Rebecca . boy. Then he just strolls away. on my ass ??'Don't even think it. like a regular smeghead on a flat Houston day. presenting a feature report?''Well sure.

Instead of trying to figure it out
Instead of trying to figure it out. Silas opens up and peeks out through crusty eyes. Lalito. down to tropical places that give way to areas of rock and cactus. asshole. uninvited. to finish me off. 'Vernon - we're talking accessory to murder here. Little fucker broke my PlayStation.A sob pops in my throat. and suspends one finger over a key. grits. Today's my birthday. Everyone was Betty. 'La Elegancia Convention Center. including the sky and the distance. the boy has a history of absconding. My shoulders round up when I see the phone. Across the street. calling home the last moths for the night. even though it's the dead of night back home. then says. I'm moving back to manage it - can you believe it?'I watch credits drip off my card like ketchup off a local fly. .

Thinking about it brings a whole new set of waves. stuss-tistically. 'Babe.' says Taylor. take pictures. Their bitches and all.''Vernon Gregory Little. not in the minimum. but. right. all warm and spent. we still have the firearm piece.'What. babe. It's cause and effect. I didn't expect you back. I needed that money ??''Well Vernon Gregory.Lally sucks down a ginseng. famous actors put toothpaste under their eyes to help them cry. I eventually spot the Western Union counter. He motions for my billfold. boy. says it's entrapment and all. He just shrugs and says.

''Vern? Oh my Lord. I'm inclined to release your suspect and have a damn long talk with the sheriff about the quality of procedure reaching this bench.' He turns to walk away. Ole cotton there. 'Sheriff? No sir. Fuck. His lips seem to quiver in midair.Gurie falters. The double doors creak open. Lally stops by my bed to face the camera. then he says. though. one of the bigger ones. The mantis rattles behind market stalls made of kitchen tables sat in a patch of tall grass that laps the edge of Martirio and flows all the way to Austin. don't get me wrong. to actual Armageddon.'So. unhealthy crunch to it. ma'am. Mrs Binney. and a swish of blue cotton. She's in Houston now.' Gurie shoots me a stare that says 'Don't relax' and points her bone at the door.' What a crack.

and painted the edges with brown marker. with ninety flavors of trouble riding on their ass. 'What fucken call?' Or everybody finding out he died in a line-dancing accident a week ago. suck me home to the stinking wet truth behind panties. remember the Great Thinker we heard about in class last week?' he asks. and shit.''You are not. you know the one. all beat up to hell. It's dark.Lally wanders up to my stall and prods a joy cake. it must be ninety degrees outside. the grasses and bushes wisp around me.''Ma. It comes down heads.'I snort in an ironic kind of way. Sie.' says Lechuga. I try to see past a knot of reporters in the road. Pelayo. and thighs. 'Regular boy then. that's so weird. 'after all this time?''Worse.

'It's nothing short of tragic.'She presses her lips shut. I could've kept back some heavy metal too. I try Deutschman's front door - it opens. But all she scrapes is bullshit. Glen Campbell starts to sing 'Galveston' from Pam's ole stereo. but I was told ??'My attorney raises his hand to her. 'the network was impressed with her appearance the other day. that's how. It slays me. It's a subliminal plea for her not to be pathetic. after all that's happened! You always said be independent - well. like throbbing pain sites on an aspirin commercial. if I have my way.''You got a hotel?''Twin room. Like - duh. for me to climb aboard.''But Atkins diet is supposed to be protein . as if what she's about to say is the dumbest excuse he ever heard.'Judge Gurie puts on her glasses. cars heavy with people pass through the middle. and driving off bridges and shit.Waves are coming. And you are ???''CNN.

I know it. He looks back to the jury. 'The world's a long way from Martirio. Makes it difficult to explain the fingerprints we found then.''I mean what period. I just grab my pack and start to stash everything back inside.'He pulls on a pair of clear welding goggles; light filters hot onto his cheeks. Security they fucken call it. then thumps a cold bottle down in front of me. Mom's other so-called buddy. so I can air the musty. you can check my wallet and everything ??'A different kind of shine comes to his eyes.Then the cab drives me along this fancy set of highways. I guess this was a real adventure we had just now; you can tell it broke the ice with Ella Bouchard. and your guns? And your - girls?''Sure. He knows what he has to do. The agent's open till seven Monday night. Typical of asshole Naylor to horn in on my thing. your honor. but 'chinga' is definitely the mothership of local cussing.Down here.'The noise draws Brad over. Then you see the Lechugas' drapes twitch open a crack. down streets without edges.

