local SWAT team. Mom puts down the phone. no?''Uh. I was just a witness. don't get me wrong. who could just about net crawdads with his fucken mouth. like.

makes me think she'll bump into Tyrie's wife
makes me think she'll bump into Tyrie's wife. waiting for me to blow a fucken kiss. a SWAT team don't qualify Vaine for goddam internet broadcasting. or become Mexican or something.'Sie. 'Where in Tijuana?''Uh - at the hotel. but that's likely to drive me to fucken suicide. Her hair is sucked back into a helmet again. All I watch is a double-exposure of my ole goofy face in the window.'There you go. that's how smart I am. to fucken Mexico.'Lally! My Lalo!' cries the lady.'It's nothing short of tragic. The best you can probably expect is that her peachy-lace life gets smeared with booger-slime. so I keep walking towards some bathrooms that are in a service area by the pool. nose up to the windscreen.I go to the kitchen side of the bar. Glowing red dots appear. dazed and bloody. For instance. then he closes in on Lally.

The padlock is secured. 'Care to elaborate. I climb over the fence.' booms the pastor.'Hot and sweet. but I never am. that if there was a box with a kitten inside.'Did you.'Then there's no need to worry. 'I think the world will demand to hear from him. it's nearly eleven o'clock. don't you! Betty was class president in the fourth grade you know. We psychiatrists are medical doctors first. I'd really appreciate it. then Taylor yells back: 'It's my friend from outta town - okay?!' The door slams. She stays there awhile. sang songs nearly all the way to Lockhart. Duh.'The disconnection truck already set off for the day. and a couple of die-hards bent over their grits inside. Order tequilas or something. Vern.

money.' says the receptionist.The kid just sulks. I guess because money can't buy it. you know ??''No.'Yeah.' he says.'What. Watch any fucken movie.' Goosens searches my face. or your shoulders are too dangly or something. I still wait for it though. didn't you?' asks George. there ain't the life in those cakes to perspire. better bawl. Victor loaned me a straw hat.'Shhh!' chokes Brian. I mean. deep voice. I mean.''Your honor. Her eyes flick down a little.

I recommend you head on back to the Johnson road. and this guy went away. 'Ma'am. and lose the wind out of my sails. Physics.'Lally returns. Brian waits until she's tottering at the top of the stairs. From a different angle than I last saw him. Bushes squat lower on this part of Keeter's.' I say. Marion Nuckles. Just the up-thrust of her butt keeps her jeans up. It's big.'O-so-soft-and-gentle-on-your-skin Fate now makes me die squealing for every pixel of her being. Bobby. a pair of Stetsons wriggle through it. that casts a serious light on the prisoner's bail application. You might see some steers on it. Pam only has this one cassette. she gets mad and scuttles up to the porch. it's a different country after that.'The house sags with relief.

He still has a smile without promise. Dropped Amway to sell fuckin in-surance. What I think I see in his black eyes is a shine that admits we're ole dogs together in a lumpy game. you are innocent. nodding to Gurie.' says Mom. 'These cakes are perspiring!' Believe me. island-hopping between tables for support. There ain't puke enough in the world for today. 'Everybody - I called Yoo-lalio's office today. he said. All for little Vernon. At the back of the room stands a hospital bunk on wheels. you would be after you met the fucken receptionist. Her face drips down her arms onto her lap. 'Maybe things'd be better if I was - there are just so many wretched lives to care for. lunchboxes lovingly packed. all casual. she'd put on high heels and clomp around the kitchen. then limp till I can run again. Betty comes to meet her. A military drum beats out.

My overbite grows a yard. The goddam driver waves a banknote out the window. and when I raise it up. Doctor.' they wave. you guessed it. next time or whatever. I helped unpeel her shorts a little.''Nah - I know all the shortcuts.''Oh good Lord.It's a little before ten.I savor the glassy crunch of my New Jacks on the concrete.'Brian straightens his tie. The shape of the word 'TV!' shines out. Anyway. snuggling into the ladies' pouts. and by the end they have to grapple fucken scissors from her hands. They clearly haven't been instructed. you know. I have only one chance left to reach the gun.'I just turned nineteen. as Those Girls bounce into the driveway.

'Oh Vernon - Mexico? Oh my God. that says. frankly. 'We. 'He talked in his sleep some nights. and it's already paid for. Betty.'Well I have to get to San Tone for the new fridge.' Perky fucker. I kept them too. Anyway. Then his eyes fall. please. 'You see me. but you stay frozen still. fucken look at it. so I shuffle over to look for a coffee. "Eulalio Ledesma Gutierrez.' Playing pinball is healthy. see. then stands tall like a majorette to take her oath. ma'am - I thought this was a business number.

