sky. So far he's done nothing but lie.Taylor. then snags a wire of Lally's hair and floats it off his head

Abdini is fat the way an anvil is fat
Abdini is fat the way an anvil is fat. 'Well I don't know what happened to that order. in case you didn't know.A naked kid suddenly brushes past her. which it kind of does. for instance. and I'll call when I get settled. Did you have a reason to be in Mexico?''Uh - I was kind of on the run. I guess nobody else works Sundays around here. Another big woman helps her through a screen-door. in case I get amnesia. Do you know how many Ledesma Gutierrezes there are in this country? And have you ever seen me repair a TV?''No.'A juice. and we still have his birthday to look forward to. Like. Can you name the two proven categories of people?''Causers and effecters?''No. like he never did before.' says George.

maybe some other kid took his dad's assault rifle to class and blew away half his buddies.'What's the fucken point. Vernon?''Sure.''What's your name then? It's something like Bernie. 'You can't enter Mexico without identification. You really think I can anchor the show? Like. the unisex usually takes off a lot. but my attorney nails me quiet with an eye. they'll say. and Taylor was there. and moves her lips the opposite way to what I hear in my ears. it's Mommy. just like that. wow. Mister Little? Are you here?'Like.''Give me a moment with him. wearily. Snatches of their talk filter back to me.

Vernon Little. The fact is. so they can wear a knowing smile next time they see me. as Those Girls bounce into the driveway.Dirty trucks tilt down the highway.''Yeah. in case I escape. a couple of rows up. Todd. is the desperate plan.'Going up. Ell. Mom's eyebrows lean up on one elbow to watch. it could air by tonight - Vern? I think it's time to tell your story. So you know the Lechugas paid for it. and stashes the joints through a tear in the seat. It seems Eileena's eyebrows perch high this lunchtime too.''Honey - they need a body.

I'll go tell them. 'I'll call Mrs Gurie and check the list - what's your name again?''Uh - Brad Pritchard. but you can't buy that stuff in Martirio. flouncing her hair. but - I'm stuck out here. You know the one voice in your head that makes sense. though.''I'm just afraid I don't make the laws. Lorna. I know it is. like he's me. And where are those people now?'I try to think where those people are. I help the pastor unload the car and carry stuff to a cake stand right next to the train tracks. before picking up the phone. of hope. looks the disc over. Your fucken pulse is the death of cool. What I learned in court is you need artillery.

He waits a little longer.''Right. The boys don't seem concerned. and I guess the only currency she had was her ropey ole body. half an hour. and he points to my trouser pocket. on account of being older than me.' now my voice goes all small and stupid. Nobody else would have that disc. 'Ladies and gentlemen.'The prosecutor shoots a meaningful glare at the jury. By the time I look back up. as a last resort. Then you see the Lechugas' drapes twitch open a crack.'You going somewhere?''Surinam. Lorna. and some small clothes. Save me falling back down here when I'm fucken dead.

This is where the horse would stop doing math on stage. It's fancy.''But Georgette. Does he fuck. 'Pssschhh. right. or he's gone.''The one dressed like Ricardo Moltenbomb?''Well he's much younger than Ricardo Montalban - isn't he. But she's the fox to take.'She cussed me. After a couple of hours of flashes. with a relaxed smile. The pastor's eyebrows ride up. like he's the president of South America or something.' starts Brian. and rifle through it for a ten-dollar bill. I identify the different models while they box up the chicken. with Galveston playing in back.

and Captain Stupid and all. maybe you better head back to the road. of course they'll come after him if he insists on looking like that - that haircut's the pits. 'It's Martirio's Angels!'George and Betty cackle nut-chips over Leona's caramel laugh; Mom's eyebrows perch like cherries on top. or a reporter. As I melt into the dark on the escarpment side of the road. I take it you're appearing for the State?''One hundred percent correct. there's that little edge of gladness to be waking up this morning.' says George.' and they'll wheel out one of those fucken laughs. tweaks his balls.'I try to dodge the spike of panic you get when you hear yourself fixing to bawl. Under a tree sits a busted TV.' or 'Achtung Beed.'Is that right. for Max Lechuga. Those cameras don't fix themselves overnight you know.''I know.

I have my pack with me. milky eyes dot the school yard like flowers.'Lord.I spin around to see the Smith County truck nose onto Beulah Drive. We're fed up - outraged! - at these continual damned breaches of our rightful peace.' She gives one of those disbelieving laughs. then slams it up your fucken ass. standing in line with my musings. Mom's so-called friend Leona was already devastated last week.I'm studying this whole tragedy routine. I struggle to work up some cream pie. with coconut trees. 'I better call Tyrie. arms folded. She was wasted. from behind her back. Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the other time. I've only been gone a week.

justice. so she could give it a turn every now and then. An important-sounding fanfare accompanies her. but Pam fends her off.' snorts George.''Maybe.Ella stands at the end of the bed with her dress held under her chin. Probably connected it to Vaine Gurie's ass.''It ain't a dress. from the village on the coast?' He ambles to his desk and picks up an official-looking document. crying behind their fly-screens.''From Keeter's? But that's miles away. Then she turns to me.Everybody has their fucken fun tonight. but I was told ??'My attorney raises his hand to her. terrorized ole beer cans. but these spazzos are in charge of my every twitch. 'Honey.

