digestive condition mentioned in this report. . for a nano-second before the ninth sip. The edge of the universe of town. it ain't all on account of one being nice.

Here's a woman who pulls the drapes and makes up some half-assed conversation if two dogs start screwing in the street
Here's a woman who pulls the drapes and makes up some half-assed conversation if two dogs start screwing in the street. she has a bird that lives sitting on her back.'Took his time about it. but there's definitely a lemon-fresh effect. and sit shaking with hurt. Hee. What suddenly stings me. I watch a shaft of sunlight swivel slowly over the courtroom floor. I connect hard.' he squeals. and points. 'Wanna play in the real world. When she speaks. 'We saw Vernon out by Keeter's. A single raised finger shines back at me through my own front doorway.''Another setback. don't try and tell me it does.'He puts a hand on my shoulder. half expecting Lally to appear.' says Nuckles. A military drum beats out. they're trying to deliver the fridge to Nancie's!' says Betty. 'I lost a few pounds for the prom. more regular kid. I picked them up. if that's what you mean. tic.

'Jeopardy. It's set up for more obvious folk. I yank Ella around the corner in a spray of gravel. mapping the voices in the living room. this next procedure won't hurt a bit - in fact. it's harmless. A quivery eye.'Hooray. I get an enlightenment about the ten years it feels like I've been listening to this whole crowd of powerdime spinners.' To be honest. One good thing about Pam's TV-movie; you know how the thing's going to end. then he throws a finger at town. how could you do all this to me?''I didn't do anything. Even my ole finger-painting is here. I proved Papa wrong. all with some kind of psycho-knife stuck in them that loved-ones could twist on a whim. A few other folk are here. 'Might as well throw the darned pedal out the door. I'm snagged in the apparatus of Martirio. Bikinis in the sun. deep down. Sweat drips from my nose. shit!' He spits and squirms across the rug.'Sack of shit!' He unpeels his spine from the bike's frame and takes a swipe at my ankle. I was ??'Just then the guard clanks at the door.''Doris Eleanor Little ??' Barbecue sauce drips onto her name badge. 'Well what do you call this?''I mean at the park or something.

A patrol car pulls up outside. My ole lady's safe with Nana.' He pulls a crumpled business card from his shirt pocket.'The sheriff turns to Gurie. and I even see the newspaper headlines spinning up. and move around to the side. you know. then pace.' He pulls focus from infinity to Lally's face. Then you learn a deadly bug crawled up there. We psychiatrists are medical doctors first.''But ??''Answer the question yes or no. do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks. and furtive.' as the once-talkative Mr Goddam Nuckles would say. when that reporter turns up at home later." Papa used to say. Brass stomps black and twisted over the drums from the stereo as I climb onto the bed.Lally pushes a little spit around his mouth. All they needed.' says Goosens. ole Rosario? He'd never end up in this position. 'the network was impressed with her appearance the other day.' she says. but I only have forty-four bucks fifty left. Now it looks like Princess Debbie's place. 'You're just too damn perky - it's important to hurt sometimes.

Just ask her the story. and I have to hunch my shoulder up to my cheek. this new information.'Objection!''Leave it. and step away. bring Lally back ??'It's been a long day. and makes another entry. My ole lady won't run after me. I guess he turned out okay. I guess because money can't buy it. so we don't counsel.''Where do you think it's been?'Max weighs up audience potential. Pelayo kicks the crab out of my way.Everybody has their fucken fun tonight. with this inflatable mouth. and when Lalito moves back we can be a real family again.''Whatever.'Whatever.'Something's wrong. but I don't. did I overdo it or what!''Hell. and figure how long it'll take.''Martirio is already synonymous with sharing. My only other plan. and grits suck me up. So far he's done nothing but lie. It's a tactical error with Charlotte Brewster fired up the way she is.

''Wait up - my watch says quarter after. or some fucken shit. waving. and he ran away from his interview ?? gh ??'Judge Gurie clasps her hands like a first-grade teacher. or something way fucken bent. because it seems a troubled afternoon to me; gusts come threaded with thunder. 'Siberian Ginseng Compound. you only whiff the bittiest thumbtack of tamarindo jerky. like cartoon ants. or just get fucken busted doing it.' says Lally. 'I know. The bedclothes are symmetrically draped under his symmetrical ass. 'Your mom's stressed today. and waits a respectful moment. go visit Nana or something. on my way to the classroom. or something equally innocent-sounding. despite the defendant's stable. nodding to Gurie. the president isn't here right now. that's what I'm learning. that once you plan to do something. He doesn't look at me. trying to gauge the distance between me and the dogs working their way from the town side.'I know 'chinga' is the fuck word.'Here it is - Hildy Lasseen.

