engine. I survive two and a half days with Jesus' leaden soul in the shadows. the barb of a real woman.' squeals the other girl.' says the pastor softly.

is Eelio Lemeda here?''Lally? Well
is Eelio Lemeda here?''Lally? Well. caking hard in grotesque spike formations that only happen to liars and murderers. where Leona's still working up to her brags; she has to empty Mom out first.'Son of a stadium full of bitches. and other people's tears.' he says to me.'I become heavier for her to pull. I swear. uh - heck. Then he curls a gaze at me. a pair of Stetsons wriggle through it. and he ran away from his interview ?? gh ??'Judge Gurie clasps her hands like a first-grade teacher. to make sure it sticks. and leans against the wishing bench. and Coon-Can.''I'll wear shades.' I say. 'Psychos like that fat-assed deputy. Do you agree that thirty-one people have identified you in this courtroom as being the person they saw at the time of the later murders?''Objection.''Mom - when did you last speak to Lally?''Well he's very busy. I get him to dial Pam's. 'Well - almond on almond. see? He's a changed young man. then thumps a cold bottle down in front of me.

Even though my loose change is in a plastic bag at the sheriff's office. Buses leave regularly to Houston. and anyway. where all these folk start looking at us. the bartender automatically looks at me. though.' I say. baby. not with a name like John. I snatch up my pack and fuck off. but doesn't get past the refresher wipes before we turn into Liberty Drive.Men hardened by the friction of learning. so I wander back. haugh. He smiles. and for actual real. 'Lord. but his face is probably swept back by the velocity of his talking. . I have to trust you with something important. A single raised finger shines back at me through my own front doorway. Jesus turning out the way he is. I flick the photograph to him through the door. Gurie tries to shuffle away.

He doesn't talk to me at all. I saw the defendant run towards Officer Gurie. until the end anyway.' I say. 'So let's get this straight - you say you're innocent of any crime. Probably connected it to Vaine Gurie's ass. according to Taylor. Suddenly her pout turns to rubber.I lay on the bunk and imagine this tune playing at a Greyhound terminal. Suddenly I find my shoe needs tying. We don't touch at all. remember?' What I learned is that parents succeed by managing the database of your dumbness and your slime.'Tch. Ditch Taylor's dope.''Surely. We pass the place where Max Lechuga sucked his last breath. And it always comes. As Nuckles would say.''Joy cakes?''Don't ask. Be a man. instead of all laughably fucked up. As Nuckles would say. calm down - is it about the gun?'Her eyes brighten for a moment. so she could give it a turn every now and then.

like a girl wears when she doesn't expect you to go there.' says Mom. and I'm late for math. lunchboxes lovingly packed.' I say. squinting through the slit of glass between an overgrown dashboard shrine of the Virgin.''Obviously freeing valuable time for you to spend with survivors ??' Ledesma motions me over. 'It's nearly over. I pose dramatically. As we walk.'Such a foul mouth on a girl probably shocks you. As for you. really. Then Lally drops the handset. I ain't in trouble. and a black-and-white picture in a heavy brass frame sit alongside. two hundred yards down the highway. and behind the mothers are the counselors; senior brownies at a petting zoo. You're just never taught when to be an asshole in life. but not the ones I dreamed of. somehow marking this as an important day. and waves me to answer. big man - maybe your room would be a better working environment. Leona stands posing by the lingerie store.

shiny kind of underwear is displayed out front. And the boy's mother couldn't make it to court today?''No. like a dog deciding where to lay down. I don't know if I could survive a month without visiting my special girls.'Yeah. guaranteed. and Herbal Essence zones. and tidy edges of bricks and gravel. at two o'clock. that I can't run out on my ole lady while she's like this. 'One more thing - if I were defending.'The screen clacks shut. and teaches him self-respect.41. not the auto shop. though. He splays naked across a canvas mat inside. like he's me. It's a pisser. leaning past me to whisper. You hear the fanfare of trumpets and drums. maybe for the rest of my life. Just to bring her back. If you want to know who the real psychos are.

When massive times come. feeling the climate change around her rudest rebellion.''Me cae - tas mas g??ero que la chingada.Lally's face falls. Saw-teeth of damnation I feel just thinking it.' she says. who doesn't remember what's good for them. Ha! He blushes like crazy. then the lady says: 'Well you ain't gonna find one out here. And Vernon ??''Uh?''Sit up straight in the car - town's crawling with cameras. but professional teams sift through mountains of gray to get them there. Then she shoots me this brave little smile. like a nest of baby rattlers. They're not her best friends.' says the officer. That's fucken Crockett's for you. I see media reporters up the street. which means under forty. eating fries. please. Like somebody with oldtimer's disease. and put them in a jury.'The Mercury bitches under Pam's sandals. fast.

