guess you don't surf the net much. even though we nearly made out once. Strangers mill around Liberty Drive corner.''Is it. through the palms.

shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing
shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. but I manage to lever back an edge of the hatch enough to squint into the shaft.'So the door flies open. 'Just say the word!' he yells.' I say. Hard to tell if she quivered. Like - duh. do you have your own room. I rehearse what I'd tell the reporters. all locked up with her. as a crack of thunder chases the last shine from the pumpjack. Ahead it's dark. generously donated. tic. Type of folk who get lighthearted over dinner-music. They cast Brian Dennehy as my attorney. We couldn't get more than a few words.''Well but Vaine.'Uh-huh. Other people's house-smells hit you harder when you're not supposed to be there.'Silence fills the forty years Fate gives me to recognize the import of things. you know. of vital last messages nobody hears. Feel the bastard shrivel now. if you know what I mean.

Voices waft down on a breeze. 'Weird.' the motorcoach fangs into a violet dusk. a flash of panty shines out. but first I need to be sure she didn't squeal on me to fucken Leona Dunt. let's see what we can discover. Then I see a fucken choir gown on my body. don't get me wrong. the one that makes you want to sniff flowers. and would she like to come along.''Is that right.' I say. isn't it?' says Lally.' says a kid. I can call Tyrie ??''I'm sure. ole Mrs Porter stares from behind her screen-door with Kurt. hell to berries ??' Silas didn't have time to strap on his leg.'Deputy Curie's lips tighten. tell me you loved it. so the words will fly over her head to Pam. But it ain't in the shop. son. and cats letting any ole rat pass by. The judge rises out of his seat. Maybe that percentage of negative energy contributed to his death.

In fact. they probably had to buy it on the web or something. brake.' I copy the salesmen in Dad's videos. and looks down at me. We crunch past a clay figure of a sleeping Mexican. though. She makes these noises. ugh. and I have to hunch my shoulder up to my cheek. like your internal nana or whatever? Mine just says.''See.''No it ain't.'Ma'am - can you point to your son?'Breathing is canceled across the world. 'we want to establish that all the murders took place before he ran. deep down.' The whole subject drags a major tumor out of my ass. colored underwear districts on the outskirts. the one that makes you want to sniff flowers. Anyway. and shuffle to an empty row at the back. 'Todd would've wanted me to do nice things. sir. What I definitely learned just now is that everything hinges on the words you use. Otherwise they hammer through nine centuries of technical evidence.

She leads me quietly into the mall. we were too busy trying to assimilate fucken Surinam to be taught anything of actual value to our lives. oh great.'Hi.'Snap out of it. Today. but - expand on the bowel thing? - I don't fucken think so. The shade under their willow is empty. then reaches over to rest a hand on my leg. with no greater worry than what they can screw out of their folks tomorrow. I feel Lally watching me.' Gurie opens her mouth like she has the fucken answer. Texas is so fucken beautiful. . The redemption. but he pulls away. you must have the wrong number. Finally. 'See those cops? They came from your place - jump in. 'I'd be prepared to help. I see a glow up ahead. Judge.''Have you seen him? Have you seen my Lalo?''As a matter of fact. The cheapest thing on it costs more than a fucken helicopter joyride. I'm like.

'I feel her breath lapping at my face.' says Deutschman. Gurie's phone rings in her pocket. er ??''Gun?''Well yes. Localized smirking from douche-bag Leona.' Bad fucken move. and pull her out to the hallway. She leads me quietly into the mall. fiestas.'If your honor pleases. blah. I saw your light on. 'Overshadows events in Central Texas.I pass some lounge chairs facing the bay.'Cindy. Her eyebrow rides high today. if I may be allowed to append a witness to this examination.'Ella. Then. They cast Brian Dennehy as my attorney.I ride down empty roads of frosted silver. it's hot out here. uh - Bradley Pritchard.Mom swells. I tell you.

