Chapter 2, Just Kids Summary

Patti Smith has come to New York City as the revolutionary spirit of the 60's is coming to fruition. She can feel the sense of revolution in the air. "There was an air of vague and unsettling paranoia, an undercurrent of rumors, snatched fragments of conversation anticipating future revolution" (p. 31). She sleeps on benches and goes hungry as she looks for work in the city. Patti finally finds work at a bookstore. During this time, she starts up a relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Neither have a place to stay, but Robert has a friend who is out of town and they stay there, while he is gone.

Robert is an artist and shows Patti some of his work. She is impressed by his work. The two instantly trust one another. They become inseparable except when they go to work...