remote cards

Two men sit in a bar. Unkempt. They are shaven, but both are balding, greying, with untidy and uneven hair. One is stretched out in the heavy comfortable arm chair, feet way out in front, and his eyes closed. He has ear buds in, white cables from the ear phones, listening to music as he dozes. The other sites sideways, a large hard back book full of text and photos balanced on the arm of the chair. The bag for the newly bought book sitting stray on the table in front of him. He scours the pages, looking at pictures and captions, taking his time, but not long enough to actually read as he turns the page again. He hunches over the book, pushing thick, black framed glasses back up his nose as he peers intently, his face barely inches from the page. The sleeper wakes, gives a roaring yawn and looks around, he watches his friend read, and sits there looking a little lost and abandoned now that he is awake.