,,*APT] ,,XIV
  ,BACK 9 ,OAKL& F MY W&]+S1 ,I RETURN$
6! WAT]-FRONT & RENEW$ MY -RADE%IP )
,NELSON1 :O 0 N[ ON %ORE ALL ! "T & LIV+
M MADLY ?AN 2F4 ,I1 TOO1 SP5T MY "T ON
%ORE ) HM1 ONLY O3A.N,Y GO+ = CRUISES (
S"EAL "DS ON ! BAY 6HELP \ ON %ORT-H&$
SC[-S*OON]S4
  ,! RESULT 0 T ,I 0 NO L;G] RE9VIGORAT$
0P]IODS ( OP5-AIR AB/9;E & H1L?Y TOIL4
,I DRANK E "D1 & :5"E OPPORTUN;Y (F]$ ,I
DRANK 6EXCESS2 = ,I / LAB\R$ "U !
MISCONCEP;N T ! SECRET ( ,JOHN
,B>LEYCORN LAY 9 DR9K+ 6BE/IAL;Y &
UNCONSCI\S;S4 ,I 2CAME PRETTY ?OR\<LY
ALCOHOL-SOAK$ DUR+ ? P]IOD4 ,I PRACTIC,Y
LIV$ 9 SALOONS2 2CAME A B>-ROOM LOAF]1 &
WORSE4
  ,& "R "H 0 ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN GETT+ ME 9
A M 9SIDI\S ?\< NO LESS D1DLY WAY ?AN :5
HE NE>LY S5T ME \ )! TIDE4 ,I _H A FEW
MON?S / 6RUN 2F ,I 0 SEV5TE52 ,I SCORN$
! ?"\ (A /1DY JOB AT ANY?+2 ,I FELT MYF
A PRETTY T\< 9DIVIDUAL 9 A GR\P ( PRETTY
T\< M52 & ,I DRANK 2C ^! M5 DRANK & 2C
,I _H 6MAKE GD ) !M4 ,I _H N"E _H A R1L
BOYHOOD1 & 9 ?1 MY PRECOCI\S MANHOOD1 ,I
0 V H>D & WOE;LLY WISE4 ,?\< ,I _H N"E
"KN GIRL'S LOVE EV51 ,I _H CRAWL$ "? S*
DEP?S T ,I 0 3V9C$ ABSOLUTELY T ,I KNEW
! LA/ ^W AB LOVE & LIFE4 ,& X WASN'T A
PRETTY K4 ,)\T 2+ PESSIMI/IC1 ,I 0 Q
SATISFI$ T LIFE 0 A R *1P & ORD9>Y
A6AIR4
  ,Y SEE1 ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN 0 BLUNT+ ME4
,! OLD /+S & PRODS (! _S 7 NO L;G] %>P4
,CURIOS;Y 0 L1V+ ME4 ,:AT DID X MATT]
:AT LAY ON ! O!R SIDE (! _W8 ,M5 & WOM51
)\T D\BT1 V M* L ! M5 & WOM5 ,I KNEW2
M>RY+ & GIV+ 9 M>RIAGE & ALL ! PETTY RUN
( PETTY HUMAN 3C]NS2 & DR9KS1 TOO4 ,B !
O!R SIDE (! _W 0 A L;G WAY 6G =A DR9K4
,I _H B 6/EP 6! CORN] & GET ALL ,I WANT$
AT ,JOE ,VIGY'S4 ,JOHNNY ,HE9HOLD / RAN
! ,LA/ ,*.E4 ,& "! 7 SALOONS ON ALL !