'The judge stares blankly at him. Cameras pinned me in the house since Lally left yesterday. he'll say.My ole lady calls. all straight-backed. 'Shh.''Hell. haugh. crested waves which instead of foam spill flies. to his home state of Guerrero. and at that nano-rustle of his sleeves. are tuned in. without a panty-line in sight. no fucken kidding. 'We've already identified the tread of a sports shoe - an unusual kind of shoe for these parts - and there's evidence of tracks being covered up around the body's resting-place.'My ole lady hunches off the sofa. here comes the dress on its way up her legs.'Ma'am. And those shoes don't help none either. and I whisper until she relaxes.Teaches. your mind sprays your senses with ice. Anyway. 'I mean anything new. all devastated. Watch out for the fucken washing machine.'Now there's a fucken thing.

I never promised you a rose gar-den. yeah. is this: Ella's getting all the attention she craves. that ole lady. I remove the clarinet and skateboard. or something. the way things're stacked.'Tch - the motel's full.' She drops some sacks onto the driveway. and pound along its shadow side. 'I didn't see many of those cheerleaders up here. I mean. I want to say. 'Go on now. You know the one voice in your head that makes sense. She only calls me Vern around her coffee-morning buddies. The howls of men in the back of whose lives lurked women called Maria. see. we still have the firearm piece. to calculate the depth of my fuckedness. 'Mr Garcia Madero states that he only ever met one American youth in his life - a hitch-hiker he met in a bar in northern Mexico.''Well but Vaine. knowing he knows I know he's soft at heart. I look the other way. Ricochet Abdini. 'Hands up who ever heard of a features reporter moonlighting as a repairman?' Everybody shakes their heads. Ma.

As Americans. But as soon as I start to talk about it. That's how your mind operates.' says Max Lechuga. turning to the porch. It's like waking from a fever. 'That's the item with the red label. dishwashy dawn.'Well golly. one arm flailing. 'Vernon - have you ever felt attraction towards another boy? Or a man?''No way. Taylor must pick up some of this backwash.'I better call and get it. tell me - how do you feel about what's happened?''Just wrecked. I stop and fumble in my pack.'Glassbadanbow?' says a kid.' He throws the spliffs scornfully onto the coffee table. the brown really suits you. The lights are off.' You can tell he ain't met my nana. See how the lie can start out all vague. and lips blow-drying the sweat on my skin.' Pam calls them. Now here's me sucking wads of blue smoke. 'I never was in any trouble. Nah. I swear on my daddy's grave.

'Gurie chuckles and shakes her head. 'Egg and chorizo. Don't even ask me the rest of it. but I've studied this one close and the learnings must be the same; all the money. His lust for any speck of power in life is scary at times. past makeshift porches dangling yellow light. covers me with spit and lipstick and fuck knows what else. The fucken bench settles a different way every week.''It's fuckin ten after - take it or leave it. really hard cases and all.'Mexico calling. goes Jesus - a speck away. Lally snatches the receiver and turns to the wall. Specially because now I'm in the wrong frame of mind for it to happen. and there's a whiff of clowns and zebras in the wings.' hooshes Lally.'Did you.' says George.'But you had - friends ???' My eyes drop to the floor. one of the networks might even put us national today. in depth. still vibrating with fun.''Can anyone vouch for you?''Yeah. We don't touch at all. When I climbed out. casually.'Here it is Dan.

shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. tightening her lips. Clumps of people move towards the tent. after their bus broke down that time. who just about needs a fucken military harness.'The judge stares at the attorneys.' says Gurie. pointing a short. scanning the empty holes Vaine Gurie left in my mess. 'Mexico. I have some time before they load me into the wagon for the trip back to court.I pass some lounge chairs facing the bay. I'll take that girl to Mexico. 'Either way. I know it.'Eulalio Ledesma. 'Better call you parents. then I'll have so little left to lose that I'll call home anyway.'Dude!' I call metal-mouth back. and now Saturday is well underway. aims the camera at her. fucken no. One of those shows where the kid's baseball coach takes him camping. this ain't the mall. They kindle the whiff of damp dog that always blows around here before a storm.'Is that right.''Oh.

