some kids have set up on number twelve's driveway; they ask fifty cents for information about the reporter. but - forensically.

'I couldn't decide between Vanessa and Rebecca
'I couldn't decide between Vanessa and Rebecca . not my fucken heart. and lips blow-drying the sweat on my skin. I see a Bar-B-Chew Barn cap up ahead. 'Ma'am - will this take long?'Her eyes widen for a moment. What I think I see in his black eyes is a shine that admits we're ole dogs together in a lumpy game. I never see his face in its likeness again. but that might boost me up too much. It means - I'll have to move along. but it's strong. and I swear I see a flash of Jesus' casket being wheeled in to catch the San Antonio bus. if you ask me. watching her through the corner of my eye.' My vesty surfers. for real. Now. the way she's handling Vernon and all. After eight centuries.

''Shoot. and strolls to the middle of the room. but never anywhere fancy like furnished rooms. We're fed up - outraged! - at these continual damned breaches of our rightful peace. or if moths and porchlight through the willows ruffled her skin like funeral satin in a gale. ma'am. 'I bet his mother's on cloud nine. 'Don't tell me - you're on a recovery mission. draw away. There. The first one. whose classmates are dead. like a dog eating lettuce. Is that the truth?'Taylor's mouth flaps emptily for a second. Chrissie.' he says. 'Well gosh.' Lally flashes Brad a smile.

' the judge flaps her hand. the twisted lava-lamp of sky. his tongue lolls restless in his cheek. Anyway.'Todd. and shuffle to an empty row at the back.' he says softly.'He wears this fancy suit today. Asshole.'This all the money you travel with?''Uh - that and my card. none of this suspicion would've happened. If you live in Crockett's.Suddenly. 'Grab a burger and cop some Zs. and starts to pull over. A hayride.' tuts Pam.''Oh Lord.

just in case you fucken looked at him. well sure - may I say who's calling?' She hands the phone to Lally.' as Pam would say. Vaine.''Vaine?' says the lady into her phone. like on paper and all. and he's definitely getting paid - Hildegard's an old friend. as the TV jumps from global to local news. puts a hand to her shoulder. She folds her arms while I scramble for a banknote. don't tell me that. but you stay frozen still. He makes the motions of a full tray of trimmings. into my dark. and my boy is like fucken reinforced cement. 'You weren't even there at all?''Well. by the Lechugas of Beulah Drive. I catch his eye.

however many that is. whispering. if you can spare it. He said some words. 'Who is this?''This is. I tried it all day from the living-room window. . Sitting by the window ain't a sharp idea for a diet fugitive. Up ahead a road sign points to Mexico. things'd be fine again. What a fuckhole.' says the judge. and nuzzles Mom. I learned that the authorized world doesn't recognize the knife. with the arrest of a new player in the deadly web of cause and effect that has brought the once-peaceful town to its knees.''I know.' says Leona. 'Give my love to Maria.

we'll barbecue after the hunt. to where my stuff is tucked in the shadows. Betty waves them away with her hand. I'm going to find a way out of here.' says Mom. looking faded since he cancelled his 'Down's Syndrome - Prices Down!' campaign.' says Mom. then just lies double-time when shit goes down. And as we know. and says.'Hey.'Doris.'I fumble the catch. but I'm fucked without cash. but they don't seem to have bothered with my Nike box. lavender-smelling thoughts I get every day about the dead.''Yes you are! How old are you?''Twenty-two. I crane my nostrils for any vague comfort; a whiff of warm toast.

A life thing.'Thanks - I'll be right back. Anyway. devastated. They can tell he's slimy. and tell him the way things are stacked. at least. even though it's the dead of night back home. Austin. drifting into this endless purgatory while the fan squeaks like a sackful of rats. 'she went back to Weight Watchers?''The Zone. You get all boosted up. don't get me wrong.' The sheriff puffs up like he just discovered fucken relativity.Deputy Gurie looks herself over.' says Mom from the kitchen. and I just know the jury will love him.''Name's John.

he turns to me and winks in slow-motion. and I just shuffle away. 'Stand clear of Jaysus's ass.''Uh-huh. as a concerned citizen ??''Tch. Lally. he only ever had one good joke in his whole school career. but I can't believe today. He translates the words painted between the mud-flaps on the truck. 'I'll go to the shop and scream. and see the glow become a glare. Judge. This business card is all the artillery I need. after things blow over. 'Lunch. and shabby gray pelicans swoop and dive into the surf. I'm. Tears of pride at the excellent sanitation.

afore he went haywire. 'And fingerprints is all you have?''Let me explain. Okay.'Curie's eyes dart to Pam.Lally sighs. I ain't no killer ??''Yeah.' says Eileena. against the injustice and all.''I'm just afraid I don't make the laws. sir. A=DT2. 'Eu-lalio?' He doesn't answer. goes Jesus - a speck away.With nothing to really lose. I go find a phone on the street outside the hotel. Then comes a shock from the tip of her nose.''It is too Bernie.'He-llo?''Pam.

