“His name was Swell Melton; he regularly was manager of the Self*Wash Laundromat in Dream of Pines, but that didn’t take all his time. All he did, as a matter of fact, was keep replacing the adhesive tape on the sign over the washers saying ‘Please Do Not Die In The Machines As It Colors Your Next Man’s Wash.’ ”

—Barry Hannah, Geronimo Rex, 1972.