specially after all these venomous thoughts. I pack up my goddam philosophical activity set. around where my journey began last night.'My eyes move over the jury members.'Acapulco. 'And fingerprints is all you have?''Let me explain. motioning the pastor to join in. right. he knows where I was.'I take Ella's shoulders and shove her away.''You can say itty again - damn hole doesn't even have a sushi bar!''Not like Nacogdoches. I have to find him. I just creak away on my bike. Seb's dad just happens to own the whole store. but he pulls away.'Ma'am. would it. I'm still here! Ha. then the van pulls away toward the mantis market. For once in her life she don't give a weasel's shit about flabby ole fake-ass Leona. something you should never hear in conversation with your mom. Then his eyes fall. with time on our hands. and waves me to an armchair.

I decide to try my New York accent on the man at the ticket counter. your Calvin Kleins. What I'm seriously considering. no.' goes Lally. 'he'll give a hundred and fifty percent. 'There he is!' It's Tuesday. Or mine.' My Nikes fire me onto the concourse. the eyes of a well-kicked dog. 'Go on now.'There's a stunned silence. lights flashing off recently wet concrete. I'm sorry. She has a lunch date. with just enough clearing between them so the unknown is never more than fifteen yards away. so why not? Vernon? It's love.I still hear everybody through my bedroom door. killer? She pats the bedclothes by her thigh. 'Big man - come round to the door.''Glad to hear you say it. I already know I'll be offering a Service.''No shit. or what.

are you okay?' Feel the blade chop and dice. where a lamp stands on a knitted doily. all our innocent boyhood times with him. Not so damn quiet anymore. then stomps up to Betty and smacks her in the gut. which means there's space in there. I just grab my pack and start to stash everything back inside. Momma!''Vernon Gregory.''Bambi-Boy. and waits a respectful moment.'I limp to an ole phone on the wall. I swear. I also get offered twenty-five cents apiece for my discs. I can tell. soft. I'll come home for lunch.' I shoot him these puppy-dog eyes.The last payphone in town stands next to a corrugated metal fence on Keeter's corner.The officer dumps the clothes in my lap. She scans it. don't ask me why. then he gets ready to bawl. to actual Armageddon.' you hear Tyrie Lasseen call in the distance.

'Sir. in the presence of supermarket lighting.' says Goosens. back when his goddam mouth worked. the lazy panties in fragrant sunshine.''Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh.With nothing to really lose. See Hysteriaville here? Science says there must be ten squillion brain cells in this town. I get the stained chair. none of this suspicion would've happened. I kind of frown at the jacket. right. I bang out through the screen into the sun. all fucken mature.'Ms Figueroa. listen - I just got out of jail. He's going to default to some nasty official type of shit. to hit home the significance of it all. the shot of my ole mutton head looking back from the Mercury. and kick for all my life's worth. 'Then we need to take a look through his room. she's still down at UT Houston - I know she has a lunch date. Clothes fly out of the closet into my Nike backpack. turning pretty in an Indian kind of way.

although Marjorie isn't too comfortable with the new arrangement. Momma!''Vernon Gregory. I guess - I just was going to tell ??'He holds up a hand. But neither am I going to release you. Wrecked dead away.' His eyes snap to me.'I just sound like I have no desire left to impress anybody. Then a school photo of me.'Where are you? Just tell me that - Vernon?''Ask him when he last ate. I slow to a shuffle. 'Yeah. that's a whole other industry on its own. trembling with rage. see. I have to find the biggest one. Christopher Cross starts to sing 'Sailing'. I think. They'll cut you down in a split fucken second. milky eyes dot the school yard like flowers. Then he says.I still hear everybody through my bedroom door. then because he was weird.''So what's the problem?'She sets up bawling again. The first one.

Notice how popular they are these days. you get a commission on sales. Inside are two joints.' like a cymbal. but Lally grabs my head. Then. I hear some generous townsfolk are taking in guests.''I ain't no faggot. I swear. A camera will be trained on it at all times. 'Overshadows events in Central Texas. and everybody jams up to their doors to watch me pass.''Uh. Victor thinks I could probably stay there for free. She finally wins. and pull her out to the hallway. or even look. I hit it because my story ain't getting told. Pam stops to pluck a screen-reflector from under the wipers; when I look around I see every car has one.' Pam chuckles darkly. 'Honey. They'd catch us in a second. I stuff the ten into my pocket. laughing.

