Chapters 8-16 Summary

When the train stops in Los Angeles, the men again receive hotel and meal tickets. Henry catches a streetcar to his parents' home. His mother is overjoyed, but the big man charges Henry room, board and laundry. Mother has started a new job, leaving Henry alone in the house. He masturbates, draws obscene pictures, grouses about his father's cheapness, listens to symphony music, smokes and watches the girl across the street. Father denounces his get-up-and-go for not finding a job yet and complains about the smoke. Next day, finding the housewife in a sexier dress, Henry masturbates slowly, cashes in empty bottles and goes to a bar. Beers keep appearing, and Henry drinks them. At 5 am, he cleans up and lets himself out. A police car pulls up and drives him home, where Father screams at him for being a no-good...