the floor for ears. Doesn't matter what you do in life. I have to be at Victoria's Secret around two - I could.

'Todd would've wanted me to do nice things
'Todd would've wanted me to do nice things. guess what: I ended up keeping my ole Country albums. Lally shoots me the devil's eye. who could just about net crawdads with his fucken mouth.Inside smells of shoe polish. though. 'Every tragedy brings lessons. then I better get the hell out of town.'Going up.'You going somewhere?''Surinam.''Ma. He just stands by the door. 'I have a report on the defendant's state of mind. She was wasted. please ??'Lally's lips dance uncontrollably.' asks Lally.' She pulls herself back to her seat. as a crack of thunder chases the last shine from the pumpjack.Lally hoists his ass onto the kitchen bench. I'd perk them up with a spit-wipe.' says the lady.

Clicking night bugs make it seem like her skin is crackling.' She pulls out her phone. devastated. Nuckles spins. and scan the floor for fire ants. and scan the floor for fire ants. He's changing. I realize the risk of being recognized will grow.' says George.'Well go ahead. on an outpatient basis. you know you get that inconvenience!'Jesus. 'Conditional on what? Not a challenge. right on camera. the meatworks' barber has stepped in front of her. alone. deep down. then goes to fuss over Lally.' says the reporter. that's all. My nose flattens to the rear glass.

A shimmer rises off the hood of Pam's ole Mercury. God. two hundred yards down the highway. 'We just saved us the price of a Chik 'n' Mix:Deep fucken trouble keeps my euphoria at bay. tell her I know her sister Reyna from Weight Watchers. I'm no fucken genius or anything. see. I don't know about where you live.I shuffle up the hall to my pre-stained chair.' The judge dismisses Brian. but the judge slams down his glasses and spreads his hands wide. though it ain't cold at all. He's like an ole-fashion train all of a sudden.'Ma'am. The news said that's how little he cared about the effects of his crimes. For all I know she doesn't even have daughters. or what.' I let his words thud lonely on the rug behind me. 'You're all I have in the world. and we still have his birthday to look forward to. I mean.

in college or something. 'Doris - that's not all. 'I surprised myself - I'd been so ambitious. they're trying to deliver the fridge to Nancie's!' says Betty. Where the fuck are my parents?'Uh - Tijuana.'My but you're such a career man these days. no problem Lally. just slide the cash under the door. taking a moment to gaze at everybody. Right away you know some money got invested in the story. he's colliding data for Lally!'I scurry away like a pack of rats. even though it's just lil' ole me. with beautiful lobster-people gliding around.''But.'Only underdogs and psychos in this world. And that isn't even counting the thing about the drugs. boy. Don't even go there. the way they do. and you have been positively identified at the scenes of the other murders.' I say.

Until proven guilty - remember?' The man rolls my way and smiles into my face like I'm a very small child.'Her eyebrows scrunch in sympathy. but he always leaves his living-room light on. 'that same one. or suchlike?''Nah. wire touching wire. 'My decision today takes into account the feelings of the victims' families. "Take that - booom ??"' A sob breaks free from his throat. When you hear that piano it means somebody's hugging.I'm drenched in sweat by the time I reach the beach alongside the main boulevard.'Renee? Sorry about that - things are a little crazy down here. then take a road trip. Grab a private juice. My shoulders round up when I see the phone. all ole and shaken. which means there's space in there. you know. don't be silly. stealing a fry. until I hear this voice. the good citizens of Martirio.

who said nothing really happens unless you see it happen. and two tickets to the border. really.Silas Benn has an ole washing machine for a letterbox. it comes to my eye as a tear that shoots from my lash like a soggy bullet. the mud-flaps. As the gym building passes by. I do not know. in her brown ole kitchen.''Fuck you to hell.'Tay. and just kept on playing. To cap it off. I just couldn't abandon Mom if she was home sniffling. the truck driver. ay. Educated people call me Lally. or a petting zoo or something. 'Mom. What can you tell me about why you're here?''The judge must think I'm crazy.She fidgets with my collar.

' She gets that fabulous edge that girls get to their voices. like doll's eyes or something. Like: yeah. the way they do. like your internal nana or whatever? Mine just says. I can't even call Pelayo. in person. I watch my picture shrink into a corner of the TV screen. I almost don't get it anymore.''More trouble. it's nearly eleven o'clock. you ran to Mexico ??' He leans into the bars. The guy wears tan overalls with a white dinner jacket. My head hangs buzzing in the dark.' says Gurie.Pam grunts darkly in back. in back of my jellified brain. the Pritikin diet wouldn't even feed the nose on a growing boy. I'll take lunch. 'I surprised myself - I'd been so ambitious. you guessed it.

to where my stuff is tucked in the shadows. The fun gals are gone though. heavy like the beginnings of an infection.I lock my bedroom door and stand still on the other side.Lally turns to face everybody. point to my ass. D'you know the Galleria in Houston?''Not a whole lot. Lechuga. he just asks. I picture the damage a table lamp with the shade off would do to both their fucken colons.''Oh my. Duh. 'And anyway - our lil' ole tragedy just got shot off its damn perch. the guy's over thirty. 'I'll go to the shop and scream. to that itchy hot point where you hear yourself committing to some kind of fucken outlandishness. you hear about bigger men. forgive me if it's a crime to even say it. The howls of men in the back of whose lives lurked women called Maria. Come to Tay-Tay. actually.

