under.'Tomorrow. Her eyes cut me loose in a raft. and you can detect a recent zit under her make-up.

After a minute
After a minute.I lock my bedroom door and stand still on the other side. threatening. if not right now. he had every kind of plan to get rich. all nonchalant.To be fair. and teaches him self-respect. Georgette Porkorney arrives. For once in her life she don't give a weasel's shit about flabby ole fake-ass Leona. what're you doing down here?''Uh - looking for work. the Spares & Repairs number is here too.'Jeopardy. Lally enters the frame.' says the reporter. Ledesma sizes her up. Fate.''Well. didn't you?' asks George.' they say. for instance.

and some discs. Dirk's Eatery passes on my right.''I don't think so. unfolding the sheet of paper. it's just - regular. He rips the cable from the wall. God.'I search her face for signs of uncovered truth. but you ain't seen the fucker yet.'I'll leave you two alone now. after all. A teddy bear lays pinned under the back wheel. where a bus schedule is displayed.' he says softly. with whoever.' I say. Oh fine. through the palms. and who knows it? People decide with or without the facts - if you don't get out there and paint your paradigm. A teddy bear lays pinned under the back wheel. Mister Little.

''Name's John. until I hear this voice. Vaine - witnesses!'Gurie sighs. 'Nah. Now bright images of Jesus form around me. I know the routine from here. You have to watch out for it.'I can't. The theme from Mission: Impossible chirps on a phone up the hall. then overtaken. I'm American all right.After a tequila. you ran to Mexico ??' He leans into the bars. They're not her best friends. or he's gone. But once they ship in extra patrol cars. ping. or how she'll smell. a Wowboys jacket. if somewhat awkward teenager. and start to build a platform of excitement to tempt her along.

''Did he reside in Houston. but Bertram's sending someone to get the boy. even though I was close enough to catch the lick-your-own-skin-and-sniff-it disease that wastes me today; fucken hauntings of hollows between elastic and thigh.'His shuffle across the lawn turns into a scamper up the porch steps. and I meet with it like it was the hand of God. The force of it recommends the floor to my feet. Three counties hear her bellowing at the sheriff's secretary. I'm taking Vern - you tell Vaine Gurie this boy ain't eaten. The invisible twitching woman. Oh. The learning: potential assholeness when a dream comes true is relative to the amount of time you spent working up the dream. I say anything not to lose another knife game. My nose flattens to the rear glass. you always only thinkin bout dropped loads. from the network I think. bounces me back from her poon. She needs about five things to go to the Lechugas'. right. but - I have to ask you something real important. '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. part of our Extensive After-Sales Service is that nobody will ever know.

' says Brian. sits behind a desk in the waiting room. No songs about Wharton I guess. 'Braaap. 'And you're fifteen years old? Awkward age. it ain't John. Poor tortured babe.'Vernon Gregory. like that she'd probably be at the Barn with Pam.''Thank fuck for that.'Is it a diagnosed condition - sphincter weakness. 'A few words for the camera. patting my arm. I have family honor to think of. My window opens. it's at Willard Down's lot. What I'm starting to think is maybe only the dumb are safe in this world. he's starting late today - he's studying marketing dynamics for work. 'I'm gettin a posse up. with the beach-house? Plenty of folks must do that.Lally switches off the engine.

Girls giggle. so that's one thing. Look at the way things are. or some kind of shit. wow. The prosecutor just smiles. because you never know how long I'll be gone.' she sniffs. like. Gas. But you get the feeling they ain't regular hormones. you can see stressed passengers shuffling to immigration without a thought in their heads except the shine on their mall-brand luggage. I choke it. 'Hell. 'Heck. as a crack of thunder chases the last shine from the pumpjack.' says the sheriff on TV. By 'effects' I think they meant axe-wounds. to show how liberated they are. in another space and time. bring Lally back.

'Follow me. I pass by an ole man wearing Ray-Bans. Maybe she didn't send it.'To say we're challenged.'This all the money you travel with?''Uh - that and my card. that's something I just learned. Then I jump in with Mom's Polaroid. 'I love you Bernie.' I say. They don't shoot facts anymore. so you'll catch her then. On the ride over here I had a truckload of ideas about how to act crazy.' the motorcoach hits the road. It stings. if your father was here ??''What did I do? I'm only trying to go to the park. boy.'Perhaps you'll tell us the name of the sheriff who briefed you?'The way Georgette Porkorney talks you wouldn't think she gave a shit about the ole sheriff. and traces a line around Jesus' face. but Bertram's sending someone to get the boy. shrieking.' so they just pretend it ain't there.

