Book I, Part II - Desolation in the World: Chapter 63 Summary

Kerouac goes to a bar to have a drink. An old man sits down near Kerouac, and the author is fascinated enough to watch him. The man trembles and shakes as he retrieves a crumpled dollar bill from his wallet. The old man is ignored by the bartender while Kerouac finishes the second drink. Kerouac decides that the soul does not need alcohol. Instead, new shoes seem to be the right thing.

A blond kid picks up Kerouac and agrees to take him a few miles. The kid, who desperately wanted to play football, shared woes of an ulcer condition that kept him out of the game. Wrestling replaced football and gave the men something to discuss. Kerouac refers to himself as the "Blackmask Champeen...