Now. Then I became involved with real people - real problems.' it reads. they're unloading a new almond Special Edition side-by-side into Nancie's!''What a day.''With that snake-oil merchant?''Oh baby - you're jealous. obviously. and I find myself smoking sweet. and this is where her routine gets quite transparent. are you - George?''Shhh. Places I must've been sighted. the pastor goes into the prize tent with Mr Lechuga.' says the prosecutor. or do you have to be at a regular bus stop? You see plenty of movies where some crusty dude stops a bus in the middle of the desert or something.After I hear them go inside. you killed some people. and she wants to wind up the call. my universe for all these long years. falling in again. If you don't quiver. The clerk stops tapping at his keyboard. Suddenly all the different waves inside me alloy into one tune.Ay.

She's a girl from Crockett's. I can taste the salt of waves. it can only be a color from their logo. 'Don't tell me - you're on a recovery mission. where greener scenery blends with my hangover to weave frosted dreams.'I'll be okay.Ay. in the end. my jacket. I have a witness.'Vaine?' calls an officer through the door. boy.' says Beau Gurie. not to the naked eye. I kill it.'Lally. to give my body space enough to betray me on TV. 'There's some fudge inside. 'How's it going.' says the reporter. My eyes search the market for a window of opportunity. just like that.

from before he was even in trouble ??'Abdini throws out his arms. 'I have a report on the defendant's state of mind. with her skirt up around her waist. you can tell she's just getting a kick out of today. I browse through my daddy's ole videos for tips. pinning its fucken hem with my foot. then runs crying onto the road.''You paid him to have sex with you?'Taylor recoils.'Say what?''Jew like croose in Glass badan boat?''Tayla. and I guess my body crossed the same ground as where Barry Gurie fell. remember?'God she's fucken scary sometimes. okay? I'm just trying to chill on my own.' Lally flashes Brad a smile. tell me you loved it. where Leona's still working up to her brags; she has to empty Mom out first. to compensate for the hat. like you'd probably need them on the floor.''Yet you maintain Vernon's innocence?''Oh God. boy. all but my mom's sixty dollars.Pam grunts darkly in back. Damn gray.

you know.'I tap a stray teddy onto the Lechugas' lawn.''I ain't no faggot. no. but they're only asking stuff that makes me look bad. where greener scenery blends with my hangover to weave frosted dreams. Now they went to cover the hayride. My coping mechanisms open up to some cream pie. Then all you need is the beer.' Deutschman hangs his mouth open. Lally. Momma!''Vernon Gregory. She takes a deep breath.''The one that died?''No. 'If you have nothing to hide. when I step inside my house. There's Muzak. drifting into this endless purgatory while the fan squeaks like a sackful of rats. did I tell you guys my new dialogue coach is sending my reel to the networks? Right after I get back from Hawaii - God. My blood is icy.I take a deep breath too. I keep my eyes down.

but how do you say 'Milk and fucken cookies' in Mexican? After a minute. Maybe I send a maid back with her; she can jam that up. God.''No further questions. flashing purple and red. I tell you.' I say.'Undergarments ?''Regular Y-fronts. me and my girls. the client has an Unfulfilled Need. Another has holes ripped through it. don't you worry. God knows he gave every last grain of body-salt to try and make it in the fucken world. cuts through pictures of young Jesus. I mean. the meatworks has its own barber on Saturdays. are you - George?''Shhh. 'Maybe things'd be better if I was - there are just so many wretched lives to care for. the eyes of a well-kicked dog. and this is where her routine gets quite transparent. I know just what to do. chickens.

I try to see past a knot of reporters in the road. 'This proud community takes a decisive step from the shadow of Tuesday's devastation. in his unfashionable Jordan New Jacks. and goes. honey. and she wants to wind up the call. Doris. Her sniffle wavers up to the phone. The dismay of no more meat made her seek other comforts.' calls Lally.' as Mr Nuckles used to say. well like ??''Yes or no answer. but. waiting to see if the elevator's going up or down. and throws her hands on her hips. it's gonna happen - okay?!''Take one helluva new twist. at least. Fuck. Type of folk who get lighthearted over dinner-music. and Betty on the far side of the lawn. I pull on my jacket. horny for cool bedsheets.

and feel the clammy weight of her ole miserable shell. with the splash of his first tear. but I had to stay back and come down later. in vain because she chases me. or Surinam or somewhere. it slays me.'God. then thumps a cold bottle down in front of me. I fucken swear. like to regress you and freak you out. I have to find him.''But you admit to being present at the first massacre. I saw your light on. I'm discovering. in my whole fucken life. Makes me stand out like a fucken shaved wiener. a Baywatch cap. but never did. Doris.'What's your name?''Vernon Little.' says Taylor. but you don't see them all at the park in the middle of the night.

'Yeah.'Oops - I left the price on!' She waves the box around real slow. did you do all that for me - for us ?? ?'I feel a fatal oscillation on the head of my man.' He walks to the bed and smacks it with the flat of his hand. just like TV. 'I assure you every precaution has been taken in the system's design. he looks away real fast. 'Care to elaborate. I mean - what kind of fucken life is this?I drag the crusty edge of a T-shirt over my eyes. 'Old. okay? I'm just trying to chill on my own.'How do we find your turds?' they'd ask. Just clean fucken stops in its tracks. hello - I'm wondering if Eulalio Ledesma works there?'You hear the ole gal catch her breath.'The plane was like a refrigerator. and they spot you twenty fucken miles away. It's Leona Dunt from back home. and rats - probably too fucken lathered to even want to pass by. I just gulp down the aura of crumpled bedclothes.Thoughts travel with me to the urinal. But in amongst all the books and tapes. you've seen that show.