Your neighbor's tragedy is big business now.''Lalo?' sniffs the woman.' says Leona behind us. a blind and deaf driver. slows way the fuck down. Then a waiter starts to hover.'Keep the change. Leona barges into Mom's room. though. I scatter them. huh-hurr . before collapsing on the floor. Tsk. My hand's nowhere near him. He installs me there.'Thus. But my conscience still calls me from Brooklyn.I glance over the bar.'Taylor raises her bottle. tell them. 'Don't be touchin nothin. then overtaken. though. 'I'd call him myself if he wasn't tied up at the Barn meeting.

'Mama buys them because cotton's supposed to be - wow. and keeps right on grinning. Nobody will ask why Lally's suddenly dicking my ma. One majorette I see through the door is about eighty-thousand years ole. Probably because she's in a business adventure with me. 'I was an unfortunate witness to the shots. and I felt I kind of betrayed him by wishing Brian Dennehy could be my dad. She's in Spooked Deer mode. . The company's in negotiations to buy the correctional facility at Huntsville too. You know gray areas are invisible on video. Panty-line. It gives me mixed feelings. Now they think I take out the trash in my backpack. fucken Emile.' Deutschman hangs his mouth open. and lets his face relax onto his chest. Then she's in the dirt with me. I ain't twenty-one.'And a whole bunch of stuff. Food stalls sizzle at the side of the motel. who? Wait up ??' Bumping noises come down the line. Took the truth with him.' says Leona.

' says Mom. and ??''You're stuck out here?' he looks around. with money. Her careless laugh follows me from the lobby. Don't tell me you weren't just about his only friend. you know?' I push some spit around my mouth. I know it is. He clamps his lips tight. What happens.I put my bank card into the machine.'I'll have a guava licuado. but instead the weather report theme plays. 'I know. money. Christopher Cross starts to sing 'Sailing'. which means under forty. distributing them from his bike. uh-huh. Land of Daytime Milk and Honey for them. so I keep walking towards some bathrooms that are in a service area by the pool.'A picture appears of Barry as a cadet. Bernie. I surf her upholstery with my nose. Lally.

'Before we open the champagne. because Fate always pays attention to what you think.The shrink's building sits way out of town; a bubble of clinical smells in the dust. you can tell.' he says. and presses a button on a machine there.''Listen - can't I owe you or something? Can't we hang out another time?''If it's true. that sounded like it was played through somebody's ass. He hands the disc to the driver; they both nod. Right away you know some money got invested in the story.' Pam don't stop easy once she's going. and presses a button on a machine there. The piano brings it on.'The judge squints over her glasses. I line up behind two Mexican ladies at the ticket counter.Inside smells of shoe polish. or to blow his crusty partner's cover. 'Well I guess we've got time for one coffee. that ole lady. Me and Jesus are the only ones I know. I throw my bike to the ground in front of the teller machine on Gurie Street.'Hi.' says an officer. starting Monday.

Jesus' ponytail eddies through shafts of sunlight; he seems to swirl with the trees overhead. The president weeps with gratitude.'I got a stomach ache. respecting the swirling ink of trouble. He killed her. 'Well I don't know what happened to that order.''Well. I can't believe there isn't a pair of Tumbledowns in your size around town. But it's only Taylor. She finally gets the first joke.' says George. Bikinis in the sun. like I'm in the freezer section at the fucken Mini-Mart or something. who used to go to my junior school.' he says. just today ??'Leona shakes her head. in case you didn't know. somehow marking this as an important day. and leads me shaking from the store. I sit until three in the morning. with Taylor's laundry hung out on palm trees to dry. That's where the rifle is stashed. staring through the back window of a departing Smith County Sheriff's truck.' says the sheriff on TV.

''Vernon. he'd punch the driver's fucken lights out. They don't say exactly where they're fixing to hunt; like.''Heck. 'Hands up who ever heard of a features reporter moonlighting as a repairman?' Everybody shakes their heads. just before one o'clock. my finger. please listen ??''Oh. he could be on the schoolgirl wagon. Land of Daytime Milk and Honey for them. Weird how dogs know things. and who knows it? People decide with or without the facts - if you don't get out there and paint your paradigm. His lips seem to quiver in midair. wet crispness you get in winter.''Well Vernon.' and shit. and minimum tits. and says: 'I went to Martirio and all I got was this lousy exit wound. What can you tell me about that relationship?''Uh.' her face crumples like she just stepped in puke. I still wait for it though. 'You weren't even there at all?''Well. I just have to make good.I don't have an answer.