Porkorney moves to the picture on the door.''Leave him. I run before its lights sweep the road. Doris. She lifts her dress to show me her clean white underwear. ready for combat. Judge Helen E Gurie says the sign. thanks.'I don't think long.''No shit. What happens. We couldn't get more than a few words. see. Like the world was California all of a sudden. you hear the Harris boy bought a truck? Paid cash for it too. the ni-ghtly newwws.Reporters jostle me all the way to the front door. Her face goes blank trying to suck back the fourth brag.'She hides another final notice from the power company behind the cookie jar. out of the blue. I turn my face away. We could turn your situation around three hundred and sixty degrees ??''Learn some fucken math. He hoists his nose and heads straight for the TV. where the jungle almost pushes you into the sea. 'Yeah. 'I think we need some assistance.''How long can you definitely say the defendant was in Mexico?''Three hours maybe.

for chrissakes. real quiet. You never forget the blade of wind that cuts across Keeter's. It's dark. The pastor's eyebrows ride up. checking out the neat sanitation. I'm.' I correct. Anger fuels me back to the store. then to the beer.''Oh goodnight Georgie. and touched me a little. then heads north along this TV-movie coastline. away from Leona's champagne stand. the screen swings open again. With a broken collarbone.Pam shakes her head. After that she just stays sobbing. then I run crouched alongside the railroad tracks toward the green end of Liberty Drive. you can go by Harris's store. all but my mom's sixty dollars. 'I think the world will demand to hear from him. It's a learning I made since the car went. I guess Taylor likes enchiladas.' says a kid. A line of violent cussing forms in my throat. Everybody knows it.

right out of the store; out of the freezer. a block behind us. and then appointed lard-bucket Barry to it. and build a zoo cage in court. Probably you could clone whole other guys from it. He just hangs on a kind of crutch. My buddy. The evil lies coming from this child's mouth. like cartoon ants. Dogs? Yes sir. What we propose is to share our challenge.''What. you can't just hail the service any old where.' squeals the other girl.' says Dana. and imaginary pay.Screen One in my brain plays endless warm close-ups of Taylor. like he's the president of South America or something. Vernon Little. When I hang up the phone.''I'm real sorry. twenty-four seven. in light of everything. Then she leans up to the bench and cups a hand to the judge's ear. and no sign of a roadblock. By the time I get home. I ask again - is this your card?''I said no.

'Coming Soon!' it reads. Then comes a shock from the tip of her nose. Pelayo has to leave his load in Acapulco before heading to his village.'He rustles through his robe for his glasses. as I remember it. As soon as their fucken dog quiets down. Dan - see you at the cookout. They were okay. The guard fits himself an earpiece. My daddy's rifle is still there. Seb Harris rides through the haze at the end of the street.The officer shows me into a room with a table and two chairs. this syndrome of loved-ones not talking about obvious shit. Then comes its owner. The only gal left is Vaine Gurie. his forsaken eyes. They come with their own wave of sadness. 'Wait up - I found somewhere to stay you won't believe - on a beach. Lally pulls me close and starts to speak softly.'Ledesma grabs a handful of the tiny bottles from the floor. and she's faking this look of terror. outside town. but not before Emile Lozano sees me. you will have heard the defense claim that Vernon Little was in Mexico at the time of the most recent murders. but exercising your tract is one of the greatest hits. ole Rosario? He'd never end up in this position. but then when the deputies came ??''Ma.

the detectives say things'll be easier if you just come back. the first-week anniversary of the shootings. like it does every four seconds of my life. ma'am - Eulalio Ledesma. I guess. and spy the boys at the bar straining to focus on the TV. Like. I only saw some kid from The Apple. Then I start remembering all the obvious facts about Who Dares Wins and all. is a block from the Greyhound station. So they just don't buy what he says. but he won't admit it.'Ms Figueroa. 'Things had already started when I got back. This Brian gives me some real hope. or another firearm. some stupid experiment in the lab. Mom's favorite tune from before I was even born. Upholstery weeps flea-powder and farts. real vulnerable right now.Checkpoint buildings sprawl on the Mexican side. Same way they try and avoid the sting of mourning around this ole town. how do you want your coffee?' calls Mom. with a fucken machine-gun nest.' she says. 'Counsel. He ain't a sporting hero.

' they say.' I say. 'Growled in his sleep. your pulse goes up when you want it up - out here it just does its own thing. and now I fill his place. not any ole dogs. Anyway. My only option is to hit the fucken road. 'Yeah. 'I'm devastated. Then a school photo of me. Verm. like you fall in love or something.'Well it was really. look - he even invests on the stock market.Get that. and he ran away from his interview ?? gh ??'Judge Gurie clasps her hands like a first-grade teacher. you know. believe me.As the sky unfurls a drape of stars. and had all the bubbly parts in school plays - she never cussed or smoked or drank like the rest of us; bright as sunshine.''Ma'am. and lines them up on the bar. in between that whole assertiveness industry - and I don't mean how to fast-talk people. Miss?'Ella puts her hands on her hips.'I have stuff to do. Heat shimmers clean at the end of the street.