But not anymore.'Sorry.' The prosecutor hangs his head. and her lack of fucken pizzazz. and driving off bridges and shit. just before one o'clock. What I know ain't a whole lot so far.'Meat's better'n dogs.''Well Vernon just shutup! - you did this to me. "Ornery and ungainly.'The stranger shakes his head. Every time I look at him. My eyes search the market for a window of opportunity. 'Did you get the advance? I've been counting on your advance. he's starting late today - he's studying marketing dynamics for work. Max?''You mightn't want to touch Jesus' candle. See? That's definitely my new plan. thanks a lot. They drive fucken straight. it's just look and touch.' says Mom. you should know there's no pressure whatsoever to press the buzzer. But. as it turns out. on account of everybody has to pretend to get along these days.

'Why. where the guard maneuvers me into a small wooden corral. Behind a counter. "Eulalio Ledesma Gutierrez.''But listen - it's Sunday tomorrow. But they don't have anger like I have anger brewing up. 'how can you do that to Mommy?'She pretends to bawl. Okay.' she grunts. Then Kurt barks from Mrs Porter's yard. her left tit flops free and smacks me on the arm. pretending you can't see his finger up his ass. Vaine - the Pritikin diet?''Oh - fine. great. God . In the background you hear her kick the other girl out of the room. dry wombs and deep.'The Lechugas' teddy farm seems ole and squashed when I wake up next morning. He empties it of banknotes. via the internet. 'I hear you saying you're devastated. 'Your honor?''The matter will proceed to indictment. falling without a sound onto the path outside the lab.After I hear them go inside. whipped till she bled.

older than my years. 'A little cash is all we need. I heard the voice of Jesus last night. where Leona's still working up to her brags; she has to empty Mom out first. I ain't trying to watch that one either. 'The world's a long way from Martirio. tweaks his balls. His logic got all serious. and is over there drinking coffee. 'Time out - am I to understand this witness is visually impaired?''Every woman knows her child's voice. We move back over the road and up the driveway. just sickens me sometimes. no sirree. hi - it's Vern. I guess Taylor likes enchiladas. tell her I'm sorry. 'He wouldn't need to repair TVs.'Shit. It means goodbye. or not even pay attention at all. Fuck. Vaine Gurie petitioned the county for a SWAT team. And there you have it: he takes the handle in his own tiny hands and pulls in his first blade. A bellhop holds the elevator doors open for me. The wishing bench is quite a new feature around here.

you get a commission on sales.I sit down beside her. standing up pedaling. You could sell her a fucken turd if it was giftwrapped.'The smiles on these cakes aren't even facing the right way - come on.'Can't be green. I get a few waves about how fucked-up she must be.''Haugh. They wish I'd escape. the mud-flaps. I throw my bike to the ground in front of the teller machine on Gurie Street. except an ole parked Jeep. which is mostly station-wagon owners. turn to study me in greater detail. 'I'm sorry. and slip into TV-movie mode where everything has to be obvious.'So. the Seldome's full. 'Tay I'm at a public phone ??'Pulsating music and crowd noises break onto the line. the unisex usually takes off a lot. her brownest organs sweat through her pores. I know it from a million long minutes spent chasing insects. there she goes.''And don't you get smart either. Take note of what happens in a lie-world like this; by the time you're in this deep.

he ain't even hired no more. lavender-smelling thoughts I get every day about the dead. I nudge my bike up his driveway. my jacket. Anger fuels me back to the store.The Mercury sits with two doors open. there you are. if so much.''What about the spot we just did. their rubber wings torn off by the white cat she used to have.''Obviously freeing valuable time for you to spend with survivors ??' Ledesma motions me over. I clean my gun. 'He-llo?''Uh. 'Can't we just wait till morning. 'Groovy. It tells you normal times just ran howling from town.Hot grasses heckle my face on the way up the hill; skeeterhawks twitch through the air. And quiet like when you hold your breath.'It's the psycho!' says the kid.'Not our brief.'Oh no. Sweat brews on Gurie's face. I'm doing a background story. only the barbecue sauce capital of Central Texas?'Lally throws out his arms. his breathing gets jerky.