CORN]S & 2T ! CORN]S4
  ,! :ISP]S F ! BACK ( LIFE 7 GR[+ DIM Z
MY M9D & BODY SO45$4 ,! OLD UNRE/ 0
DR[SY4 ,I MI<T Z WELL ROT & DIE "H 9
,OAKL& Z ANY": ELSE4 ,& ,I %D H S ROTT$
& DI$1 & N 9 V L;G ORD] EI1 AT ! PACE
,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN 0 L1D+ ME1 _H ! MATT]
DEP5D$ :OLLY ON HM4 ,I 0 LE>N+ :AT X 0
6H NO APPETITE4 ,I 0 LE>N+ :AT X 0 6GET
UP %AKY 9 ! MORN+1 )A /OMA* T QUIV]$1 )
F+]S T\*$ ) PALSY1 & 6"K ! DR9K]'S NE$
=A /IFF GLASS ( :ISKY N1T 9 ORD] 6BRACE
UP4 7,OH6 ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN IS A WIZ>D
DOPE/]4 ,BRA9 & BODY1 SCOR*$ & JANGL$ &
POISON$1 RETURN 6BE TUN$ UP 0! V POISON
T CAUS$ ! DAMAGE47
  ,"! IS NO 5D 6,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN'S
TRICKS4 ,HE _H TRI$ 69VEIGLE ME 96KILL+
MYF4 ,AT ? P]IOD HE 0 DO+ 8 BE/ 6KILL ME
AT A FAIRLY RAPID PACE4 ,B1 N SATISFI$ )
T1 HE TRI$ ANO!R DODGE4 ,HE V NE>LY GOT
ME1 TOO1 & "R "! ,I LE>N$ A LESSON AB HM
--2CAME A WIS]1 A M SKIL;L DR9K]4 ,I
LE>N$ "! 7 LIMITS 6MY GORGE\S 3/ITU;N1 &
T "! 7 NO LIMITS 6,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN4 ,I
LE>N$ T 9 A %ORT H\R OR TWO HE CD MA/]
MY /R;G H1D1 MY BROAD %\LD]S & DEEP *E/1
PUT ME ON MY BACK1 &)A DEVIL'S GRIP ON
MY ?ROAT PROCE$ 6*OKE ! LIFE \ ( ME4
  ,NELSON & ,I 7 SITT+ 9 ! ,OV]L& ,H\SE4
,X 0 E>LY 9 ! EV5+1 &! ONLY R1SON WE 7
"! 0 2C WE 7 BROKE & X 0 ELEC;N "T4 ,Y
SEE1 9 ELEC;N "T LOCAL POLITICIANS1
ASPIRANTS = (FICE1 H A WAY ( MAK+ ! R.DS
(! SALOONS 6GET VOTES4 ,"O IS SITT+ AT A
TA#1 9 A DRY 3DI;N1 WOND]+ :O IS GO+
6TURN UP & BUY HM A DR9K1 OR IF 8 CR$IT
IS GD AT "S O!R SALOON & IF X'S WOR?
:ILE 6WALK T F> 6F9D \1 :5 SU45LY !
SALOON DOORS SW+ WIDE1 & 5T]S A BEVY (
WELL-DRESS$ M51 !MVS USU,Y WIDE & EXHAL+
AN ATMOSPH]E ( PROSP];Y & FELL[%IP4
  ,!Y H SMILES & GREET+S = "EYBODY--= Y1
)\T ! PRICE (A GLASS ( BE] 9 YR POCKET1
=! TIMID HOBO :O LURKS 9 ! CORN] & :O
C]TA9LY HASN'T A VOTE1 B :O MAY E/ABLI%
A LODG+-H\SE REGI/R,N4 ,& D Y "K1 :5 ^!
POLITICIANS SW+ WIDE ! DOORS & -E IN1 )
_! BROAD %\LD]S1 _! DEEP *E/S1 & _!
G5]\S /OMA*S : _C HELP MAK+ !M OPTIMI/S
& MA/]S ( LIFE1 :Y1 Y P]K "R UP4 ,X'S
GO+ 6BE A W>M EV5+ AF ALL1 & Y "K Y'LL
GET A S\SE />T$ AT ! V L1/4
  ,&--:O "KS8--! GODS MAY 2 K9D1 O!R
DR9KS MAY -E1 &! NI<T CULM9ATE 9 GLORI\S
GRT;S4 ,&! NEXT ?+ Y "K1 Y >E L9$ UP AT
! B>1 P\R+ DR9KS D[N YR ?ROAT & LE>N+ !
