & W5T ON
TA/+ X1 TURN+ X OV] ) MY T;GUE1 SPR1D+ X
ON ! 9SIDE ( ? *EEK1 !N ON ! 9SIDE (!
O!R *EEK1 UNTIL1 AT ! 5D1 X ELUD$ ME & 9
T9Y DROPS & OOZELETS1 SLIPP$ & DRIB#D
D[N MY ?ROAT4 ,HORACE ,FLET*] _H NO?+ ON
ME :5 X CAME 6SODA CRACK]S4
  ,I LIK$ SALOONS4 ,ESPECI,Y ,I LIK$ !
,SAN ,FRANCISCO SALOONS4 ,!Y _H ! MO/
DELICI\S DA9TIES =! TAK+--/RANGE BR1DS &
CRACK]S1 *EESES1 SAUSAGES1 S>D9ES--
WOND];L FOODS T ,I N"E SAW ON \R M1GRE
HOME-TA#4 ,& ONCE1 ,I REMEMB]1 A B>KEEP]
MIX$ ME A SWEET TEMP].E DR9K ( SYRUP &
SODA-WAT]4 ,MY "F DID N PAY = X4 ,X 0 !
B>KEEP]'S TR1T1 & HE 2CAME MY ID1L (A
GD1 K9D MAN4 ,I DR1M$ "D-DR1MS ( HM =
YE>S4 ,AL? ,I 0 SEV5 YE>S OLD AT ! "T1
,I C SEE HM N[ ) UNDIM9I%$ CLE>;S1 ?\<
,I N"E LAID EYES ON HM B T "O "T4 ,!
SALOON 0 S\? ( ,M>KET ,/REET 9 ,SAN
,FRANCISCO4 ,X /OOD ON ! WE/ SIDE (!
/REET4 ,Z Y 5T]$1 ! B> 0 ON ! LEFT4 ,ON
! "R1 AG/ ! WALL1 0 ! FREE LUN* C.T]4 ,X
0 A L;G1 N>R[ ROOM1 & AT ! RE>1 2Y ! BE]
KEGS ON TAP1 7 SMALL1 R.D TA#S & *AIRS4
,! B>KEEP] 0 BLUE-EY$1 & _H FAIR1 SILKY
HAIR PEEP+ \ F "U A BLACK SILK SKULL-
CAP4 ,I REMEMB] HE WORE A BR[N ,C>DIGAN
JACKET1 & ,I "K PRECISELY ! SPOT1 9 !
MID/ (! >RAY ( BOTTLES1 F : HE TOOK !
BOTTLE ( R$-COL\R$ SYRUP4 ,HE & MY "F
TALK$ L;G1 & ,I SIPP$ MY SWEET DR9K &
WOR%IPP$ HM4 ,&= YE>S AFW ,I WOR%IPP$ !
MEMORY ( HM4
  ,DESPITE MY TWO 4A/R\S EXP]I;ES1 "H 0
,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN1 PREVAL5T & A3ESSI#
"EY": 9 ! -MUN;Y1 LUR+ & DRAW+ ME4 ,"H 7
3NOT,NS (! SALOON MAK+ DEEP 9D5T,NS 9 A
*'S M9D4 ,"H 0 A *1 =M+ XS F/ JUDG;TS (!
_W1 F9D+ ! SALOON A DELI<T;L & DESIRA#
PLACE4 ,/ORES1 NOR PUBLIC BUILD+S1 NOR
ALL ! DWELL+S ( M5 "E OP5$ _! DOORS 6ME
& LET ME W>M 0_! FIRES OR P]MITT$ ME
6EAT ! FOOD (! GODS F N>R[ %ELVES AG/ !
WALL4 ,_! DOORS 7 "E CLOS$ 6ME2 !
SALOON'S DOORS 7 "E OP54 ,& ALW & "EY":
,I F.D SALOONS1 ON HI<WAY & BYWAY1 UP
N>R[ ALLEYS & ON BUSY ?OR\<F>ES1 B"R-
LI<T$ & *E];L1 W>M 9 W9T]1 & 9 SUMM] D>K
& COOL4 ,YES1 ! SALOON 0 A MI<TY F9E
PLACE1 & X 0 M ?AN T4
  ,0! "T ,I 0 T5 YE>S OLD1 MY FAMILY _H
AB&ON$ RAN*+ & G"O 6LIVE 9 ! C;Y4 ,& "H1
AT T51 ,I 2GAN ON ! /REETS Z A NEWSBOY4
,"O (! R1SONS = ? 0 T WE NE$$ ! M"OY4
,ANO!R R1SON 0 T ,I NE$$ ! EX]CISE4 ,I
_H F.D MY WAY 6! FREE PUBLIC LIBR>Y1 & 0
R1D+ MYF 96N]V\S PRO/R,N4 ,ON ! POOR
RAN*ES ON : ,I _H LIV$ "! _H BE5 NO
BOOKS4 ,9 WAYS TRULY MIRACUL\S1 ,I _H
BE5 L5T F\R BOOKS1 M>VELL\S BOOKS1 & !M
,I _H DEV\R$4 ,"O 0 ! LIFE ( ,G>FIELD2 !
