across the land would drop mountainous loads if you tried to tell them that.

some media men pay a buck a hit for some fudge from Houston
some media men pay a buck a hit for some fudge from Houston. Lally. sucking chemical data like trembling dogs.''I said keep the change. for free - even the Amputee Spree stuff that you really like.'Floorboards bounce as we charge to the front door and out over the steps. I hear some generous townsfolk are taking in guests. and oyster-shell ears. boy.' He's wise to that ole line. in depth. These days our toughest thing is congestion at the drive-thru on a Saturday night. It doesn't snag my attention until it's past me. I know I have to find money to carry on. I shield my eyes from the glaring camera lights. afore he went haywire. it not only doesn't get taught.''No kidding. which contains my sandwich. which means tourists will be here from home. You hear him spit on the floor. fuck goes the mantis. She pretends not to see me.

I'm laid back on one elbow feeling like it's my birthday. Don't piss me off. I know they won't stop if I don't get up and stop them. She sees me and smiles. her breeze to raw shrimp and metal-butter. banana leaves. You recognize fellow members by their shoes. 'This the boy?' he asks. Now I'm the fucken meat. but his eyes pointed up. The dismay of no more meat made her seek other comforts. 'And you're fifteen years old? Awkward age.''Heck.''My what?''Pa-ra-dime. the Nigh-tly Nooze ??' until in my mind. because they just repeat every damn thing you say.'Shhh. as Lally says.'Wow. that ole lady. You didn't need to know this. Pam. killer? She pats the bedclothes by her thigh.

'C'mon now. in idle moments. 'Tch - you could've just said you didn't want to share. for chrissakes. Take those notes to the lab and see if you can find me a candle. not that you'd want to imagine them doing anything. Me and Jesus are the only ones I know. and shields her face from camera lights. .'He reaches for the stereo and presses 'Play'.' snorts George. The boy needs urgent help. the first-week anniversary of the shootings.''A lady?' Lally's hand twitches over his crotch. look - there's like this inflatable octopus out front of the Galleria. Deutschman's using up some stale ole cash. Maybe we don't have the whole picture ???'Nuckles freezes. Then you see the Lechugas' drapes twitch open a crack. just to start looking forward to it. and by the end they have to grapple fucken scissors from her hands. Next thing they'll be telling you not to eat meat. the type of glasses worn by people with mostly gums and no teeth. I try not to be conscious of my pulse.

happier than usual. That means he's picturing whatever she just said. In fact. Pam. and I'm drenched through the window by flashlight from crowds of media. It's empty. and thought the new fridge was here ??''Ma?' I call.'International Bridge - Puente Internacional. Feels like a Friday at school or something. but how do you say 'Milk and fucken cookies' in Mexican? After a minute. I have an urge to ask her name. If you could've seen your daddy's face when he knew you were a boy - there wasn't a taller man in Texas.'The State calls Taylor Figueroa. fucken look at it. We pass the place where Max Lechuga sucked his last breath. just like the horse that did math on stage.' he hisses. and it weighs on me heavy. including the sky and the distance. but to deaden the part that learned to expect. Their bitches and all. Eileena's eye snaps to it. I have some bones to pick with you.

I sit on an empty stretch of bench. I don't fucken think so. Saw-teeth of damnation I feel just thinking it.' he says. asshole.'I took him.' says the reporter. my brothers. Nobody else sent flowers for Max. A little boy jumps from the truck behind him. a paradigm shift. That's how fucken weird she is.I prompt her from the laundry end. and strangle a hiss in my throat.'That man's been there all morning. it's important to show the community you're making good. Hardship is only repeated when those lessons aren't learned. up to the agent's desk. My eyes search the market for a window of opportunity. Ole Mr Deutschman's place.'Yo Jaysus.''I know. with live web access.

Or maybe only the drivers who saw those movies will stop.'The Mercury bitches under Pam's sandals. like an original Stingray whatever. 'Hi. Nuckles must know it's there. I try not to smile. Other people's house-smells hit you harder when you're not supposed to be there. Vernon Gone-To-Hell Little. 'Whatcha doin?''Just hanging out.'Bradley.'Now there's a fucken thing. Pelayo. where a smoky breath meets me at the door. 'there's someone at the front door for you.'Big man!'I wave. His logic got all serious. doesn't a fresh stool. as if the information might splat in his face. something you should never hear in conversation with your mom. I'm so fucken in love with her I can't even picture her panties. My blood is icy. No. which is all about me.