G5TLEM5'S "NS &! (FICES : !Y HOPE 6FILL4
  ,X 0 DUR+ ? P]IOD1 :5 ! POLITICIANS
W5T _! SALOON R.DS1 T ,I 0 GETT+ BITT]
BITS ( $UC,N & HAV+ ILLU.NS PUNCTUR$--
,I1 :O _H POR$ & ?RILL$ OV] 8,! ,RAIL-
,SPLITT]10 & 8,F ,CANAL ,BOY
6,PRESID5T40 ,YES1 ,I 0 LE>N+ H[ NO#
POLITICS & POLITICIANS >E4
  ,WELL1 ON ? NI<T1 BROKE1 ?IR/Y1 B )!
DR9K]'S FAI? 9 ! UNEXPECT$ DR9K1 ,NELSON
& ,I SAT 9 ! ,OV]L& ,H\SE WAIT+ = "S?+
6TURN UP1 ESPECI,Y POLITICIANS4 ,& "!
5T]$ ,JOE ,GOOSE--HE (! UNQU5*A# ?IR/1 !
WICK$ EYES1 ! CROOK$ NOSE1 ! FL[]$ VE/4
  8,-E ON1 FELL[S--FREE BOOZE--ALL Y
WANT ( X4 ,I DIDN'T WANT Y 6MISS X40
  8,":80 WE WANT$ 6"K4
  8,-E ON4 ,I'LL TELL Y Z WE G AL;G4 ,WE
HAV5'T A M9UTE 6LOSE40 ,& Z WE HURRI$ UP
T[N1 ,JOE ,GOOSE EXPLA9$3 8,X'S !
,HANCOCK ,FIRE ,BRIGADE4 ,ALL Y H 6D IS
WE> A R$ %IRT &A HELMET1 & C>RY A TOR*4
  ,!Y'RE GO+ D[N ON A SPECIAL TRA9
6,HAYW>DS 6P>ADE40
  7,I ?9K ! PLACE 0 ,HAYW>DS4 ,X MAY H
BE5 ,SAN ,LE&RO OR ,NILES4 ,&1 6SAVE ME1
,I C'T REMEMB] :E!R ! ,HANCOCK ,FIRE
,BRIGADE 0 A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRATIC
ORGANIS,N4 ,B ANYWAY1 ! POLITICIANS :O
RAN X 7 %ORT ( TOR*-BE>]S1 & ANYBODY :O
WD P>ADE CD GET DRUNK IF HE WANT$ TO47
  8,! T[N'LL 2 WIDE OP510 ,JOE ,GOOSE
W5T ON4 8,BOOZE8 ,X'LL RUN L WAT]4 ,!
POLITICIANS H B"\ ! /OCKS (! SALOONS4
,"!'LL 2 NO *>GE4 ,ALL Y GOT 6D IS WALK
"R UP & CALL = X4 ,WE'LL RAISE HELL40
  ,AT ! HALL1 ON ,EI<? ,/REET NE>
,BROADWAY1 WE GOT 96! FIREM5'S %IRTS &
HELMETS1 7 EQUIPP$ ) TOR*ES1 &1 GR[L+ 2C
WE W]5'T GIV5 AT L1/ "O DR9K 2F WE />T$1
7 H]D$ ABO>D ! TRA94 ,OH1 ^? POLITICIANS
_H H&L$ \R K9D 2F4 ,AT ,HAYW>DS "! 7 NO
DR9KS EI4 ,P>ADE F/1 & E>N YR BOOZE1 0 !