SECOND1 ,PAUL DU ,*AILLU'S ,AFRICAN
TRAVELS2 ! ?IRD1 A NOVEL 0,\IDA )! LA/
=TY PAGES MISS+2 &! F\R?1 ,IRV+'S
8,ALHAMBRA40 ,? LA/ _H BE5 L5T ME 0A
S*OOL-T1*]4 ,I 0 N A =W>D *4 ,UNLIKE
,OLIV] ,TWI/1 ,I 0 9CAPA# ( ASK+ = M4
,:5 ,I RETURN$ ! 8,ALHAMBRA0 6! T1*] ,I
HOP$ %E WD L5D ME ANO!R BOOK4 ,& 2C %E
DID N--MO/ LIKELY %E DEEM$ ME
UNAPPRECIATIVE--,I CRI$ ALL ! WAY HOME
ON ! ?REE-MILE TRAMP F ! S*OOL 6! RAN*4
,I WAIT$ & YE>N$ = H] 6L5D ME ANO!R
BOOK4 ,SCORES ( "TS ,I N]V$ MYF ALM 6!
PO9T ( ASK+ H]1 B N"E Q R1*$ ! NEC PIT*
( E6RONT]Y4
  ,& !N CAME ! C;Y ( ,OAKL&1 & ON !
%ELVES ( T FREE LIBR>Y ,I 4COV]$ ALL !
GRT _W 2Y ! SKYL9E4 ,"H 7 ?\S&S ( BOOKS
Z GD Z MY F\R WOND]-BOOKS1 & "S 7 EV5
BETT]4 ,LIBR>IES 7 N 3C]N$ ) *N 9 ^?
"DS1 & ,I _H /RANGE ADV5TURES4 ,I
REMEMB]1 9 ! CATALOGUE1 2+ IMPRESS$ 0!
TITLE1 8,! ,ADV5TURES ( ,P]EGR9E
,PICKLE40 ,I FILL$ AN APPLIC,N BLANK &!
LIBR>IAN H&$ ME ! COLLECT$ & 5TIRELY
UNEXPURGAT$ "WS ( ,SMOLLETT 9 "O HUGE
VOLUME4 ,I R1D "EY?+1 B PR9CIP,Y HI/ORY
& ADV5TURE1 & ALL ! OLD TRAVELS &
VOYAGES4 ,I R1D MORN+S1 AFNS1 & NI<TS4
,I R1D 9 B$1 ,I R1D AT TA#1 ,I R1D Z ,I
WALK$ 6& F S*OOL1 & ,I R1D AT RECESS
:ILE ! O!R BOYS 7 PLAY+4 ,I 2GAN 6GET !
8J]KS40 ,6"EYBODY ,I REPLI$3 8,G AWAY4
,Y MAKE ME N]V\S40
  ,& S1 AT T51 ,I 0 \ ON ! /REETS1 A
NEWSBOY4 ,I _H NO "T 6R1D4 ,I 0 BUSY
GETT+ EX]CISE & LE>N+ H[ 6FI<T1 BUSY
LE>N+ =W>D;S1 & BRASS & BLUFF4 ,I _H AN
IMAG9,N &A CURIOS;Y AB ALL ?+S T MADE ME
PLA/IC4 ,N L1/ AM;G ! ?+S ,I 0 CURI\S AB
0 ! SALOON4 ,& ,I 0 9 & \ ( _M A "O4 ,I
REMEMB]1 9 ^? "DS1 ON ! EA/ SIDE (
,BROADWAY1 2T ,SIX? & ,SEV5?1 F CORN]
6CORN]1 "! 0 A SOLID BLOCK ( SALOONS4
  ,9 ! SALOONS LIFE 0 DI6]5T4 ,M5 TALK$
) GRT VOICES1 LAU<$ GRT LAU<S1 & "! 0 AN
ATMOSPH]E ( GRT;S4 ,"H 0 "S?+ M ?AN -MON
E-"D ": NO?+ HAPP5$4 ,"H LIFE 0 ALW V
LIVE1 &1 "S"TS1 EV5 LURID1 :5 BL[S 7
/RUCK1 & BLOOD 0 %$1 & BIG POLICEM5 CAME
%\LD]+ IN4 ,GRT MO;TS1 ^!1 = ME1 MY H1D
FILL$ ) ALL ! WILD & VALIANT FI<T+ (!