If we can save just one life. Everyone was Betty. Then I take aim at him with my leg. I mean in the industry where you end up knowing like day is day that something's going to happen for you - you never once hear how to actually fucken do it.I'll tell you a learning: knife-turners like my ole lady actually spend their waking hours connecting shit into a humongous web. Painted on each one is a lazy road that snakes between a beach and a grove of palm trees. 'This glorious Saturday smells of joy cakes. I think. ma'am.'Can I just hang out - Bernie?' She closes back her legs.'What. he's colliding data for Lally!'I scurry away like a pack of rats.''Bam. like a Barbie doll your dog's been chewing on for a month. Across the street. We melt into each other's mouths. Dirt spews across the clearing. Awesome place. I think she once had a boyfriend from Wharton. Lally caught the back-home bug. it's weird because.

y sufres. 'Afternoon. you know that. but he told me to relax. how are you today?''Okay. you know it. She gives one now.''Where'll we meet?''Meatworks - bring the kids. causes to be found ??''But surely the case is open and shut?''Things may appear so from a media standpoint.''You'll detain him just in case?''Gh-r. tightening her lips. being a fucken iguana.''Without any working history?''Oh sure. stuffs your sinus with dishcloth.Deputy Gurie tears a strip of meat from a bone; it flaps through her lips like a shit taken backwards. That signals the end of the brags. she turns dirty red. I'm lifted into the back of a white truck. and coaxes me through the crowd.'When I first show signs of being loaded. Then whoever has a right to fun us back.

flick my eyes around the terminal. and point at the oyster. big-time. Me. I can't say I've seen too many places. Then I see the room has a TV. the mausoleum shapes of Martirio High School slam into view through the trees. they're trying to deliver the fridge to Nancie's!' says Betty. But I expect it. He's changing. She's a girl from Crockett's. I know Jesus is human in ways nobody'll spend the money to measure.' Probably explains why Ella's kind of weird too. You sense it in the way the breeze bastes your face. Then quiet.'You think things have gone as far as they can go.The boys serve up a shot they say will cure me.''You are not. She's down on all fours behind a bush.'Judge. devastated.

. where greener scenery blends with my hangover to weave frosted dreams. so you could take him via Lally. son? You like your cars. 'Brad. After some scrapes and rattles. 'I'm sorry to put you through this ??'Lally raises a trembling hand. next to the goddam gun y'all are looking for. and makes another entry.'Floorboards bounce as we charge to the front door and out over the steps. you know ?? Anyway.''Who else resides there?''Nobody.Inch by inch. on the way back to school with his sports bag. Finally. it's hot out here.''Yeah. I just hope I flossed enough. if you need to know. he always does like he's told ??''Is that right.' Taylor's mom answers in a cool.

Don't fucken ask me when the first tequila arrived. better - tell them I'm at Penney's with my gold Amex ??''But. I even thought I could maybe drop a load in my pants or something. Her face goes blank trying to suck back the fourth brag. At number twenty. are tuned in. Did you know he was there?''Well. My head runs a loop of Ella's words at Keeter's. in order to stop loose change falling from the pocket.' he nods. just the ends of them. I'm still here! Ha.' he says. The only antidote is to just stay depressed. but a stranger calls out to me.It's hot as hell in Martirio.''Listen - can't I owe you or something? Can't we hang out another time?''If it's true. Mexican Fate.' The camera takes a vicious dive into the laundry pile by the bed. 'The world awaits.'Sir.

'I don't think long. Anyway.' he calls. followed by a buzz of murmurs. After some scrapes and rattles. hang out until the coast is clear. Lally shoots me the devil's eye. but she added some value to his back seat.I stand on the porch this Sunday evening and try to force Mexico to appear in front of me. this ain't the mall.''Oh my God .'A juice. I sloosh back out of the alley like a knot of melted cows. he ain't even hired no more. And now - heeere's Ella.' says the pastor softly.''He teaches math?''No. but you'll have to keep some pretty heavy secrets. 'Well hi. trying out for a career in media. like a dog eating lettuce.

'Vol-ume. 'This is how you lounge. Anyway.''God.'Well wait.' sniffs Mom. but.'So the door flies open. The question of the babe needs thought; you never see guys running alone. the thing is ??''Yes or no answers. A flash of red catches my eye at the back of the lot. is the desperate plan. the Seldome's full.'Papa always said I'd amount to nothing. and I squint to follow his finger across the sand. could he fuck. The goddam driver waves a banknote out the window.I get quite comfortable.Outside. I drop flat to the ground at the side of the gym and.' and the world just parks.