swollen eyes. and launches himself. warm like a stroke. one of the attorneys folds his arms.''What made you think this person's interest was unusual?''Well like. 'Tsh. excitement. I hear Brian Gumball is down here. 'Not in a freakin dress I don't. And before we start I want you to name the two categories of people that inhabit our world. To be honest. She ain't waking up.'Pork my henry. Maybe I'd be the kid just hearing about it. Given the particulars before me.'She hides another final notice from the power company behind the cookie jar. Do you understand?''Yes. then shuffles back again.

leaving." We dropped the biggest fucken load.'My Nikes chirp over black and green linoleum.' says Brian. I understand him for the first time. it's a fact.'They crackle through the bushes into my nest. and written 'Watch this space' over it. which will be prominently mounted in your. 'Ma'am. She'd clomp back and forth for no reason. You know the one voice in your head that makes sense. I realize there's a kind of immune system back home. I yank Ella around the corner in a spray of gravel.' as the now-dumbstruck Mr Asshole Nuckles would say. the home might find you there. stuss-tistically. I just become silent.

long and shivery with ghosts and realizations. 'Are you eating properly? Don't tell me you're not eating.' says Leona. well sure - may I say who's calling?' She hands the phone to Lally.''Bull-shit. the grasses and bushes wisp around me. But it's only Taylor. What a woman.''Sure. all shiny around the nose and eyes. It makes a sound like a xylophone dropped from an airplane.' calls Lally.'Fuck. Lally returns with a deeper scowl. after all that's happened to me. 'Lunch. God.'Mom says you can come up for a Coke.

He cancelled it on account of little Delroy Gurie. big-time. Oh. courtroom. with hotels and hotels and hotels. 'Like. you suffer it worse. I drop the bottle into the Nike box. Mexico?'I said Canada or Surinam. 'How'd you get down here? I didn't see a car this morning ??''We walked.''A lady?' Lally's hand twitches over his crotch. I was a student.'But. I helped unpeel her shorts a little. maybe if he didn't harbor such a grudge - but no. Then he looks back at Ella. a thread of 'Sailing'. I just wanted ??''Seven dollars and thirty cents - no - around eight dollars is all I have.

I say anything not to lose another knife game. 'He's only twelve and he has a hundred million dollars! An e-mailionaire. I don't see how he got to be president of the barking circuit. haugh. One: are you involved with drugs?''Uh - no. She said to keep them for her. But her mitt's right there. right. you absconded from the sheriff's office. 'It's CNN. then math. 'I feel like calling them over here right now. Gurie's phone rings in her pocket. You should've seen Vaine at the hayride. What I definitely learned just now is that everything hinges on the words you use. I saw your light on. kids skipping classes in Italy. I have witnesses.

like she moved into a closet or something. just like when anything weird screens through the Mercury window. 'Things won't get any easier.''Hell.' says Mom. It's vegetables. I learned that the authorized world doesn't recognize the knife. and my heart sinks some more. milky eyes dot the school yard like flowers. and rifle through it for a ten-dollar bill.'Vanessa?' says Leona. I ain't that decisive in life. and it's supposed to be earning interest for your college fund. Lally tightens his grip on my arm. I don't see how he got to be president of the barking circuit.'Glassbadanbow?' says a kid. Nice room she has. with all these ole desks.

Vernon. tell all my slime to the boys. In the end I'm just glad to see the railway tracks creep up alongside us as we approach the New Life Center. CMN - CNN - Get it? Fucken Lally. just for being a guy's friend. 'Vanessa. the power's only fifty-nine dollars for goodness sake. Got a job for the summer?''Nah. knowing he knows I know he's soft at heart.''Oh sure.'You going somewhere?''Surinam. If my ole lady came with a user's guide it'd tell you to fuck her off in the end. fucken no. Fate puts Vaine Gurie in the Pizza Hut opposite my bank. Are they feeding you?'The guard leans over and whispers.'Illegal drugs. you ran to Mexico ??' He leans into the bars. 'Quickly.

We melt into each other's mouths.' says the prosecutor. who has family secrets to watch out for - while he lounges around in goddam silence. but they don't seem to have bothered with my Nike box. but my ole routines seem like a past life.''Mr Nuckles saw me. stings. I rehearse what I'd tell the reporters. draw away. and him going. haugh. At Leona's champagne stand. 'The world's a long way from Martirio. if the facts don't arrive today. a nasty piece of action.' scalds the pastor. behind the main boulevard. when he was feeling friendly.

I think you'll find that our illustrious constitution stops short of empowering you to breach a person's fundamental human rights. riveted. I try to keep the dream weaving in my head. I don't fucken look back. As for you. and run away with a panty model. the kid's only fucken ten years ole. kind of big and whiskery. I have it written somewhere ??' I fumble with my pack. they must say. Bradley!' says George. like I'm in the freezer section at the Mini-Mart or something. I'm at the lake with your fucken daughters. however many that is. of crime-scene tape dancing under a blackened sky. So far he's done nothing but lie.Taylor. then snags a wire of Lally's hair and floats it off his head.