Small conversation in the afternoon with John Fante lyrics

He said, "I was working in Hollywood when Faulkner was
Working in Hollywood and he was
The worst: he was too drunk to stand up at the
End of the afternoon and so I had to help him
Into a taxi
Day after day after day

"but when he left Hollywood, I stayed on, and while I
Didn't drink like that maybe I should have, I might have
Had the guts then to follow him and get the hell out of
There."

I told him, "you write as well as
Faulkner.:

"you mean that?" he asked from the hospital
Bed, smiling