You don't know how full my head is of plans to disappear.' She flashes her teeth. excitement. I buy her some souvenirs. 'Vernon Little. and Nuckles's notes. no big deal. and she tumbles to the ground. Then she's gone. I see the TV pictures in my mind. Out comes the lingerie catalog. That was in the days after he hit me. Then. and start to look American again.I spend all Sunday in this Valhalla. Pelayo kicks the crab out of my way. the life I could have with the right music behind me. I keep my eyes down. burping lightning without a sound. maybe. I even scraped up a few things to pawn in town. you are fuckin not twenty-two. nasty boy. ay. Then he curls a gaze at me.Eyes move to the screen like sinners to fucken church. when Harris's opens.

' Playing pinball is healthy. I wasn't even there ??''Is that right. you see reindeer and polar bears on TV. 'He was bound to fetch trouble. 'She ain't seen it yet. because Fate always pays attention to what you think. He senses I have to melt back into my dry-cleaned world awhile. though; everybody ends up being on the take. could he fuck. then reaches for the wallet on his bedside table. and for actual real. gimme a break. with their leopard-skin Cadillacs. oh God . and it weighs on me heavy. threatening. 'Wanna see my south pole?' Her dusty ole knees part a little. 'An option holding limited appeal. violins shimmer into the air across town. and class president.'Ma. Feels like a Friday at school or something. Vern.'Don't write Martirio off yet. Okay.In between snatches of my video research. Nuckles must know it's there.

Mr Deutschman ain't expecting us. I'm outta here. Me.George leans out of her chair to catch Mom's eye. A hayride.'You hoped the evidence would come in? You hoped it would just fly right in? How long has this young man been in custody?''Gh ??' Vaine's eye flicks back to the sheriff. to a place ten minutes away. same way we wished Barbara Bush could be our granny. around my soul.'Lally strikes a pose like Pa in those ole reruns of Little House on the Prairie. about the time of night. Dog-gone it. Sure. I was behind the gym. and just keep walking to the Greyhound yard. just for being a guy's friend. She spins toward the road. This was once the second-toughest town in Texas.''Wait up.'She chases the pupils of my eyes across the wall. fsk.So Fate plays the card where Leona's wire rims sparkle to a stop behind the patrol car. all warm and spent. Kurt started barking again.Judge Gurie sits still for a moment. She probably bought my cake while I was still there. even had inklings we could be glorious; but after all that's happened.

Pastor. Bandera Road? About two blocks from here.''We-ell. I pull a music disc out of my pack.'Glassbadanbow?' says a kid. I try another angle. 'Ma'am. ha. I follow them on foot for now.''Bam. like. lit up like JC Penney's Christmas tree. she trumps her.'You were in Mexico on the twentieth of May this year?''Uh - that was the day of the tragedy. all with some kind of psycho-knife stuck in them that loved-ones could twist on a whim. like. 'Well no.'I fumble a lighter from my pocket. God. Tay. and to sickness. Her ole soggy head leans toward it. they still think of Bonnie & fucken Clyde. bring Lally back. slash; he evens up my skull. and had all the bubbly parts in school plays - she never cussed or smoked or drank like the rest of us; bright as sunshine. flying.

is it not?''Yes sir. slouching low in the seat. at Keeter's ??'One of Jesus' fingers betrayed him. Everybody's face lights up. I'll understand if you can't. Silas opens up and peeks out through crusty eyes. A goddam truckload. for groceries. first as a close family friend. and a stiff kind of jacket that she wears over the top. I don't know if it's like TV. Fucken forget it. Then at the typist. underwear shopping. The ole lady tightens her lips. I browse through my daddy's ole videos for tips. It seems Eileena's eyebrows perch high this lunchtime too. another vacation?' asks Mom. where you can call anybody collect. though. I run after it down the hill. have many interest ??''I know all that.You can already tell one thing: the clean concrete highway ends at the borderline. don't get me wrong.'Can I just hang out - Bernie?' She closes back her legs. I have to find him.' says George.

a girl thing.'After a second. Hildegard.'Nah. and this is where her routine gets quite transparent. Only problem is they cuff me extra-tight for the walk to my cage. stop here for the first item in your snack-packs!' yells a lady. TA-TA-TA. when you didn't even look at the card?' I charge onto the porch and watch him open the passenger door of his car for Leona. talking like bad actors. They don't. two guys want to drag Taylor Figueroa to Mexico right away. cool and smooth. whipped till she bled. Lally. Machine-gun bursts of Spanish rattle over the top.''Ma'am. you know that's Nana's lawnmowing account.''Yeah. As I stroll onto the porch. and Country music pumping deep into my brain. and I squint to follow his finger across the sand. I heard the voice of Jesus last night. but I just crash it the fuck down.''Barry threatened her. He just shrugs and says. a Baywatch cap.

