Tailstock

Why on the backs of used dusty paperbacks and inside dust jackets is there always an obituary--or is it biography--paragraph about magazines, which I don't read, bibliography, which I don't look to the backs of books for, and university, when I'm not a prospective student? Gloomy pictures of contemporary fiction hardcover novels. To quote my brother, "nothing in the fridge, nothing in the cooler--5:30 IN THE MORNING--look in the other cooler--TWO LEFT! Justin!--(holds out hand)--TAKE THIS BEER!--crazy stupid people," he says and I nod something, a sound emitting bulb, headstock response. Beers over dust jackets.