I kept getting letters from a lady who lived only a mile or so away. She signed them Nicole. She said she had read some of my books and liked them. I answered one of her letters and she...

Shirley came to town with a broken… and met the Chicano who smoked long slim cigars and they got a place together on Beacon street

sitting on a 2nd-floor porch at 1:… while looking out over the city. could be worse. we needn’t accomplish great things…

at high noon at a small college near the beach sober the sweat running down my arms a spot of sweat on the table

On Thanksgiving Iris prepared the turkey and put it in the oven. Bobby and Valerie came over for a few drinks but they didn’t stay. It was refreshing. Iris had on another dress, just as...

I awaken about noon and go out to… in my old torn bathrobe. I’m hung over hair down in my eyes barefoot

The rainy season began. Most of the money went for drink so my shoes had holes in the soles and my raincoat was torn and old. In any steady downpour I got quite wet, and I mean wet-down...

when I was in grammar school my parents were poor and in my lunch bag there was only a peanut butter sandwich.

re-reading some of Fante’s The Wine of Youth in bed this mid-afternoon my big cat

A sound awakened me. It was not quite daylight. Cecelia was moving around getting dressed. I looked at my watch. “I want to watch the sun come up. I love sunrises!” “I haven’t been able...

I went upstairs to 409, had a stiff scotch and water, took some money out of the top drawer, went down the steps, got in my car and drove to the racetrack. I got there in time for the f...