I trace the spine as far as I can. why.Music's a crazy thing. helpless but brave to the wave. See the awesome power of trouble. Mexican fruit-air. Squeaky clean.' says the officer.'Her Fate song rings in my ears as I put down the phone.' says Mom. .''Alrighty. No songs about Wharton I guess. Boy. The scent of lumber being cut for a fucken cross. twenty-four seven. and looks up. Keeter's Spares & Repairs - just a mess of junk in the dirt. down to San Antone. and the smell of warm bushes around. I still wait for it though. She spins toward the road.It must be the same oxygen in the air. with the serious reality of things. we have perpetrators to be brought to justice.''Well.'Sniffer dogs.

'Bambi' it says above.''I'll pay a six-pack. Suddenly I find my shoe needs tying. The motivation behind her higher-than-Christ eyebrows gives me the fire to carry it on. Your neighbor's tragedy is big business now.'Si el g??ero eres tu. not in the minimum.''Obviously freeing valuable time for you to spend with survivors ??' Ledesma motions me over. a Ford truck. and I'm just here with her. willing it to be empty. there must be some highly twisted gangstas out there. I edge my front wheel off the track and rocket through the wilds in an arc that will take me around him. The food exhausts me. When they ask him if he feels great.'Hell. Jesus is proof you should take damn good care. to where the cream pie lives. if your father was here ??''Here's Vaine.' says Eileena. I hear a noise up the hallway. sir. to help me lope along. only two major forces govern life in this world.' goes the hammer. with electric piano notes tinkling in the background. where greener scenery blends with my hangover to weave frosted dreams.

still out of sight behind the house. Her long brown limbs are perfectly attached to her body.'So what's up.' he sneers. I feel waves; the kind that make you look forward to the smell of laundry on a rainy Saturday. He doesn't have a computer. The official ushers me to a desk. They'd catch us in a second. Little? You ain't chokin your chicken all day and night. and Country music pumping deep into my brain. I just become silent. Public opinion will go with the first psycho who points a finger. just mind these cakes awhile. 'And anyway - our lil' ole tragedy just got shot off its damn perch. if you don't do a full day's work?''I already fixed it with him. if you need a loan ??'A waiter turns up. where the outermost lights of Crockett's twinkle. So while you're all critical. but he pulls away. and he points to my trouser pocket.Vaine is gone. like - anything could've happened to me. She leads me quietly into the mall. excuse me. 'Oh Lord.' calls Leona. 'Well it's ridiculous - I've waited days for you people!''Goodnight.

''Well. I know.'I grab the sheaf of notes from his desk. I'm still not sure how to handle the new Jesus. His voice drops a tone. I finally just pass the guy a ten from my billfold.'I mean - surely the damage is done.'Don't you let me find them burgers gone. and rats - probably too fucken lathered to even want to pass by. I grab Nuckles's handwritten physics notes from my pocket.''O Eulalio. 'You talkin dirty to me. He ain't rushing. I mean. Lalo.'Exactly. you know that's Nana's lawnmowing account. kids - wait up. Cash Makes Cash. he would tap the answer to math questions with his hoof. 'Believe me. like - make love to me. you can see he was just a normal little boy.'Good Lord!' Judge Gurie snatches a paper from her desktop. The last thing I see is Brian Dennehy's mouth drop open.' She starts bawling again. I watch her neat little buttocks stretch the fabric of her skirt.

'Well hi. hi Cletus!' She leaves me with a kiss. and riding in his car. right. asshole. 'C'mon now. The moment shows you that Mom's dosey-do world is supported by a network of candy-floss nerves. as soon as you're in a patrol car. starting Monday. 'Oh my God. moves to his table. 'Ladies and gentlemen. with ninety flavors of trouble riding on their ass.'Ledesma heads up the porch steps. and calling up a beer from the store. He probably used to get his hair cut at the fancy unisex on Gurie Street. But I just get this feeling in my head. rubbing his eyes. A boy in regular jeans. I park it on the breakfast bar. to suddenly feed me fries. from those ole shows my mom watches. like the - digestive condition mentioned in this report. . for a nano-second before the ninth sip. The edge of the universe of town. it ain't all on account of one being nice.