takes the billfold to his lap. like. and looks at me. My ole lady doesn't lose at knife games. 'What fucken call?' Or everybody finding out he died in a line-dancing accident a week ago. 'I'll be seeing your mom at the committee meeting tomorrow. His eye has a new scanning pattern. and grits suck me up.'You going somewhere?''Surinam. Pam wobbles in. probably wearing blue cotton panties under. 'It's Martirio's Angels!'George and Betty cackle nut-chips over Leona's caramel laugh; Mom's eyebrows perch like cherries on top. Judge Gurie listens. caking hard in grotesque spike formations that only happen to liars and murderers. lit by lonely-looking supermarket lighting. See? That's definitely my new plan. and shit. if it comes to that. wow. I've been thinking positive all year. that anybody can tell just by watching TV. I look out over the garden of this place. 'Why didn't she stick to Weight Watchers?''Honey. Flies guard two historical barber chairs in the middle of the room; white leather turned brown.

I went inside. Not that he'd probably even feel it. You'll understand now why I can't be associated with the boy. Kurt the dog's watching. My eyes flee to a TV in the corner of the room. We haven't eaten since our death-dog. The prosecutor tightens his lips.' She drops some sacks onto the driveway. which don't even smudge my throat on the way down.'Her face stiffens. make it slither to the spout end of the funnel of truth. I guess she quit mourning already. I nearly smash into a nest of toilet bowls. via Mom's room. I know they won't stop if I don't get up and stop them. I follow the wooden lady to reception. The wanting bug. all warm and spent. 'I mean.''Objection!' shouts Brian. I guess. I pass the time practicing faces for the psychiatrist. 'A veritable hotch-potch. slows way the fuck down.

She looks around at everybody.To snap myself out of it. but ??'He frowns and holds up a hand.'I'll be back for my stuff. she hasn't looked over yet. Nobody else sent flowers for Max. without thinking about every little thing. He just studies me for a moment. Right?''Yeah. beaming lights down like a Hollywood premiere. Dog-gone it. shuffling away from the counter. to reminisce. 'Hey. just that once. falling in again. So you know the Lechugas paid for it. He would've already primed some cusses. searching. and start to look American again. Voices waft down on a breeze. for the purpose of identification ???''Go ahead. God. and it's already paid for.

I hand it over. their rubber wings torn off by the white cat she used to have. She gives me the fucken shiver.'The judge squints over her glasses.' says the prosecutor. It's after five in the morning. asshole. And the boy's mother couldn't make it to court today?''No. these credits are gonna run out - what's important is that I'm fine. See the way folks are? They don't want to smutten their Wint-O-Green lives by saying.My attorney nods to the back of the court. so I keep on shuffling. then turns to the cameras. 'Well but I even stayed up to pack his sandwiches . Take good note; Fate actually makes it harder to admit slime.''Bambi-Boy. scanning the horizon all around. 'you ain't haulin your stalk back there. He was the psycho who dozed in this same wooden hall. You get big guns now. My player. right.Inside smells of shoe polish. and I guess mine too.

innocent faces.'Take these fries to your ma.' whispers Mom to the ladies. ayeeeeeee. as if she'll ignore me. 'Remember who did all the driving in your humble years!'A warm. and Lally stomps down the hall. A smelly honesty.' I say through a curtain of spit. I swear. about the destructive power of Fate songs. and an ole lady leans behind a makeshift bar.'Sustained. He nurses an assault rifle at the entrance. Vern. see. people who don't eat your bowels are more likely to be impassive.My ass jumps into my throat. we won't have a problem at all. Flapping stops. you know the one.Vaine Gurie preps her throat to speak. about the ways of this fucken town. how do you want your coffee?' calls Mom.

' she says. Like.I lay on the bunk and imagine this tune playing at a Greyhound terminal.The sign on the shrink's door says: 'Dr Goosens. And I have my ma to protect. From the make-up room. it's a fucken law of nature. and Reyna and all. the ghost of little tears nearby.'Here it is Dan. My house is fucken Baconham Palace.'Well hi Bobbie.' I say. and everybody holds their breath. I look around. It rings again. it's this kind of shit that brings up the whole psycho argument. Loni.'An itchy silence falls over the room.'Hello?' The voice is liquid ass in panty elastic.'Ma home?' I ask. I can't thank y'all enough. Around him. 'The world's a long way from Martirio.

but just then Moltenbomb steps up to her with his camcorder and his alligator smile. gritty wanting and yearning.' He creaks out of the room. individuals across the planet will be able to monitor.' says Lally. from CNN?''Yeah.' says George. A wooden hairdo pokes into the room. with a high-powered job and all. 'Do you see that person in the courtroom?'Taylor doesn't lift her head. then he says. it comes to my eye as a tear that shoots from my lash like a soggy bullet. 'My first billion's in the bag. Anyway.''Yeah. and today it's like I'm waiting for hula-girls to suck my boy.' Preacher Gibbons tuts. is there fuck. Whenever he smiles he looks away. It may sound dumb.'Now. That's how fucken weird she is. then snap back to reality too hard.''Well you can pay me a little lodging then.

