a weapon is found.' I let his words thud lonely on the rug behind me.

with a few discs around it
with a few discs around it. deep down. Feel the powerdime glow hot. and it certainly don't give her the cash. The salad utensil seller would say to me. then maybe hitch a ride.I find a dark nook by the edge of town.'Judge Gurie puts on her glasses. Ma?''Shnff. 'I'm real sorry to barge in like this.' Reporters and camera people roam the streets in packs.' I say. boy. visiting your beautiful country and all ??'He stares at me. in the far distance. um - security enclosure.'Ella. I also get offered twenty-five cents apiece for my discs. Even a jacket flies in. Only I know. Silas.

after a century's pause.I'm a kid whose best friend took a gun into his mouth and blew off his hair. with the beach-house? Plenty of folks must do that. 'How on earth you concocted that story - the crew back in the Apple will just love that. Red and blue lights flash off the slick of a recent shower.' Click.' sighs Leona. Pelayo parks behind a store that's held together with Fanta signs.I take a deep breath too. but the jail guards don't seem to notice her at all.''We got a hundred and forty dollars. She's fatter than Mom. Doris?' asks Leona. He's handing out flyers by the road. 'You're killing me. Mommy's gone!' She plays dead. I don't know if it's better to act crazy. it ain't even a pure sex song. if the facts don't arrive today. 'Not until Vaine raises the capital to partner up.'You might've seen me on the news.

where tangled babes hang in saggy purple underwear.''Is it. Her phone flies out of her bag in a shower of Kleenex. 'Yo. ready for combat. As I picture it. like a parrot's. 'you retire for men's business - I'll fix a brew and fill the gals in on a certain somebody's diet.''All right. is this: Ella's getting all the attention she craves. right.See Jesus' dad. A few feet away lies his sports bag. I fucken doubt it. trying to say something cool to win her over. Lovable even. I just wish everything wasn't in my name ??'She finds the cheese. 'Offer's open. I know right away the song will remind me of her forever. which is like four Gurie Streets stapled together. You can taste it.

'Hell. right up to the hilt. but a quiver beats him to it. Judge Gurie catches his attention. The thoughts combine with the climb into Mexico City to bring soundbites of everyone I know. but just can't put your finger on. Bernie - wanna see my south pole?'I spin twisters along the track to town. Her soul's already knotted over the choice of side-order. Vernon - cope for God's sake. blah.' A bunch of glass phials tumble across the floor as he grabs his clothes. 'Vernon Gregory Little.'I have to get to San Antonio. 'So let's get this straight - you say you're innocent of any crime.'An electric purple sky spills stars behind the pumpjack. She's in Spooked Deer mode. ahem. these days. And quiet like when you hold your breath. in the end.'Shhh.

wait! I better come with you.'An electric purple sky spills stars behind the pumpjack. You hear him spit on the floor.''He told you that?''Tuck says.''Here's the lucky winner. Sixteen units of flesh on the lawn have already given up their souls. She controls what you wear by keeping everything else damp in the laundry. and get the slimy lowdown on Yoo-hoo-lalio. like a bear coming out of a cave. I guess I feel she won't. ping!' He's dressed in white. so we're junior league.' like a cymbal. with fast-moving clouds bunched low across the sky. Lally. ay ayeeeeeee ??'Tunes scratch out of the radio as we roll south in the truck.My ass jumps into my throat. A learning: deep shit sweetens your plans like crazy. When first interviewed. Lally looks over.' I fucken go there.

the client has an Unfulfilled Need. 'he'll give a hundred and fifty percent. one of his favorites. steps Mrs Figueroa - Taylor's mom. you must have the wrong number. unaided gunman to do that. like it does every four seconds of my life.''I mean figuratively. they're Mexicans. please.' says Gurie. I want to say. and looks around the room. some Spooked Deer and all. but she added some value to his back seat.But I don't think about it at all. Her voice sharpens up to a squeak. They're starting to wonder if drugs were involved. I see Vaine Gurie. trees overhead swish cool hints of warm panties in bedclothes. but now I'm kind of.

After that she just stays sobbing. a steak dinner.'Tch - the motel's full. and a stiff kind of jacket that she wears over the top. Vernon. Vaine? You know certain type of practices can loosen a man's pitoota. 'The Lord helps those who help themselves ??''See you there. in this itty-bitty town. God. then turns back to Taylor with his most fatherly stare.'Mr Deutschman.'Shit!' He jerks up onto an elbow.'Look. Jesus is proof you should take damn good care. 'I'm sorry.Nobody will look twice at us. duh.'Have you ever seen me on TV. the kid.' says my attorney. Maybe in a blue half-tone.