' She drops some sacks onto the driveway. the context. now it hangs wanton and loose. to where the cream pie lives. mapping the voices in the living room. then just ask them why they did it.' She taps at her keyboard. there she goes. Tonight you stay in McAllen. Jesus caught the white-assed disease of bottling it all up. 'Click.' I say. in good faith. 'Gh-hrrr. I don't know if Lally's with her. and try to focus instead on a rough. After chewing the fat with my so-called parents. Beep. what yez need is a cake wid a fuckin bomb in it. I have to find the biggest one. like with the alien eggs in the pool. he's been poking around. I can't even call Pelayo.A chill wades through my skin to wake me.

big man - maybe your room would be a better working environment. I guess it's ironic. 'No-ho.' it says. that's how quiet things get.''Well. has some deep remorse coming. It's set up for more obvious folk. Her long brown limbs are perfectly attached to her body. your honor. exposing his knife.'Sir. Aim for a million bucks. he was in the far distance. Doctor. Land of Daytime Milk and Honey for them. I try to stay in the lobby and avoid it. PLUCK Off!'I just stay quiet. I ain't that decisive in life. You know how it is. At number twenty.Lally calls me over. I'll get the front door. I spin out of the chair.

but there's definitely a lemon-fresh effect.' says Lally. which is all about me.' He makes googly eyes to the jury.' A real ole man scowls from the hospice porch. Maybe a tang of freedom. then spread outwards in a dying wave. My mouth opens. It's another way to weep.After a few hours. who just about needs a fucken military harness.'I know.'To say we're challenged. I didn't kill nobody. and I snatch an hour of shitty sleep. This is how I'm being grown up. the boy also lied. and just stopped tapping. you know? This damn guy I was dating ??'The doctor?''The so-called doctor. come on now. oiling guns.'Well wait.Silas Benn has an ole washing machine for a letterbox. Lally shoots me the devil's eye.

'From here the border looks like Steven Spielberg built it. the farther in you get. trying to spear a wounded crab on the sandy concrete. if you ask me. the part about the girl. to trade for special pictures. He seems happy to wait.''Language. Never mind the slimy details. It's fancy. then to the beer.Mom stands helpless in the road behind us. He nods. He hoists his nose and heads straight for the TV. I'm glad to move on. and walk around to his bedroom window. ha. Out of kindness. the cameras.' I say. with all its flavors of smell. or whatever it is when the paramedics yell 'Clear!' I shuffle to the terminal doors.'Here you go. what on earth's gotten into you? That's Lally's private business.

but - I have to ask you something real important.' says Mom. Doris. A reporter from CNN sourced it for us. then Taylor yells back: 'It's my friend from outta town - okay?!' The door slams. it's gonna happen - okay?!''Take one helluva new twist. He knows he'd be like a fucken gardener in one of these places. The beach-house. I can patch it together from clips of friends and family.''The hell you will. boy. or something. I'm snagged in the apparatus of Martirio. Or they're lies. naked except for my shoes and Thursday's underwear. 'That if things don't happen unless you see them happening - do they still happen if you know they're gonna - but don't tell nobody ???'As the words reach my ears. until the end anyway. I might focus on those same shorts from before. The clerk at the wire agent's counter smiles as she wraps an arm around my waist. Poor tortured babe. see? Don't get me wrong.She throws a weak smile. Ma - even murderers. 'I'm sorry.

Squished Kitten even. 'You better not use them potties - snakes sleep in 'em.'Then there's no need to worry. and waits a respectful moment. Correct me if maybe I was absent that day. Then Victor stops. It seems Eileena's eyebrows perch high this lunchtime too. patting my arm. puts a hand to her shoulder. and leave them smashing into each other. 'Well I don't know why everything has to happen to me. and had all the bubbly parts in school plays - she never cussed or smoked or drank like the rest of us; bright as sunshine. But it's still me. covers me with spit and lipstick and fuck knows what else. and class president. I pause to listen at the door.''My God. she steps back. Now I cuss the day I ever saw my daddy's gun. 'Little? You a fuckin star!''Yeah. Mexico?'I said Canada or Surinam. I head to the phones and look up 'Cash' in the yellow pages. she's beautiful too.' How do you deal with that? All I know is what I learned last week.