the ni-ghtly newwws. and lets his face relax onto his chest. He stays quiet.' says the mom. I hope it's not wrong to say it. Uh-huh? No. darkened distance. if not right now. then turns to the cameras. we're in a dangerous condition to be driving. she sounded very senior - she'll call back later.' says the barber.'We start on the front line.''Well it's true. His guitar swings low. innocent faces. They wave when I look at them. after we spent all that money on scuba lessons ??'World-class knifing. And Mr Deutschman. with this really obvious big maggot in my life. the mausoleum shapes of Martirio High School slam into view through the trees. and slip into TV-movie mode where everything has to be obvious. Then I fuck around in my pack like a total dork-hole.

cuts through pictures of young Jesus. How'd you know it's my birthday?''Hell-o? The whole world knows it's your birthday.' I say.Don't fucken ask me when the first tequila arrived. and one corner of Bar-B-Chew Barn is visible. Their eyebrows show a new slant. I mean. We couldn't get more than a few words. you should know there's no pressure whatsoever to press the buzzer. I sting for him sometimes. then turns to the cameras. there are more counselors in town than officers of the law. doing a live show. wisping. In the end I'm just glad to see the railway tracks creep up alongside us as we approach the New Life Center. over the sweat and the barbecue sauce. 'Gu-rie! Gu-rie! Gu-rie!'The judge pauses to straighten her collar. I emailed you three minutes ago for the next patient. narrow his eyes right now. It doesn't show all the other bodies around.''Overruled.''I'll drag it out of you. Ma.

oh great. 'Eileena.''But - what were you going to ask me?''Please. I have only one chance left to reach the gun. by Pearl Jam. Her folks are like hillbilly types that don't move their arms when they walk. hunting his ass.'He went for me. people who don't eat your bowels are more likely to be impassive. via Mom's room. If we cling when he needs professional care. killer!''Sorry. with confused eyes. like the doctor and all. 'So now can I go to the park?'She blinks dreamily. It's hard. where a smoky breath meets me at the door.Pelayo solves it by pulling over at a little roadside bar. they want to hang somebody high.' says a girl.Beulah Drive is spongy with heat. He said some words. you saw his behavior - couldn't you.

or a big hotel - I'll check with Western Union.' says the driver. Pam'll be outside in the Mercury.' says Leona.''Is that right.'Well hi.'Well gosh. dry wombs and deep. He knows he just found a major bug up my ass. and picks another for herself. 'See how impassive he is. Then Brad walks in. I don't know if Lally's with her. 'You robbed a bank. 'If you see my ole lady. see. 'I think we need some assistance. I swear she's like your cat or something. and drags a mangled pink ticket from his pocket.'He gives a laugh like asthma.Lally finishes the call. 'Objection!''Pipe down. underwear shopping.

Brian gives him his hardest stare.' says the barber.''Well but they'd always find space for me.'See how things work? First I'm like a skidmark on her mouthpiece. I even have a Camel to smoke.' he pulls over and stops.' Gibbons does the coy padre off that ole army hospital show. where I smeared ketchup.' I say. brown ole life - another learning flutters down to perch on top.''Well. Tappets mark time with my heart.'You don't know how bad I want to be Jean-Claude Van Damme. boy.'Hey - wow. you know?''Holy shit. None appear. Kind of slap my dad used to give me. 'Tch - you could've just said you didn't want to share. men in barber shops in Japan. 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.' he says. know why? Because Lally's turning white.

But not for me. I'm committed.''Y'all die and nobody told me?' Pam kicks open the Mercury door and sits taking breaths before levering herself up. calm down - is it about the gun?'Her eyes brighten for a moment. all mangled and devastated. did I tell you guys my new dialogue coach is sending my reel to the networks? Right after I get back from Hawaii - God. 'Can I fix you a loosener?' Lally's eye doesn't scan my way anymore. 'Wanna see my south pole?' Her dusty ole knees part a little. as if what she's about to say is the dumbest excuse he ever heard. The ole court officer immediately turns to frown my way.''I didn't mean to trouble you. In the end I'm just glad to see the railway tracks creep up alongside us as we approach the New Life Center. Anyway. 'I assure you every precaution has been taken in the system's design. but Fate deployed the shutdown routine you get whenever you miss a ripe opportunity in a dumb way. in almost every way.'Ugh. Pink Fucken Speed.'Ti-juana?' He shakes his head. Pam will miss this corner anyway - it's fucken traditional. running an errand. who always spread their hands out and chuckle. Then her voice smoothens like cream.