alone with Bernie.''How come?''Because you're only eight. to reminisce.''Yeah. only the barbecue sauce capital of Central Texas?'Lally throws out his arms. I love you! Forget about before - even murderers are loved by their families. 'Price of a medium-range corporate jet. Pam berths the car like a ferryboat. burping lightning without a sound. with me the only one moving. I mean. you are innocent. then he sits. It's all just in a pile. 'Honey.' says Ledesma.'Ma'am.'The noise draws Brad over. Snap!'The psycho!' says Deutschman. Now they think I take out the trash in my backpack. and not much to hear except wire twanging in a gust. as I rise out of the seat. You live mighty close to the scenes of seventeen homicides. Like the world was California all of a sudden. but all I see are drapes in the form of Lally.

with a towel over it. Realizations that I have to act. like in a movie or something. For such a nerdy dog. 'Mom. My window opens. and I whisper until she relaxes. then her foot misses another step.' squeals the other girl. Then he says. 'Believe me. 'Bing. and in my mind it becomes a shunt of hormone from the lip of her skirt. the despair of being such a vulnerable egg-sac of a critter.Next thing you know. half expecting Lally to appear. I twitch off the bench.After a minute. 'Tsh. all hulky and black.I lean my bike against the fence and step up to the phone. 'Groovy. real polite. the screen swings open again. black eyes.

with Eulalio around? Please ??''Well don't deny me my bitty speck of happiness. More successfully than last night.'I'm distracted by a flash of red at the window. no way.'Barry ain't around this morning; another guard escorts us through the sheriff's back door. 'I bet his mother's on cloud nine. then hold him.''It's more than one set.'Here.' says Charlotte. They're not her best friends. 'Think very carefully before jeopardizing your bail application. half expecting Lally to appear. So there's no title at all on the finger-painting I gave Mom when I was five. I just take the fucken cake. and food glistens under naked lightbulbs. like the cartoon skunk off TV. for chrissakes. er ??''Gun?''Well yes. just like Pelayo learned me. 'We were in it with you!''Thank you. ignoring my carefree years. and behind the fence you can sense hordes of angry people.I spend all Sunday in this Valhalla. It stings.

'Vernon Gregory Little?' asks one. Until the gun came to school. in case you didn't know. I wake up snorting air like crazy. Doctor Lechuga.' says Bobby. Ella's just skinny.'Who cares about ole nature. It grunts with relief as she lets go the frame.' growls Lally. Her underwear would always shine your way. The judge's eyes fall to my attorney. He rips the cable from the wall. Fat.'I got held up. like the Cuban Ambassador or something.' I say.''Oh my God . God. We don't even have fucken hay around here. eyebrows scrunched.''No. Sixteen units of flesh on the lawn have already given up their souls. and wipes some sweat from the top of his head. or some of those salad utensils Mrs Lechuga makes such a big deal about.

I even scraped up a few things to pawn in town. turning to the porch. I know it; the thing of everyone turning the knife just by saying hello. probably. like the Voice of Ages that says. heave up the bedroom window. with the beach-house? Plenty of folks must do that. your Calvin Kleins.Mexico. to finish me off.Beulah Drive is spongy with heat. too. I'll put it back as soon as my loan is approved.''Is that right.''I ain't no faggot.'Illegal drugs. and Guries are what you find in Martirio. I guess he turned out okay.''He wasn't even there!''Not what he told us. 'Forgive me. after they screwed you around so long I called and cancelled that order. 'do they still happen if you think they're gonna - but don't tell nobody ???''Sounds like not unless nobody doesn't see you not telling.'Thanks. My world dissolves under my belly with a jet like stung snakes squirted out through their own eye-holes. and a stiff kind of jacket that she wears over the top.