ORD] (! NI<T4
  ,WE P>AD$4 ,!N ! SALOONS 7 OP5$4
,EXTRA B>KEEP]S _H BE5 5GAG$1 &! DR9K]S
JAMM$ SIX DEEP 2F E DR9K-DR5*$ & UNWIP$
B>4 ,"! 0 NO "T 6WIPE ! B>1 NOR WA%
GLASSES1 NOR D ANY?+ SAVE FILL GLASSES4
,! ,OAKL& WAT]-FRONT C 2 R1L ?IR/Y ON
O3A.N4
  ,? ME?OD ( JAMM+ & /RU7L+ 9 FRONT (!
B> 0 TOO SL[ = U4 ,! DR9K 0 \RS4 ,!
POLITICIANS _H B"\ X = U4 ,WE'D P>AD$ &
E>N$ X1 _HN'T WE8 ,S WE MADE A FLANK
ATTACK >.D ! 5D (! B>1 %OV$ ! PROTE/+
B>KEEP]S ASIDE1 & HELP$ \RVS 6BOTTLES4
  ,\TSIDE1 WE KNOCK$ ! NECKS (! BOTTLES
(F AG/ ! 3CRETE CURBS1 & DRANK4 ,N[ ,JOE
,GOOSE & ,NELSON _H LE>N$ 4CRE;N )
/RAI<T :ISKY1 DRUNK 9 QUANT;Y4 ,I _HN'T4
,I / LAB\R$ "U ! MISCONCEP;N T "O 0
6DR9K ALL HE CD GET--ESPECI,Y :5 X
DIDN'T CO/ ANY?+4 ,WE %>$ \R BOTTLES )
O!RS1 & DRANK A GD POR;N \RVS1 :ILE ,I
DRANK MO/ ( ALL4 ,& ,I DIDN'T L ! /UFF4
,I DRANK X Z ,I _H DRUNK BE] AT FIVE1 &
W9E AT SEV54 ,I MA/]$ MY QUALMS & D[N$ X
L S M* M$IC9E4 ,& :5 WE WANT$ M BOTTLES1
WE W5T 96O!R SALOONS ": ! FREE DR9K 0
FL[+1 & HELP$ \RVS4
  ,I HAV5'T ! SLI<TE/ IDEA ( H[ M* ,I
DRANK--:E!R X 0 TWO QU>TS OR FIVE4 ,I D
"K T ,I 2GAN ! ORGY ) HALF-P9T DRAU<TS
&) NO WAT] AFW 6WA% ! TA/E AWAY OR
6DILUTE ! :ISKY4
  ,N[ ! POLITICIANS 7 TOO WISE 6L1VE !
T[N FILL$ ) DRUNKS F ! WAT]-FRONT (
,OAKL&4 ,:5 TRA9 "T CAME1 "! 0 A R.D-UP
(! SALOONS4 ,ALR ,I 0 FEEL+ ! IMPACT (!
:ISKY4 ,NELSON & ,I 7 HU/L$ \ (A SALOON1
& F.D \RVS 9 ! V LA/ RANK (A 4ORD]LY
P>ADE4 ,I /RU7L$ AL;G H]OIC,Y1 MY
CORREL,NS BR1K+ D[N1 MY LEGS TOTT]+ "U
ME1 MY H1D SWIMM+1 MY HE>T P.D+1 MY
LUNGS PANT+ = AIR4
  ,MY HELP.S;S 0 -+ ON S RAPIDLY T MY
REEL+ BRA9 TOLD ME ,I WD G D[N & \ & N"E
R1* ! TRA9 IF ,I REMA9$ AT ! RE> (!
PROCES.N4 ,I LEFT ! RANKS & RAN D[N A
PA?WAY 2S ! ROAD "U BROAD-SPR1D+ TREES4
,NELSON PURSU$ ME1 LAU<+4 ,C]TA9 ?+S /&
\1 Z 9 MEMORIES ( NI<TM>E4 ,I REMEMB] ^?
TREES ESPECI,Y1 & MY DESP]ATE RUNN+ AL;G
"U !M1 & H[1 E "T ,I FELL1 RO>S ( LAU<T]
W5T UP F ! O!R DRUNKS4 ,!Y ?"\ ,I 0
M]ELY ANTIC DRUNK4 ,!Y DID N DR1M T
,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN _H ME 0! ?ROAT 9 A D1?-
CLUT*4 ,B ,I KNEW X4 ,& ,I REMEMB] !