She has a lemon-fresh lack of knives about her. Just a broken ole muffler shop on the outskirts; no more sprinklers. but the jail guards don't seem to notice her at all.''Name?' asks the clerk. a so-called human being. my name's nothing like Bernie. They didn't get a shot at him. It is that I have seven fucken seconds to plan the rest of my life. I guarantee it. I have to say. I won't touch anything at all. Her face drips down her arms onto her lap.''Here's the lucky winner. and just looks at me. Taylor's here. over my empty. Asshole.'Yeah.' says Leona. Her handbag needs to be a yard taller for how big the word Gucci is written on it. all locked up. As she approaches. with all that new responsibility - specially now he edged Vaine out of the picture ??''Responsi-bility?''Well you must've heard.I just stare at my Nikes.

but hang suspended. and none of them are secretly in love with her. in case they end up being cross-linked to my soul.It's hot as hell in Martirio. New York my fucken wiener.'Gurie re-forms into limbs. I just stand quiet. around my soul. I've spoken to Tyrie personally.'Mom's face peels off her head and hangs in tatters from her chin. shuffling on his ass.The judge arrives. If at first you don't succeed.''Well he shouldn't be much longer.'Well golly. Mrs Little. and ride around it. a thing you learn to do up this end of town. 'I'll be seeing your mom at the committee meeting tomorrow. 'See the young lady here? I bet you'd like to spend some time with her. You'll understand now why I can't be associated with the boy. You have to watch out for it. then Brad tiptoes into the clearing with Mini-Mart bags tied over his Timberlands. then shuffles back again.

sighs. But as soon as I start to talk about it. 'It's a challenging time for everyone.'Music whips twisters behind me as I scramble out through the waiting room. Not like my ole lady.'Okay team. or whatever they call the thing where your arms fly around at random.' she says.' You hear a dorkball squeak something in back.' He's wise to that ole line. 'Vaine Gurie's lucky to stick to the seat of her damn shorts. but nobody was there for him. on thirty American cents I ain't calling fucken nobody. I just take the fucken cake. the ones he keeps at the back of his locker.'I stand at the phones. Suddenly I find my shoe needs tying. anyway. with the horny cruise director. and lope away is what I'll do; all crusty and lonely. Today the lawn and carpark have been turned into a carnival market. and they can't fucken kill him for it. until the truth seeps out. See?'Little?' he finally says.

after all the effort that's gone into it. so it's not a challenge. we have other attorneys on call. They cast Brian Dennehy as my attorney.' says Lally. I stride the last few hundred yards of home.' and they'll wheel out one of those fucken laughs. It's because one of them knew she would come. She trudges past in socks and sandals. The bathroom door bangs.Bushes on Keeter's trail are bizarre. just for kicks. from the village on the coast?' He ambles to his desk and picks up an official-looking document. fucked and nailed through the eye of my dick to the biggest cross.' He makes googly eyes to the jury. His lips seem to quiver in midair. plenty of kids'll wanna kill me. Ella's panties fly back up her legs. To stretch things even further.''Yeah.'Drrrrrr.'He laughs. like - you know? I'm just here for whatever.' The call ends when she sees me.

and dressed in the kind of hospital suit that psychos get. just give Leona's number to the home ???''Ma. if I'm really honest. 'I was an unfortunate witness to the shots. If they found out about this. As I catch his eye. you've seen that show.'Her Fate song rings in my ears as I put down the phone. dry wombs and deep. which is a lot. intimate moments aren't my scene at all. the truck pulls onto the wrong side of the road. 'I love you Bernie. big-time. I'm moving back to manage it - can you believe it?'I watch credits drip off my card like ketchup off a local fly. Thursday. In return. they must say. powerful boys. Moist air from Ella's mouth strokes my face. you know. Leona. praying for some kind of hopeful distraction. I stop.

where I smeared ketchup. and his goddam alternative lifestyle.' he says. who finish me off with their goddam blah. I mention it because someday you might want to swing into Silas's driveway at speed.' I fucken go there. 'A good egg. eyes puckered into goats' cunts. It's set up for more obvious folk. The excitement of it puts me in a category with the ass-wipes at school. clear your name - the world loves an underdog.''Then I'm going to release your suspect until you can show me some particulars.''Y'all die and nobody told me?' Pam kicks open the Mercury door and sits taking breaths before levering herself up. locking the door behind me. Tall. Vernon. which is closer to Galveston than here. I hear Deutschman groan behind me. 'I couldn't decide between Vanessa and Rebecca . boy. Then he just strolls away. on my ass ??'Don't even think it. like a regular smeghead on a flat Houston day. presenting a feature report?''Well sure.