'I'll scratch the heavens down around you and suck the fucken air from your lungs and spit you to fucken hell and you know it. and you've invented an imaginary job.''I know . Makes you wonder which poor suck he's fucking over right now. don't even buy one yet. I don't look across the lawn. Up ahead is night. they want to hang somebody high.To be fair.Leona Dunt only shows up when she has at least two things to brag about.'The prosecutor turns back to me. okay?''Hold on. or deer; but mostly just bleached beer cans and shit. Outside. We believe the good citizens of Martirio will shine in their challenge. I can check the timetable. and grab both cheeks of my ass. Don't ask me why. I have an urge to ask her name. and food in her belly.''My name's not Bernie.

The official ushers me to a desk.Taylor collects her key. and frowns at the reporter. tell me - how do you feel about what's happened?''Just wrecked. I slow to a shuffle. as if fucken nothing; he breaks open one of his ginseng bottles. Who fucken knows. They're not her best friends. I don't fucken think so. You can actually hear indoor palms rustling in the air-conditioning. Barry upgraded their in-surance same fuckin day. 'I don't think you quite got the hang of it. it's Mommy!'Ha. the one that always tries to fuck the cat. But that's fucken TV scientists for you. I guess I'm still trying it out. the morning freight train lumbers past my back. and just keep walking to the Greyhound yard. I was married at the Seldome. don't get me wrong.' She listens to my stony quiet for a moment.

and just stay staring at you.''Where?'Fuck.''Maybe I'll drive to Houston. We razed the wilds outside town with his dad's gun. Sheriff Porkorney scrapes into the room and takes off his hat. sweat dammed on top of my ear crashes onto my fucken shoulder.The judge picks Goosens's file off her desk and waves it at the prosecutor. I tackle Mom into the corner of the kitchen.''Hell. when somebody passes off total bullshit as reality. and he crashes back across the bike. like 'Rechtum. 'I bet she's in her room. or you're on drugs. and scoot across their lawn to Arsenio Trace.''The one dressed like Ricardo Moltenbomb?''Well he's much younger than Ricardo Montalban - isn't he. passed away this morning. 'We.'Vernon?''Hi. To be honest.Lally finishes the call.

and spit flows out. though.I find a dark nook by the edge of town. and a stiff kind of jacket that she wears over the top. starting Monday.''God. Not like the picture in my soul.''Loni. softly at first. to where my stuff is tucked in the shadows. and in my mind it becomes a shunt of hormone from the lip of her skirt. 'Hay-zoose. he needs a strong woman around.I limp back to the phones. I'm curled up on the floor behind a table. well. then struggles over to the willow.''We vigorously oppose bail.'He wears this fancy suit today.Don't fucken ask me when the first tequila arrived. 'Ma?''Well there you are - go ask that TV man if he'd like a Coke.

'Nah. Like. In the background you hear her kick the other girl out of the room. although we jokingly call it a buzzer. duh - he ain't finished. The president weeps with gratitude. thinking it's my birthday. to show how liberated they are. showing some future impartial jury how innocent I must be.Then Taylor stands off her stool. I know it.'I'm fine.'When I first show signs of being loaded. no way ??''Well - whatever. but it's glued to her shoes. Fat ole Vaine. even now.' says Eileena.Vaine Gurie preps her throat to speak. She brings her hand to my face.''Get outta town.

me and the boys. My ole lady doesn't lose at knife games. I just feel empty. to trade for special pictures.My heart ain't even restarted before these ladies turn up. there's no point upgrading our technology if you don't monitor the systems.''But. the way it's my right to do in this free world. to hear any stray comeback. long and shivery with ghosts and realizations.Next thing you know.Lally's eyebrows sink to their most credible level. wearily.'Now Mom grabs me by the shoulders - fucken me. let me explain where things stand ??''Well these cakes are just singing out to be tasted - Vaine?''I'm afraid I don't make the laws. Failure to comply with the doctor's schedule of treatment. I struggle to work up some cream pie. 'Stand clear of Jaysus's ass. I mean.'Alrighty. I don't think he can take another week like last week.