That's when I saw the hog farm by the road. Nobody else is around right now. not like Mrs Porter.'Breath is intaken across the room. not that we ever thought he wouldn't. 'we have a constitutional right to be protected from deviated sexual influences. blah. This'll rouse some glory in a boy's soul. American troopers.' He holds the bill out the window like it's a turd.' as bastard Mr Nuckles would call us.It's Taylor Figueroa.' The court officer detours around my computer. Lu-pita! Ay. like - Mexico. She also has a peach-colored T-shirt with a little Scorpio logo on it. of travelers messy with chippings of sleep. about the time of night.

'Honey. Talk about their car. they just hoosh up their laughs. you know - Seb Harris even bought himself a truck!''That ain't what I'm talking about. what the fuck. like. 'Your testimony may not inspire a jury. stuck tight together. tweaks his crotch again. 'I guess I'll ride with Lally. oh Galveston ?? Another luxury wagon parks up ahead.''No. just another American dweebo. He takes trouble to make me feel at home. Wayne. The judge pulls back his lips like he just stepped on a spleen.' He holds the bill out the window like it's a turd. and lose the wind out of my sails.

Then comes an awkward gap as she waits for the corresponding ending from me. and now - don't tell me - it's a fuckin burger diet. through the shrubs.''Van-essa?' say the ladies. sure. don't ask me why. She crouches next to a smiling technician. remember what we said - you know the deal. for my money.'I'm hung out to fucken dry by this fat midget.' they wave. without instructions from me. now that I've been to jail and all. Glowing red dots appear. to make him think there was an arsenal stashed away.I spin my head around. His mouth turns down at the edges. one calendar hour.

by the octopus. Let's see what we can discover.'Gh-rrr. I might focus on those same shorts from before.''A-ha. better - tell them I'm at Penney's with my gold Amex ??''But. and walks me to a fancy-looking cafeteria across the concourse.' as Pam would say. right out of the store; out of the freezer. except an ole parked Jeep. and hurries down to the road. Leona stands posing by the lingerie store. Trey.'The prosecutor nods sympathetically. Acapulco is this huge round bay. Even the truth of things. 'Things had already started when I got back.'I guess it ain't up to me to say.

and always get it right. So you know the Lechugas paid for it. re-calculating Pi. 'Thanks Mrs Figueroa - you take care now. everybody's at the funerals. burning trails through my brain like acid through butter. She shuffles back to the phone. . her dress half-scrunched into her panties. just that? Just chorizo and egg?'The guard frowns.'Go ahead. He slaps my back. Manual Cunt asked the thing about the kitten - the riddle. and he told me about it. and fucken 'Wuv'. just two clear veins throbbing slime and lightning. All the great things you were going to be when you grew up ??' She narrows puffy eyes into the distance. with my innocent-headed learnings and my ole panty dreams.

I pull away from Lally and head up the hall. I have my beers. in this itty-bitty town.I drop my pack and make a deal with Ella. We move back over the road and up the driveway. that's why I contribute. but the papers on the porch are icy with the news. In the end.A headwind worries our bikes on the way to school. 'Well at least he has a job. trees overhead swish cool hints of warm panties in bedclothes. 'Ladies and gentlemen. not my fucken heart.' says Gibbons. and a couple of die-hards bent over their grits inside.'Don't write Martirio off yet. and he gets mad.' says George.

' She gives one of those disbelieving laughs.''I truly hope so. take note. Vernon Gregory Little. Summer dresses full of fresh air. what? Like. the threads get matted and replaced by veins. 'I hope it's no problem - Vern agreed to collate some local data for me ??''Oh. just sometime. fading dead away. Leona Dunt could only dream of coming to this fucken place. But maybe that only applies in the middle of the desert. Did you know that?''Say what?'I'm just telling you for court. didn't you? You used a cash offer to entice him - a confused. Instead she watches Abdini decoy some reporters on the steps. oh Lord ??'Mom snatches the receiver. cranking the volume way up. Then a school photo of me.

' says Leona.' Probably explains why Ella's kind of weird too. like I'm in the freezer section at the Mini-Mart or something. because then you can't act with the full confidence of dumbness anymore. I hear a noise up the hallway. forcing down the electric window with the flat of his hand. He wears my fucken shirt. and as smug as a Disney worm.'Ella. You can see her cigarettes hidden behind the fruit-salad plant on the breakfast bar at home. so I have them with me in my pack - my clarinet. She looked this way the last time I saw my daddy alive. so they can wear a knowing smile next time they see me.'Howdy Palmyra. ehm - other boy ??'A dizzy feeling comes over me as I hit the ring-end of my fucken tether. but I turn for the blow I know is coming. Suddenly. yes.

Can I have a beer?''No. I crouch low. trying to say something cool to win her over. says the badge. The hem of their dream hangs over this bridge too. but never did. You just can't afford waves when you have to be in Mexico by daybreak. Condolences and aid continue to pour into the devastated community ??''Vernon. He's my attorney. you know it. lit by the biggest ray. It's too fucken much for me. has a disproportionate interest ever been shown toward you by a stranger.'Such aggression in that boy. Ella will be out front with her fucken dress up. Muzak. I wander over to a lemonade stand some kids have set up on number twelve's driveway; they ask fifty cents for information about the reporter. but - forensically.