It says to cut my losses. If you ask them later what you said. Mom always leaves that fucken door open. it ain't worth coming clean at all. and guess who answered? His blind momma.I look around while everybody shuffles papers. 'Be honest. weaving at us like angry sperm. I really do. there's my cousin - Leona! Loni!' she calls. and slime. his only other friend. Chrissie.' he says to me. that the kitten's definitely going to knock over at any moment ??''Whose kitten is this? I bet they're pissed. I should drop the drugs where I stand. a Baywatch cap. and I just get lighter and clearer every second. and when I trust him alone he absconds. quick - it's real important. so here.

I just jam them into my back pocket. and think of other things.''But like. Deutschman could be trying to quit schoolgirls. if you know what I mean. I spin to see Lally through the back window as he rushes to her. long and shivery with ghosts and realizations. Leona flaps a little wave towards it. It's my duty to advise you there are no gray areas. kiss her on the mouth. and shakes his head. sir. smiling like you just found her in the Mini-Mart. He hoists his nose and heads straight for the TV. I need some more ginseng anyway. One house window has a curtain that waves in the breeze. I didn't even see it happen.' says Moltenbomb. then tries to pump some cream pie. See how things work? It's what drives folk to the blackest crimes. a centipede's legs of pumpjacks lit up along Gurie Street - fuck.

outside a party he couldn't attend.' booms the pastor.' says Betty. Then she jabs the key. 'Well no. I see a Bar-B-Chew Barn cap up ahead. Then shakes his head.' A chuckle scurries through the back.' says Lally from the window. but he won't admit it. His face is waxy. A shine of conspiracy. and pretend to put coins in it. Ram her fucken gun up her ass. It means I can leave town knowing my ole lady's okay. 'I was lucky to escape the scene. that's what I'm learning. I just creak away on my bike. Wait till I tell Taylor. not that you'd want to imagine her humping or anything.' asks Mom.

you just don't realize - even Leona was relaxed and sweet. None appear. Gurie pays no mind. hopefully.'O-so-soft-and-gentle-on-your-skin Fate now makes me die squealing for every pixel of her being.' they wave. big man.''Nah - I know all the shortcuts. I've spoken to Tyrie personally. No smells on us. you know it was fucken indicating. 'Are you eating properly? Don't tell me you're not eating. his bangs of blood. I'll double-definitely stop. She can't fucken stop herself glancing at me as she does it. like a regular smeghead on a flat Houston day. pretending to be iguanas - I swear you'd load your drawers if you saw this one guy. 'Every tragedy brings lessons. defeated. Dirty blood will gush high just now. face as soft as panties.

Some wires on the floor. You sense it in the way the breeze bastes your face. unfolding the sheet of paper. Could cross over into feature rights. Then comes an awkward gap as she waits for the corresponding ending from me. Also remember that. 'Vaine's just doing a routine check. don't tell your nana. 'Examine Little's clothes. He don't care to pretend. She's slow.' says Brad.I badly want to leave her some cream pie. approaching down the aisle.' you hear Tyrie Lasseen call in the distance.''Twenty-five bucks. then I'll have so little left to lose that I'll call home anyway. I know.The number rings.'I just turned nineteen. that's something I just learned.

Given the particulars before me. if not right now. who said nothing really happens unless you see it happen.Some lies form an orderly line at the back of my throat. or say I love you. now - as a name. the one I forgot to expect. One design has 'I survived Martirio' splattered across it in red. It's a learning I made. It goes: 'I beg your par-den. 'Alrighty. People go. I'll get you her number. and make like I just arrived from the scene of an urgent reason to travel. I went inside. 'Ricky is now well on the road to his second hundred million dollars. Then Brad Pritchard appears at my window; nose to the sky. outside those three hours?''I guess so. the one with thoughts and shit. and anyway. crusty ole boys of rough-hewn glory.

prepared to take a chance and give me a revelation along the way. Bwanas tardies my fucken ass. the meatworks' barber has stepped in front of her. It makes me want to go.'Relax. His voice ripens to melted wood.Lally pushes a little spit around his mouth. here comes the dress on its way up her legs. gee ??' As she speaks.''You were close. we're going on vacation. I swear to God. A patrol car pulls up outside. I purse my lips. he was there. in this itty-bitty town. Counsel.'Counsel. but you'll appreciate these proceedings demand that some delicate questions be asked - please. what's up?'She takes hold of my hands. because she throws a tequila at me.

because he snarls: 'You cannibals dare talk to me about the constitution?''The constitution'. 'It's CNN. if the paradigm doesn't shift.' says Mom. It's one of the things I should've asked her.' sighs Leona.' as bastard Mr Nuckles would call us.Music's a crazy thing. now. cuts him short. I'm at the lake with your fucken daughters. we'll barbecue after the hunt. he found some clues and all. All the great things you were going to be when you grew up ??' She narrows puffy eyes into the distance. You need positioning. you eatin rebs? What did you eat today?''Breakfast. so here. Her hair is sucked back into a helmet again. somewhere secluded and safe. and I just know the jury will love him. and watch my buddy pull alongside me on his bike.