GALLANT ADV5TUR]S ON SEA & L&4 ,"! 7 NO
BIG MO;TS :5 ,I TRUDG$ AL;G ! /REET ?R[+
MY PAP]S 9 AT DOORS4 ,B 9 ! SALOONS1 EV5
! SOTS1 /UPEFI$1 SPRAWL+ ACR ! TA#S OR 9
! SAWDU/1 7 OBJECTS ( MY/]Y & WOND]4
  ,& M1 ! SALOONS 7 "R4 ,! C;Y "FS
SANC;N$ !M & LIC5S$ !M4 ,!Y 7 N ! T]RI#
PLACES ,I HE>D BOYS DEEM !M :O LACK$ MY
OPPORTUNITIES 6"K4 ,T]RI# !Y MI<T BE1 B
!N T ONLY M1NT !Y 7 T]RIBLY WOND];L1 & X
IS ! T]RIBLY WOND];L T A BOY DESIRES
6"K4 ,9 ! SAME WAY PIRATES1 & %IPWRECKS1
& BATTLES 7 T]RI#2 & :AT H1L?Y BOY WDN'T
GIVE 8 IMMORTAL S\L 6"PICIPATE 9 S*
A6AIRS8
  ,2SS1 9 SALOONS ,I SAW REPORT]S1
$ITORS1 LAWY]S1 JUDGES1 ^: "NS & FACES
,I KNEW4 ,!Y PUT ! S1L ( SOCIAL APPROVAL
ON ! SALOON4 ,!Y V]IFI$ MY [N FEEL+ (
FASC9,N 9 ! SALOON4 ,!Y1 TOO1 M/ H F.D
"! T "S?+ DI6]5T1 T "S?+ 2Y1 : ,I S5S$ &
GROP$ AF4 ,:AT X WAS1 ,I DID N "K2 YET
"! X M/ BE1 = "! M5 FOCUS$ L BUZZ+ FLIES
AB A H"OY POT4 ,I _H NO SORR[S1 &! _W 0
V B"R1 S ,I CD N GUESS T :AT ^! M5 S"\ 0
=GET;L;S ( JAD$ TOIL & /ALE GRIEF4
  ,N T ,I DRANK AT T "T4 ,F T5 6FIFTE5
,I R>ELY TA/$ LIQUOR1 B ,I 0 9TIMATELY 9
3TACT ) DR9K]S & DR9K+ PLACES4 ,! ONLY
R1SON ,I DID N DR9K 0 2C ,I DIDN'T L !
/UFF4 ,Z ! "T PASS$1 ,I "W$ Z BOY-HELP]
ON AN ICE-WAGON1 SET UP P9S 9 A B[L+
ALLEY )A SALOON ATTA*$1 & SWEPT \
SALOONS AT ,SUN"D PICNIC GR.DS4
  ,BIG JOVIAL ,JOSIE ,H>P] RAN A ROAD
H\SE AT ,TELEGRAPH ,AV5UE & ,?IRTY-N9?
,/REET4 ,"H =A YE> ,I DELIV]$ AN EV5+
PAP]1 UNTIL MY R\TE 0 *ANG$ 6! WAT]-
FRONT & T5D]LO9 ( ,OAKL&4 ,! F/ MON?1 :5
,I COLLECT$ ,JOSIE ,H>P]'S BILL1 %E P\R$
ME A GLASS ( W9E4 ,I 0 A%AM$ 6REFUSE1 S
,I DRANK X4 ,B AF T ,I WAT*$ ! *.E :5 %E
WASN'T >.D S Z 6COLLECT F H] B>KEEP]4
  ,! F/ "D ,I "W$ 9 ! B[L+ ALLEY1 !
B>KEEP]1 AC 6CU/OM1 CALL$ U BOYS UP 6H A
DR9K AF WE _H BE5 SETT+ UP P9S = S"EAL
H\RS4 ,! O!RS ASK$ = BE]4 ,I SD ,I'D
TAKE G+] ALE4 ,! BOYS SNICK]$1 & ,I
NOTIC$ ! B>KEEP] FAV\R$ ME )A /RANGE1
SE>*+ SCRUT9Y4 ,N"E!.S1 HE OP5$ A BOTTLE
( G+] ALE4 ,AFW1 BACK 9 ! ALLEYS1 9 !
PAUSES 2T GAMES1 ! BOYS 5LI<T5$ ME4 ,I
_H (F5D$ ! B>KEEP]4 ,A BOTTLE ( G+] ALE
CO/ ! SALOON "E S M* M ?AN A GLASS ( /1M
BE]2 & X 0 UP 6ME1 IF ,I WANT$ 6HOLD MY
JOB1 6DR9K BE]4 ,2SS1 BE] 0 FOOD4 ,I CD
"W BETT] ON X4 ,"! 0 NO FOOD 9 G+] ALE4
,AF T1 :5 ,I CDN'T SN1K \ ( X1 ,I DRANK
BE] & WOND]$ :AT M5 F.D 9 X T 0 S GD4 ,I
0 ALW AW>E T ,I 0 MISS+ "S?+4
  ,:AT ,I RE,Y LIK$ 9 ^? "DS 0 C&Y4 ,=
FIVE C5TS ,I CD BUY FIVE 8CANNON-BALLS0
--BIG LUMPS (! MO/ DELICI\S LA/+;S4 ,I
CD *EW & WORRY A S+LE "O = AN H\R4 ,!N
"! 0 A ,MEXICAN :O SOLD BIG SLABS ( BR[N
*EW+ TA6Y = FIVE C5TS EA*4 ,X REQUIR$ A
QU>T] (A "D PROP]LY 6ABSORB "O ( !M4 ,&
_M A "D ,I MADE MY 5TIRE LUN* (F "O ( ^?
SLABS4 ,9 TRU?1 ,I F.D FOOD "!1 B N 9
BE]4