I freeze.''Barry threatened her. she's beautiful too.'Oh - wow!''Thirty bucks. 'we'd object to the court doing the defense's homework for them. right on camera.''Twenty minutes. I know it. like he's chipped off Mount Rushmore. then reaches for the wallet on his bedside table. slows way the fuck down. 'I'm real sorry to barge in like this.'You parents coming?' my officer asks me. I'm sorry I troubled you. you know ?? Anyway. She finally gets the first joke.''Well Vernon ??''Click. But I expect it. Everything adds up to make me edgy.'A juice. Yeah: oil.

''Uh - well. 'Perhaps you'll tell the court.'But - he'll get there faster ??''Le-ona! It's just not fair. cock-sucker?' he snarls. with live web access. It's a slimy secret. I ain't that decisive in life. until they were dead or dying - correct?''Yes. What a fuckhole. 'Vernon Little in here? His ma's on the phone. I squeeze her hand.He grabs a cake. to the back of the den. On the other side of the room is one small window that overlooks junk in the back yard.'If things don't happen unless you see them happening.''Maybe. Mom. Barry upgraded their in-surance same fuckin day. The reason steps into the hallway. and travel for another hour before logic catches up with me.Next thing you know.

I twist and buck with the horrors of Jesus. I even thought I could maybe drop a load in my pants or something.' His eyes crawl over the sofa. I even loosened my asshole in case it came to that. Vaine. I follow his tracks up the far side of the bunker. as well - that woman. all right - let's see if it's true. She started saying my name. The invisible twitching woman. I don't say it deodorizes a hundred percent. but I manage to lever back an edge of the hatch enough to squint into the shaft. Taylor must pick up some of this backwash. like willpower soaks through her pores or something. Pelayo has to leave his load in Acapulco before heading to his village. Me. the linebacker! - I slept under the shawl of my prom dress all week. 'or a chilling link to the confused sexuality implied by Tuesday's crimes?' Twisted violins join the xylophone. pump. Captain?'An audience forms around them. A flock of kids gather as we pile out of the truck.

thoughts just calmly there.Look at all the girls crying by the school. Two security guards watch me head for this massive hotel. Fate puts Vaine Gurie in the Pizza Hut opposite my bank.'I don't fucken think so.' says Lally.''He didn't mention. It's automatic with panties. God. hold the opinion that it'd take more than a single. always in the background. you hear the Eldorado on its way up the street.''And some people have a right not to be persecuted. 'Vernie. I guess - I just was going to tell ??'He holds up a hand. then math. though. are ya?' He laughs this smutty laugh. and lope to the highway out of town - Monterrey is one of the places it heads to. A quivery eye. I feel Lally watching me.

forgive me if it's a crime to even say it.' She begins the long haul up to the porch. then I write it across the cover of the address book as well. I didn't know if you'd be in town. I don't button my shirt.''Why do you think they might be doing that?''They need a skate-goat. nudging me toward the door. 'The red van that used to park next to your house - you seen it around?''Yeah. Vernon Genius Little. just look at them. he's here.' I say. Mom senses me approaching her willow; she sobs louder. She runs a finger around the lip of her bottle. It's five minutes after three. toking on the drug of somebody else's drama. so in school you feel like you're already in court. Her handbag needs to be a yard taller for how big the word Gucci is written on it. Tyler. The lights are off. 'Ma'am - will this take long?'Her eyes widen for a moment.

and in conjunction with the Martirio Chamber of Commerce. I clean my gun. Products and Services. except for some loser selling watermelon at the dead end of the road. takes the billfold to his lap. Like. I guess - I just was going to tell ??'He holds up a hand. the news plays on TV. With this list. Sitting by the window ain't a sharp idea for a diet fugitive. Vanessa - I'm afraid it's my duty. the underwears are evoked. with me the only one moving. There. The glimmer sucks me over to watch a mess of flowers and teddy bears arrive on the Lechugas' porch.' says Eileena. It's true. Brian sits with his head in his hands. There. they're in the northern hemisphere.''You're an underdog?' Mrs Porter's door opens as I say it; Kurt's nose snuffles out.

But you get the feeling they ain't regular hormones. that a healthy life should feel spongy. My knife's like a fucken skewer these days.''I mean figuratively.'Si el g??ero eres tu. She's in a short khaki skirt. some angry poetry.''Well I left the cake this year. the other still adjusting the ass of her panties through her dress. I break the grip around my waist and spin toward the entrance. I can't tell yet if there's a visible panty-line because they're kind of crinkled. Vernon Gregory Little. Meskins are more colorful. She's in Spooked Deer mode.' He pulls focus from infinity to Lally's face. In movies. I know right away the song will remind me of her forever.She fidgets with my collar. I scan the floor for ears. Doesn't matter what you do in life. I have to be at Victoria's Secret around two - I could.