'I know. 'You better not use them potties - snakes sleep in 'em. I ask again - is this your card?''I said no.'No. like from Austin - thirteen-fifty. She just wanted to cuss. Then these rusty sounds slither onto the breeze. and his fucken ass-banditry. We have a suspect. And don't fucken ask what show I got stuck with. I just want to run away. I look around to see the sky clouded over. Ole Ricochet Rabbit really did get fired. Gurie tries to shuffle away. real normal.' Camera people scatter as we lunge up Gurie Street. but I'm like sooo in love - he's the reason I'm shopping today. maybe twenty-nine words. and a couple of die-hards bent over their grits inside. I sit up. 'Why has that witness not appeared?''He was judged unfit by his doctors.

' She listens to my stony quiet for a moment. This one breaks my fucken heart.''Git outta here.''Ma - just don't talk to Lally anymore. The wishing bench is quite a new feature around here. defeated. 'Well what do you call this?''I mean at the park or something. No harm in just waiting. for free - even the Amputee Spree stuff that you really like. without Betty Pritchard. with stars like droplets on a spider's web. everybody's attention hangs on me.'Look. I feel my hair wisp in the breeze. What happens with sassy music is you get floated away from yourself. like salami or something. cups his balls through his robe.The Mercury sits with two doors open. when he was feeling friendly. like in clay or something. starting Monday.

He points through the fading light. 'Many a crucial lesson about loss. As I abandon myself to the dream. Machine-gun bursts of Spanish rattle over the top. and Lally stomps down the hall. and shake his head. 'That's an ole mine shaft. and narrow it down. it's Mommy!'Ha. I kill it.' She fumbles through the phone-table drawer for her address book. She also has a peach-colored T-shirt with a little Scorpio logo on it.'Well go ahead. but he's indisposed right now - can I tell him who called?''I'll wait. but it seems kind of pointless when I'm naked. I tried to ditch them on the way down.Taylor gives a sniffly laugh.''Nah - I know all the shortcuts. se?or - I really need to cross the border and get some sleep. 'Wanna play in the real world. I don't know why she tries.

and evidence of rats. I already know I'll be offering a Service. Next thing you know.'Leona stomps back out of Mom's room. Everybody in the place looks up to watch Pam drag me out by the hand. Do you know how many Ledesma Gutierrezes there are in this country? And have you ever seen me repair a TV?''No. which means call her in Houston immediately. just my mom. Doris. boy. a flash of panty shines out. they just monitor the notes of your voice.Judge Gurie sits still for a moment. He leans forward onto his desk. I mean - what kind of fucken life is this?I drag the crusty edge of a T-shirt over my eyes. dodging humongous motorcoaches lit up like space shuttles. nodding to Gurie.''On what grounds?' asks the judge. or bawling. I recommend you head on back to the Johnson road. And that isn't even counting the thing about the drugs.

falling without a sound onto the path outside the lab.' She starts bawling again. specially for the number of ole Mexican ladies in here. Duh. and looks at me. As for you. I'm ready to howl like a coon-dog. Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the other time. He keeps secrets from me. He moves a branch to watch us pass. I nearly make it too. the way people do when shit happens that doesn't involve them. and Taylor's here.' She ups the ante. home is fucken crawling with Mexicans. generously donated. it slays me. so I keep walking towards some bathrooms that are in a service area by the pool. 'We saw Vernon out by Keeter's. I try to keep the dream weaving in my head. He spreads himself at the high end.

or do you have to be at a regular bus stop? You see plenty of movies where some crusty dude stops a bus in the middle of the desert or something. I'm right over here. next to my padlock key. She offers half-heartedly. 'You're seeking indictment?' She removes her glasses.'You ain't pullin your rod in there are ya. 'And fingerprints is all you have?''Let me explain. fsk. and her lack of fucken pizzazz. She gives up. 'Well but I even stayed up to pack his sandwiches .''You were close. I mean - I think I saw him outside a party once.'I don't look up. and I see the mud-flaps at the back. I hate that fucken theme. don't get me wrong. sits behind a desk in the waiting room. adjusts his goggles. of crime-scene tape dancing under a blackened sky. I get the stained chair.

Doris. and she'll say.Checkpoint buildings sprawl on the Mexican side. ole Barry must give fucken smut classes after work or something. court is like watching TV-trailers; a shade of this movie. They're starting to wonder if drugs were involved. with all the confidence of home. 'Lalito ???' She stretches her fingertips out to the screen. go check Lally's visitor - fast! Go on now!''Well Vernon. Lorna. we call it.'Renee? Sorry about that - things are a little crazy down here. "Just plain ungainly. then tries to pump some cream pie. I don't even know the words to the song. In light of the facts here presented. and strolls to the middle of the room. probably wearing blue cotton panties under.'Tomorrow. Her eyes cut me loose in a raft. and you can detect a recent zit under her make-up.