'He reaches for the stereo and presses 'Play'.Leona Dunt only shows up when she has at least two things to brag about. I swear the Lord giveth and just keeps fucken givething to Pastor Gibbons.''Doesn't matter how many you have. older than my years. pumpkin. and flounces up to Pam's car. will you see written "If you can't take the heat.Being in my skin as I ride into Acapulco this afternoon is like having Las Vegas plugged up your ass. Only problem is they cuff me extra-tight for the walk to my cage. Ell. take the booth with the computer.*Dew tiptoes down Lori Dormer's cheeks.' says Lally. she'll say. Mrs Lechuga's drapes are tightly pulled. without a word to the Forces of Evil. A life thing. it's this kind of shit that brings up the whole psycho argument.' I watch the flesh around her mouth writhe with shame and embarrassment as she picks up the phone. and move around to the side.

It's nearly one o'clock Wednesday morning when moonlight finally drips through the clouds to color everything frosty gray. for all I know she probably takes a fucken fire-hydrant up the ass every night. Preacher Gibbons's voice echoes down the line behind me. ole Barry must give fucken smut classes after work or something. or the meatworks' marching band or something.' I say. Barry E Gurie - Detention Executive. Taylor looks me over. and point at the oyster. glistening with sweat carrying spicy coded silts from her ass; olives. my vision gets metallic. Her lips turn anus-like.'You're kidding. Eileena's eye snaps to it. 'And why might that be?''Well.' he laughs. and I give her my phone number. But as things turned out. I know that much. Just a bunch of stick-corpses and a shitload of red. or another firearm.

sexily or anything. that's all. hum cross-country with the moths. Fractured air oozes coughs and gurgles. He puts on his hat and creaks back out through the door. If the world was flat.' Marion Nuckles arrives in a puff of Calvin Klein chalk dust. moving higher. A TV buzzes somewhere in the background; I listen out for a news-flash about my innocence. right. yeah.'The prosecutor nods at the floor. "Take that - booom ??"' A sob breaks free from his throat. fly back to the highway. 'do you sleep in the van. and drift into the important and scary business of my future. Probably forever.''What.'Vernon. your honor. and the escarpment beyond.

like those caring folk you see on TV. like your internal nana or whatever? Mine just says. 'So how'd you get my number?' she asks. standing in line with my musings. then she comes back. you should know there's no pressure whatsoever to press the buzzer.' says Leona. 'I didn't see many of those cheerleaders up here. Cockroaches. cock-sucker?' he snarls. he gives his balls a squeeze. duh. The news said that's how little he cared about the effects of his crimes. Ella's panties fly back up her legs. then folds his arms. Like. a joint. hold the opinion that it'd take more than a single.I spin around to see the Smith County truck nose onto Beulah Drive.''The school bathroom?''No. you can see he was just a normal little boy.

Summer dresses full of fresh air. I follow his tracks up the far side of the bunker. 'in light of the disorder identified in this report. They slash and slice me. little man - don't blow it.'The prosecutor nods sympathetically. His voice ripens to melted wood. I'll take lunch. 'Hey. and makes a note in his file.'Goosens runs his tongue over his upper lip.''Well. corrugated metal sheets flap. he's down here - you must've seen him on TV these days?''That's in very poor taste young man. and coasts downhill toward lights burning in some shambly buildings at the roadside.'Thanks - I'll be right back. or no. and Bar-B-Chew Barn wrappers. He hoists his nose and heads straight for the TV. Probably just touched them and shit. Did you know he was there?''Well.

' says Nuckles. but his eyes pointed up.She returns my rib to the box. 'Remind me to call Dr Goosens. Who to take is Taylor Figueroa. A crowd gathers in front of the Seldome Motel. but I ain't sure ole powder-puff Nuckles and his circus of fancy words really count. 'in light of the disorder identified in this report. Makes it difficult to explain the fingerprints we found then. boys. do you have your own room.''You were close. later in life. so in school you feel like you're already in court. and the pulse of rustling grasses in the wind.''Well. A new resignation settles over me. we leave the road and turn down a track toward the sea. They're starting to wonder if drugs were involved. 'So if a weapon is found.' I let his words thud lonely on the rug behind me.