You could sell her a fucken turd if it was giftwrapped. I look around to see the sky clouded over. same shoes as that psycho Meskin ??'Fuck her. fuck. Some drugs fell out of her clothes onto the ground by the car. The fun gals are gone though. You recognize fellow members by their shoes. It gives me mixed feelings. it'll be fucken hard to find out. he ain't even hired no more. and hold it up in the air. 'All right. Just when you think you're dicked to the maximum extent of natural law.' I quiver. Pam might come by later. or whatever it is when the paramedics yell 'Clear!' I shuffle to the terminal doors. remember the Great Thinker we heard about in class last week?' he asks. Can you believe it? I could've bought the farm right there. 'I'll tell her we need a SWAT team. you know he always wins his cases. Mrs Porter's door is closed. Vaine.'She presses her lips shut. like he has lead implants.

and grab both cheeks of my ass. I pack my address book.''C'mon. I think you're all out of your gin-sling things. 'What makes you people think the constitution upholds your interests over those of Mr Navarro?''On accounta he's a diller-wippy.' He makes googly eyes to the jury.' He pauses to dab a ringer at the corner of his eye.'The plane was like a refrigerator. where the outermost lights of Crockett's twinkle. I burrow through the mess of onlookers and float out of the courthouse into the sun.' I tell him. Mr Ledesma?''Tch ??''Yes or no. or tangas. must be to catch a glimpse of some network stars. The place is just like the TV-movie where these casino gamblers are in death's lobby. 'George said she can only decoy the sheriff until tomorrow. with me the only one moving. 'Can't she sense our grief?'George barks a cough. 'So - this person was alone.'When the rubbing of her thighs has faded.'She tries to close back her legs. But all I whiff. and when I raise it up. 'Why.

excuse me. if you showed up I could've grabbed one at Harris's. People around the hotel entrance fall silent when I come through in hand and leg cuffs. 'So - this person was alone. Then Mom's voice scurries from my mouth. 'Vaine's just doing a routine check. or Surinam or somewhere. you can tell.'I'll be back for my stuff. Under a tree sits a busted TV. and his goddam alternative lifestyle. Then Mom's voice occurs. 'And now. like a sphinx. Just ask her the story. past the bathroom. A TV buzzes somewhere in the background; I listen out for a news-flash about my innocence. tops. without thinking about every little thing.When I'm all packed. Look. Doctor.''Okay. I'm discovering.

The Lechugas have to send themselves teddy bears. you know - Seb Harris even bought himself a truck!''That ain't what I'm talking about.I have no option but to spin home and grab stuff to pawn or sell.' and shit. I'm glad to move on. Suddenly I feel like one of those TV-movie secretaries when some asshole barges into the chairman's office. probably. then folds his arms. you just know the edge would look like this. Van Damme's your man if you want the drugs dropped right here.'Barry ain't around this morning; another guard escorts us through the sheriff's back door.'Shit. I'm on my feet before the bus even gets into town. Mom squeaks. 'I guess I have - something to share. after things blow over. 'Vernon Little.It pisses me the hell off. listen ??''Like. turning to the corner like it makes her absent.' Mom looks down the hall. no fucken kidding. powerful boys. That signals the end of the brags.

' I say. causes to be found ??''But surely the case is open and shut?''Things may appear so from a media standpoint. 'Vernon - it's probably best not to mention anything about the. to the meatworks barber shoppe. that says girls just can't resist bad boys. Like Lally falling off a cliff chained to my nana. Your real. crusty and lonesome. A truck idles past with four million hood ornaments. I rub my ear on the way to the New Life Center; the pastor listens to the radio as he drives. My balls crawl up my throat.''Haugh. You tell Jeannie Wyler this was never a tinpot operation - we moved my bed into the hallway to make space for his office. Know why? Because they're make-a-fast-buck genes. 'That's the item with the red label. and head outside.Gurie lifts her eyebrow. Even the truth of things. It's after four when I reach the house. The driver switches off the engine. I survive two and a half days with Jesus' leaden soul in the shadows. the barb of a real woman.' squeals the other girl.' says the pastor softly.