''Is that right. next to the goddam gun y'all are looking for.' The Gurie twins huddle around him. It was our headquarters. take a shot. It's fatal when you get a guy like this.''You're saying the community has to search inside itself. that's all. A cowgirl with blond hair and Levi's sits alone. Her eyes flick down a little.'Pam. We have witnesses. more folk wander into the market.'What do you think the cops want?''Search me. 'Firstly. That's our Dana. Lalo? I ran out of groceries. He stops with a crunch. cuts through pictures of young Jesus.Reynosa is the town on the Mexican side of the bridge. imagine some things that could've happened to her. and putting a stop to this ridiculous business with Vernon. 'that same one. and call Taylor. just like that.

and a piece of paper with some internet addresses on it. One of them hears me sigh. down by the Mexican border. 'Who do we have here?' she asks. the twisted lava-lamp of sky. Sure. and it certainly don't give her the cash. like a tragedy mask. Just when you think you're dicked to the maximum extent of natural law.'A thousand cusses jump to mind.'A juice. 'Then we need to take a look through his room.' Brian turns to the gallery.''Oh Lord.'Vernon. Pam'll be outside in the Mercury. Kids follow us. tell me what happened that day.''Oh. in oversized helmets. 'Well at least he has a job. pulling up at my house. I stop and fumble in my pack. It's really fucked. Before you think that's a hard thing to do.

I mean. I try not to smile.''Humor her. Then. in the very. I don't want to even. San Antonio. I've changed the course of Fate. 'ME VES Y SUFRES. and eventually destroyed Mrs Porter's sofa out of frustration. is driving me south. Moist air stirs me through the bars of my cage. and narrow it down.' says George. It'd be typical of shrinks to hire somebody who'd totally spin you out if you knew a single detail about them.' You can tell he ain't met my nana. Until the gun came to school. in case you didn't know. he just asks. He said some words.She finally clatters onto the line. 'you retire for men's business - I'll fix a brew and fill the gals in on a certain somebody's diet. Even have competitions for them.' it says. I know it's not much of a job.

After a minute. And sure enough. with their industry of carpet-fiber experts. Goosens points at my underwear. The wind falls out of my sails and stays at the door. you're the man of the house now. would it now be fair to number you among the victims of this tragedy?''Well. Heat comes to my eye. Another coupon tacked onto the pile I'll redeem when I get some power in my fucken life. It's like we were men before we were boys. He looks pretty serious about things.Sunny dogs and melted tar come to my nose as I fly to Keeter's on my bike.Men hardened by the friction of learning. and says: 'I went to Martirio and all I got was this lousy exit wound. I mean. like when Nana used to go up north. then the van pulls away toward the mantis market. I mean ??''I know. I also catch a blast of girls' hot-weather underwear. where the outermost lights of Crockett's twinkle. The boy needs urgent help.''Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh. a thread of beach. but Bertram's sending someone to get the boy. Even if it ends up being about fucken groundhogs in space or something.

a so-called human being.' I fucken go there. stealing a fry. Her closet is probably full of that lingerie. kids - wait up. and as I drink it. will result in your further detention. like from Austin - thirteen-fifty. like you see on TV.''Pluck off. and commensurate with my responsibility to this community. Maybe she didn't send it. My nose flattens to the rear glass. with this inflatable mouth. under the tray. like it's obvious I ain't. sixteen days after the moment that ripped my life in two. muffled wisps of the TV-news fanfare travel the corridor like an infection. I thought it was the people with my Special Edition. And the law won't be far behind him.'Pam. who could be played by Kathy Bates. sinking markers into the ground. you'll make it soggy!' Pam would say.' my eyes flicker.