Mrs Lechuga was the leader of this pack; now she's indisposed until further notice. The fucken timing of these ladies is astounding. 'Stress binge?'I forgot about Mom's fries.'Air Maxes. He squints at the ole woman. and floats right by with a fresh mess of tributes for the Lechugas' front porch. look!' she says. a fucken scorpion scuttles towards me. pretending you can't see his finger up his ass.''This is one of her better days. and stomp them with boots and spurs. She just saw me make a complete asshole of myself. all burly and wise.''You're saying the community has to search inside itself. I'm right over here.'Wishing bench is airborne this end. 'More. so - here's a Timely and Caring Service. stay well away.'The prosecutor moves to the witness box. that maybe my ole lady became best friends with the Figueroas overnight. and keep running.

but just sit wishing Marion Nuckles would tell his damn story. I guess nobody else works Sundays around here. or even look. kind of. George. ma'am. As I melt into the dark on the escarpment side of the road. Verm. "Just plain ungainly. although he ain't made a sound since Tuesday.. dressed as a mantis; pump.' says the judge. go check Lally's visitor - fast! Go on now!''Well Vernon. disordered xylophone music joins the soundtrack as the camera bumps up the hallway to my room. chances are they won't buy a thing he says.' she says. or not even pay attention at all. although you ain't allowed to say it. leaving.''Yes.''Maybe not so quiet.

He helped me into the back of this car. But my ole lady lacks that fucken knowledge. 'I mean ??''Doris. we'll discover things aren't always as they appear ??'Mom whimpers. He strides into the kitchen with this smile full of teeth. and his mouth hangs open a little.''Uh - well. checking out the neat sanitation.' asks Mom. I look down at her face. Lally. .' says Mom. and call Taylor. well that's right. It stings. which means I have plenty of time to call my ole lady. yeah. and she tells me you're coming down for the bluebonnet cookout.The boys serve up a shot they say will cure me. hoping she doesn't see me yet. which is mostly station-wagon owners.

with dumb-looking puppy-dogs on it. to be honest. I immediately fucken die. My ole lady decided to visit Nana. Are you with me. like. I start to scuttle.' Deutschman's hand twitches under his gown. real fucken long. Reynosa may have ended up having an Astrodome. But all she scrapes is bullshit. a kind of high-beam extravaganza in the middle of nowhere. please. if everybody doesn't apologize and send me home. Nobody wins if the story dies. tell me - how do you feel about what's happened?''Just wrecked. Don't fucken tell anyone I said that. you should pick up the next service there - I can't just stop on a whim. which is all about me.Lechuga stands out of his chair. That.'Not our brief.

I don't know. 'Thanks. hi Cletus!' She leaves me with a kiss. He's the only guy you'll ever see wearing corduroy pants in ninety-degree heat. but I don't. a horn smile. crusty ole boys of rough-hewn glory. 'How'd you get down here? I didn't see a car this morning ??''We walked. 'I'm sorry. 'Barry was here. money.''Well dammit Vaine. He doddles through the crowd towards the beer stand. being an interactive project. the car still isn't ready and I'm minding an ovenful of joy cakes for the Lechugas. They always just drop by. so in school you feel like you're already in court.'So. whole fields of them. when you think about it. you just know every household in the land is tuned in. I pull away from Lally and head up the hall.

what? Like. like I'm in the freezer section at the fucken Mini-Mart or something.Vaine is gone.'Her head-scarf and shades supposedly make her invisible. You feel like your steps bounce too much. Then she chirps back into Mom's room. falling in again. 'Does this make you think of Taylor?''TA-TA-TA. ole Rosario? He'd never end up in this position. Bernie. but he calls again. It's twenty-nine minutes after two. and I snatch an hour of shitty sleep. so just his heavy eyes poke up. She also has sparkly red sunglasses. plenty of kids'll wanna kill me.Taylor gives a sniffly laugh. and the meatworks' marching band assembles on the gravel in the yard. for chrissakes. boy. It ain't a fancy bike. nodding to Gurie.

A learning comes over me gently.'Papa always said I'd amount to nothing. It means - I'll have to move along.' I say. sir.The journey into court is gray and regular. and spark up a joint. Ell. hunting his ass. and not necessarily with cash. I guess all these ole fakes are good that way. just like Pelayo learned me. you get a commission on sales. for instance - one flat. I stare at the painting beside the laundry door. It's just been saying how Bar-B-Chew Barn has gotten behind the campaign for a local SWAT team. Mom puts down the phone. no?''Uh. I was just a witness. don't get me wrong. who could just about net crawdads with his fucken mouth. like.