Section 1 and Section 2 Summary and Analysis

Section 1 begins on page 9, with the heading of the book, "Notes of a Dirty Old Man". Written in the first-person perspective, the author begins by recalling a fight with a friend, Elf, at a drunken card game. Bukowski remembers hitting him, but cannot recall why. However, when he fails to knock Elf out, Elf proceeds to beat him, and Bukowski blacks out. When he comes to, he is under the bed. He looks around to see broken furniture, but is relieved to find his money, stashed during the game, is still well hidden. When he opens the door to go out for beer, he sees a man with a hammer, waiting for him. Bukowski packs a suitcase and grabs his typewriter. He exits the door, and hits the man across the head with the typewriter. Outside, he...