Chapter 11 & 12 Summary

The first place Kerouac goes in San Francisco is to City Lights bookshop to see Monsanto. The merry old writer smiles with welcome, but tells him he should have stayed, since he had planned to go see him at the cabin the following weekend. Stepping into a private room, Monsanto reveals the news that he had received a letter from Jack's mother containing the news that Jack's cat Tyke had died the night after Jack left.

Jack is heartbroken, and determines that he will start drinking straight away. He finds momentary reasons to smile when he does, but even his smile reminds him of the one on his face when Monsanto gave him the news. Returning to the story of the store, he remembers his old dream of being a literary figure just like Monsanto, with the roll top desk—his distance...