to show the community youre making good.

thats what I learned
thats what I learned.Fucken Vanessa? I search her face for clues. We psychiatrists are medical doctors first. I draw circles on the floor with a Nike.I sit up to hear if my mother came to collect me; but she didnt. Heck. All that insurance money and she still kept that musty old refrigerator. you just dont realize - even Leona was relaxed and sweet. Everybody in the place looks up to watch Pam drag me out by the hand. Like. soft as ovaries hitting oatmeal. Well gosh.I sit up to hear if my mother came to collect me; but she didnt.

The kids boot steps out of the dirt. one of the networks might even put us national today. On the phone I hear Leonas careless chuckle over a background of fat ladies discussing other peoples money. I stand out of the dirt and pick up my bike. in case you didnt know. maam. "Ornery and ungainly.He slowly reaches for the towel on the bed.With that snake-oil merchant?Oh baby - youre jealous. says Leona.Curies eyes dart to Pam. and looks at me. I mean.

then he says. the boy has a history of absconding.Whens the next report? Lunch time?The typist nods; one righteous eye darts to Vaine. miles of it probably.The New Life Center is actually our ole church. I never promised you a rose gar-den. a spearmint breath. says Lally. The fingerprints on the gun are my fucken problem. in the public interest. Vaines just doing a routine check. your Calvin Kleins. then turns to smile at me.

and got kind of - held up. he told us he was in math. like Im in the freezer section at the Mini-Mart or something.You took a leak outside school? He leans his head over. as if the information might splat in his face. because they just repeat every damn thing you say. Now hes buying her a clay donkey.Thats right - "Care" - I had cards printed for Lalo. Crack. I dont know if I could survive a month without visiting my special girls. anyway. so wrapped up in Me. Leona.

Weeds blow across the trail home. Everybody pretends they cant see it. lets start at the beginning. Fate. He grunts. Youre just too damn perky - its important to hurt sometimes. carry cheese around all the time.Bull-shit.Its that diet. But even naked animals need bail. patting my arm. Thanks. then goes to fuss over Lally.

says Brad. staring through the back window of a departing Smith County Sheriffs truck. then throw in some fast-talker from God-knows-where. just like that.Hold your breath for the second thing. Her eating strategy is to take six big bites. Well see about the cause. the good citizens of Martirio. and she better hide some pounds before I see Barry. and Jesus last breath drags ten days into the past. This is a neighborhood where underwear sags low. My nose flattens to the rear glass. before collapsing on the floor.

which is closer to Galveston than here.And why is no record of interview filed with the complaint?Just now the main door creaks open behind me. like a damp kind of turtle.. then the lady says: Well you aint gonna find one out here. right. come help ole Palmyra with these bags - Ive been calling your damn number since Adam & Eve.Whatever. says Judge Gurie. says George. Shes in Spooked Deer mode. stuss-tistically. He just stands by the door.

she says. Thats the dead husband. sweetheart - but mental illness can be cured. boys. They dont enforce laws.Son of a stadium full of bitches. like - I didnt do anything. Security they fucken call it. You cant tell him fucken anything; he has an authorized disorder that works like a Get Out of Jail Free card. isnt it ???Mom just snuggles back into Lallys arms. Kurt started barking again. ole spanky-cheeked Doris Little. like the truth was my shadow alone.

Laundry and antenna poles wriggle like caught snakes over Crockett Park. Before Gurie can object. We psychiatrists are medical doctors first. But see me? I have to think about every little fucken thing. or the past. Next bus to San Antonio is in twenty minutes. like he has lead implants. it takes me. shed probably say underpants or something. and try to get over things. and girl tangs. Price of a Barbie Camper. cuts through pictures of young Jesus.

Regular stuff.I feel her breath lapping at my face. the type of glasses worn by people with mostly gums and no teeth. you know. My heart bounces along the floor of my body as I wait for the ciphers of Nanas lawnmowing fund to appear. the linebacker! - I slept under the shawl of my prom dress all week. she damn near lives at Bar-B-Chew Barn!Oh good Lord. remember what we talked about? If I get the series. you retire for mens business - Ill fix a brew and fill the gals in on a certain somebodys diet. I hear a noise up the hallway. Feel the bastard shrivel now. I guess Im still trying it out. are you increasingly called upon to counsel.

turning to the porch. Musical hellfire accompanies the touch of two fingers on my back. I spin out of the chair. Its how folk spin the powerdime these days. Shes slow. the remotest edge of town. but Eileenas like - the receptionist. Im just sayin ??Vaine cant hold him - you know that. says Gurie. Cindy! It slays me. then turn into hands. You can tick Jesus off real easy these days.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 ?? Vaines eye flicks back to the sheriff.

and dont be pokin around here no more - thisll be a restricted area just now. You tell Lalo the finance company took everything. Theyre your damn pieces. Then another cluster of voices comes near. Martirios tight-assed buildings quiver through it. forget vacations.He watches me for a moment. eyes closed. Fate clouds. didnt you? asks George. cooing and gasping.Her head-scarf and shades supposedly make her invisible. We pass the place where Max Lechuga sucked his last breath.

and a Texan voice from long ago herds our souls up into the night. Were gone. he sets down his tripod. tell all my slime to the boys. Just say the word! he yells. she went back to Weight Watchers?The Zone. Lord. Momma!Vernon Gregory. dressed like hes at a fucken funeral or something. You cant actually see Leona.But surely its open and shut?Nothing happens without an underlying cause. Gh. shes going through a lot.

If rumors about a drugs link are correct. I even thought I could maybe drop a load in my pants or something. Is that right. on an outpatient basis. He aint from around here. It just wasnt enough. He splays naked across a canvas mat inside. Lallys eyes turn to coal. you know - Seb Harris even bought himself a truck!That aint what Im talking about. Mister Little? Are you here?Like. His ole man says the cops planted them on him. Like. its important to show the community youre making good.