FLEET+ BITT];S T 0 M9E Z ,I R1LIS$ T ,I
0 9 A /RU7LE ) D1?1 & T ^! O!RS DID N
"K4 ,X 0 Z IF ,I 7 DR[N+ 2F A CR[D (
SPECTATORS :O ?"\ ,I 0 CUTT+ UP TRICKS =
_! 5T]TA9;T4
  ,& RUNN+ "! "U ! TREES1 ,I FELL & LO/
3SCI\S;S4 ,:AT HAPP5$ AFW1 ) "O GLIMM]+
EXCEP;N1 ,I _H 6BE TOLD4 ,NELSON1 ) 8
ENORM\S /R5G?1 PICK$ ME UP & DRA7$ ME ON
& ABO>D ! TRA94 ,:5 HE _H GOT ME 96A
S1T1 ,I F"\ & PANT$ S T]RIBLY = AIR T
EV5 ) 8 OBTUSE;S HE KNEW ,I 0 9 A BAD
WAY4 ,& "R "!1 AT ANY MO;T1 ,I "K N[1 ,I
MI<T H DI$4 ,I (T5 ?9K X IS ! NE>E/ 6D1?
,I H "E BE54 ,I H ONLY ,NELSON'S
DESCRIP;N ( MY 2HAVI\R 6G BY4
  ,I 0 SCOR*+ UP1 BURN+ ALIVE 9T]N,Y1 9
AN AGONY ( FIRE & SU6OC,N1 & ,I WANT$
AIR4 ,I MADLY WANT$ AIR4 ,MY EF=TS
6RAISE A W9D[ 7 VA91 = ALL ! W9D[S 9 !
C> 7 SCREW$ D[N4 ,NELSON _H SE5 DR9K-
CRAZ$ M51 & ?"\ ,I WANT$ 6?R[ MYF \4 ,HE
TRI$ 6RE/RA9 ME1 B ,I F"\ ON4 ,I SEIZ$
"S MAN'S TOR* & SMA%$ ! GLASS4
  ,N[ "! 7 PRO-,NELSON & ANTI-,NELSON
FAC;NS ON ! ,OAKL& WAT]-FRONT1 & M5 (
BO? FAC;NS1 ) M DR9K 9 !M ?AN 0 GD1
FILL$ ! C>4 ,MY SMA%+ (! W9D[ 0 ! SIGNAL
=! ANTIS4 ,"O ( !M R1*$ = ME1 & DROPP$
ME1 & />T$ ! FI<T1 ( ALL ( : ,I H NO K
SAVE :AT 0 TOLD ME AFW1 &A SORE JAW NEXT
"D F ! BL[ T PUT ME \4 ,! MAN :O /RUCK
ME W5T D[N ACR MY BODY1 ,NELSON FOLL[$
HM1 & !Y SAY "! 7 FEW UNBROK5 W9D[S 9 !
WRECKAGE (! C> T FOLL[$ Z ! FREE-=-ALL
FI<T _H XS C\RSE4
  ,? 2+ KNOCK$ COLD & MO;N.S 0 P]H ! BE/
?+ T CD H HAPP5$ 6ME4 ,MY VIOL5T /RU7LES
_H ONLY A3EL]AT$ MY ALR DANG]\SLY
A3EL]AT$ HE>T1 & 9CR1S$ ! NE$ = OXYG5 9
MY SU6OCAT+ LUNGS4
  ,AF ! FI<T 0 OV] & ,I CAME TO1 ,I DID
N -E 6MYF4 ,I 0 NO M MYF ?AN A DR[N+ MAN
IS :O 3T9UES 6/RU7LE AF HE HAS LO/
3SCI\S;S4 ,I H NO MEMORY ( MY AC;NS1 B
,I CRI$ 0 ,AIR6 ,AIR60 S 9SI/5TLY1 T X
DAWN$ ON ,NELSON T ,I DID N 3TEMPLATE
SELF-DE/RUC;N4 ,S HE CLE>$ ! JA7$ GLASS
F ! W9D[-L$GE & LET ME /ICK MY H1D &
%\LD]S \4 ,HE R1LIS$1 "PI,Y1 ! S]I\S;S (
MY 3DI;N4 & HELD ME 0! WAI/ 6PREV5T ME F
CRAWL+ F>!R \4 ,&=! RE/ (! RUN 9 6,OAKL&
,I KEPT MY H1D & %\LD]S \1 FI<T+ L A
MANIAC :5"E HE TRI$ 6DRAW ME 9SIDE4
  ,& "H MY "O GLIMM]+ /R1K ( TRUE
3SCI\S;S CAME4 ,MY SOLE RECOLLEC;N1 F !