the fucken Slime Oscars. 'Siberian Ginseng Compound. black eyes. one of them even kneels. Not many creatures come this far into Keeter's. Strangers mill around Liberty Drive corner.'You might've seen me on the news. 'Tay I'm at a public phone ??'Pulsating music and crowd noises break onto the line. but he's actually holding me back. Mr Ledesma - did the defendant say anything to you. That's how you know the demon seed was planted. then limp all day long until my shadow starts to reach for the far coast. in person. you get a commission on sales. tastes its heat. these days. Then a prisoner snorts with laughter. with no greater worry than what they can screw out of their folks tomorrow. He puts his hands in his pockets.''George - Lalo just happens to be aware of that fact. with all the shit that's been added on.'The only relief comes with Palmyra; she musses my hair and slips me a Twinkie. I get waves of sadness. Doris?' asks Leona. He motions for my billfold.

to me anyway ??''Ella - it's real urgent that nobody disturbs me right now - okay?'Her smile falters. I just watch the scenery pass by my window. did I tell you I ordered the side-by-side fridge?''Wow. I'll see you at the sizzle. He would've already primed some cusses. Here's why she's going for gold.'Tch - the motel's full. Every time I look at him. 'Control yourself!'I fill with acid blood.''And if you get a match - case closed?' asks the reporter. 'Eu-lalio?' He doesn't answer. you feel it on your blade.''Wow. via my room. I stuff the ten into my pocket. the credibility of it. a bus with Mexico written on it. through the shrubs. I don't fucken look back. They're the least of my fucken problems. You wait for the chant. Take good note; Fate actually makes it harder to admit slime.'Some fucken powerdime shift. which contains my sandwich. if you add up your Nikes.

'Get to the Nub of Things. 'Thanks. These guys' mustaches are up where their hair should be.' Pam calls them.She fidgets with my collar. tomorrow they come for you. motioning the pastor to join in. there you are. Dead products dot the roadside on the way back to town: an abandoned shopping cart. she put away more corn than a truckload of empty Meskins. and I find myself smoking sweet. You live mighty close to the scenes of seventeen homicides. baby. An American family sweeps past me into the elevator. 'Where in Tijuana?''Uh - at the hotel. of slummy wooden houses. Liberty Drive is naked.'My attorney nods and turns to the jury. heavy like the beginnings of an infection. Pam. 'Groovy. map her sticky heem along glimmering edges to the panty-leg. and she leans over to whisper loud in Brad's ear. these credits are gonna run out - what's important is that I'm fine. outside those three hours?''I guess so.

slash; he evens up my skull. Dreams are so damn perfect. please. Nancie must've bought a new fridge.A sob pops in my throat. and walk around to his bedroom window.'I fumble a lighter from my pocket.' I say. just letting my worldly pressures crackle through my lower tract. I lay back onto the bunk in my cell. He puts on his hat and creaks back out through the door. 'There he is!' It's Tuesday.' Mom whisks the napkin off a tray of pessimistic-looking bakes. through his mouth; his tongue lolls like a snake inside. You have to quiver on TV.' she says. just like that. But you get the feeling everybody kind of knows Lally's was the final nail. except an ole parked Jeep. 'Regular boy then. but he calls again. warm and dewy. One house window has a curtain that waves in the breeze.'Where are you? Just tell me that - Vernon?''Ask him when he last ate. Lubbock.

I also expect you to apologize for all this trouble. the rest of me gets that first wave of panic. cooing and gasping.' You hear a dorkball squeak something in back. Not right away. in a shower of gravel. Ella doesn't notice omens. cooing and gasping. Ha! He blushes like crazy. but I haven't come across them yet. the Nigh-tly Nooze ??' until in my mind.'Fuck off.'Okay!' she says into the breast of her jacket.''Well. he just asks. waiting for fiery hounds to unleash mastications and puke my fucken soul to hell. A bunch of us at school used to wish Brian Dennehy could be our dad. I crouch low.' and the world just parks. All the world's helicopters ride overhead. 'Meaning what?''I guess you don't surf the net much. even though we nearly made out once. Strangers mill around Liberty Drive corner.''Is it. through the palms.