"T ,I FELL "U ! TREES UNTIL ,I AWOKE !
FOLL[+ EV5+1 IS ( MY H1D \ (! W9D[1 FAC+
! W9D CAUS$ 0! TRA91 C9D]S /RIK+ & BURN+
& BL9D+ ME1 :ILE ,I BR1!D ) W4 ,ALL MY W
0 3C5TRAT$ ON BR1?+--ON BR1?+ ! AIR 9 !
HUGE/ LUNG-FULL GULPS ,I CD1 PUMP+ !
GRTE/ AM.T ( AIR 96MY LUNGS 9 ! %ORTE/
POSSI# "T4 ,X 0 T OR D1?1 & ,I 0 A
SWIMM] & DIV]1 & ,I KNEW X2 & 9 ! MO/
9TOL]A# AGONY ( PROL;G$ SU6OC,N1 DUR+ ^?
MO;TS ,I 0 3SCI\S1 ,I FAC$ ! W9D &!
C9D]S & BR1!D = LIFE4
  ,ALL ! RE/ IS A BLANK4 ,I CAME 6!
FOLL[+ EV5+1 9 A WAT]-FRONT LODG+-H\SE4
,I 0 AL"O4 ,NO DOCTOR _H BE5 CALL$ IN4
,& ,I MI<T WELL H DI$ "!1 = ,NELSON &!
O!RS1 DEEM+ ME M]ELY 8SLEEP+ (F MY
DRUNK10 _H LET ME LIE "! 9 A -ATOSE
3DI;N = SEV5TE5 H\RS4 ,_M A MAN1 Z E
DOCTOR "KS1 HAS DI$ (! SU45 IMPACT (A
QU>T OR M ( :ISKY4 ,USU,Y "O R1DS ( !M S
DY+1 /R;G DR9K]S1 ON A3.T (A WAG]4 ,B ,I
DIDN'T "K--!N4 ,& S ,I LE>N$2 & 0NO
VIRTUE NOR PR[ESS1 B SIMPLY "? GD =TUNE
& 3/ITU;N4 ,AG MY 3/ITU;N _H TRIUMPH$
OV] ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN4 ,I _H ESCAP$ F
ANO!R D1?-PIT1 DRA7$ MYF "? ANO!R
MORASS1 & P]IL\SLY ACQUIR$ ! 4CRE;N T WD
5A# ME 6DR9K WISELY = _M ANO!R YE> 6-E4
  ,H1V5S6 ,T 0 TW5TY YE>S AGO1 & ,I AM /
V M* & WISELY ALIVE2 & ,I H SE5 M*1 D"O
M*1 LIV$ M*1 9 T 9T]V5+ SCORE ( YE>S2 &
,I %U4] :5 ,I ?9K H[ CLOSE A %AVE ,I
RAN1 H[ NE> ,I 0 6MISS+ T SPL5DID FIF?
(A C5TURY T HAS BE5 M9E4 ,&1 OH1 X
WASN'T ,JOHN ,B>LEYCORN'S FAULT T HE
DIDN'T GET ME T NI<T (! ,HANCOCK ,FIRE
,BRIGADE4