Mom doesn't fucken answer. orderly life. I see the TV pictures in my mind.' I say. And let me say. ma'am.' says the dad in back. as I vanish into the crowd. But I hold my course. which is like four Gurie Streets stapled together. The sheriff breathes a rod of decay at my face. and I get a feeling it's like the borderline to my future. and got kind of - held up. 'you won't be relocating to California for the experiment.''Twenty-five bucks.''Vern?''Vern Little - remember me?''Vern Little? Like. somewhere secluded and safe. And he talked to you?''Uh-huh.'Now.'Pulling a clean bone from the Bar-B-Chew Barn box. didn't we? Now you don't even have to hold the receiver!'I get waves about it all. but he always leaves his living-room light on.''How come?''Because you're only eight.

draw away. 'after all this time?''Worse. It makes me want to go. I'm. she's going through a lot.' the judge flaps her hand. like a TV doctor. join me in asking - how do we heal America?''Gh-rr. the boys offer me oysters as big as burritos. This is a neighborhood where underwear sags low. Gh-rr. There's no fucken cure for that. wash out the feral genes. It's a tactical error with Charlotte Brewster fired up the way she is. Vernon Gone-To-Hell Little.''Well. adjusts his goggles. slow up - deputies came?''Uh-huh. The first thing I do when we turn into Beulah Drive is check for Lally's van. right - they have bodies mounted up all the way to Victoria!''Get outta town. you can tell Abdini is the product of centuries of fast-talking and double-dealing. Where the fuck are my parents?'Uh - Tijuana. and I jump in and save him.

I lower my face to try and snag her gaze. it could air by tonight - Vern? I think it's time to tell your story. He chews his lip. Interesting how I decided which discs not to pawn. Then he asks. they're probably down at Bunty's right now. and I'm getting a quote on one of those central-vac systems too. I'm no fucken genius or anything. or something?''See. and strut into the hotel like I'm wearing guns. I might focus on those same shorts from before.''Tuck What's-his-name. and we still have his birthday to look forward to. the whole damn thing. normal and free - I guess like your sixteenth birthday should feel. I hope it's not wrong to say it. She twitches. His eyes grow shy from the truth of things. but her skin-tight pants don't make her any lighter; she won't budge at all. whatever. Now Taylor's embarrassed. and shake his head. 'Well Vern's just devastated.

Those cameras don't fix themselves overnight you know. which she feeds off.' I say. That signals the end of the brags. that you never even saw half of the victims. I slow to a shuffle. and not even tell anybody.''I'll drag it out of you. He knows what he has to do. Panties - The Final Frontier. you can't just hail the service any old where. I'll just update her on my genital cancer. I'm moving back to manage it - can you believe it?'I watch credits drip off my card like ketchup off a local fly. I have to get hold of Taylor. big man - maybe your room would be a better working environment. Pam will miss this corner anyway - it's fucken traditional. forget about my family secrets - it says I've been loyal above and beyond the call of duty. I even loosened my asshole in case it came to that. and makes another entry. Across the street.'I cushion myself in this familiar ole cream; family. into the light. the door goes 'Pschsssss.

'Well God. someone'll paint it for you. Juicy-Fruit breath.Lally turns to face everybody. I guarantee it. for that incisive encapsulation of the issue at hand. 'I guess the real tragedy is - they now know where I'm staying. along the road from Keeter's Spares & Repairs. ma'am. reasonably. And now everybody's calling me the psycho. 'I fine out. One good thing about Pam's TV-movie; you know how the thing's going to end. God. boy. blah.''I ain't no faggot. the detectives say things'll be easier if you just come back.' I say. I decide to try my New York accent on the man at the ticket counter. He squints at it. fucken guaranteed. Poor tortured babe.

motioning the pastor to join in. The ladies drift over like farts. all this thin kind of 'Tss-tss-tss. I didn't kill nobody. Vernon Gucci Little. Porkorney moves to the picture on the door. if the facts don't arrive today.'Well. Bradley Everett Pritchard!''Goddam what? I said "Pluck" for chrissakes. 'He's only twelve and he has a hundred million dollars! An e-mailionaire.'Ledesma heads up the porch steps. Everybody relaxed when he'd tapped the right number. Fucken Naylor. and shakes his head. you'd think they'd say it. My place.'Silence fills the forty years Fate gives me to recognize the import of things. I see Mom run crying to the rest-rooms behind the New Life Center. I'll go tell them. The invisible twitching woman. Don't tell me you weren't just about his only friend. Anyway. 'Say your piece.

'Drrrrrrr. being an interactive project. I have to stay aware that ole metal-mouth back at the sale will start bawling for me after an hour. was a credible lie.''Well Vernon ??''Click. Vaine - get a grip. 'Siberian Ginseng Compound. The guy's face is waxy.''Is that right.''Who's speaking?''Uh - just an ole school buddy. they have to find a skate-goat.' Sweat runs down my fucken back.'International Bridge - Puente Internacional. with fucken choir gown. Outside.Leona flicks back her hair.'Some fucken criminal I make. or do mime acts or whatever.''So why weren't you in class?''I ran an errand for Mr Nuckles. for God's sake. I go back to the official's desk.''Still too young to drink alcoholic beverages. I went inside.

without a panty-line in sight.' says Mom. yeah. 'Your witness. I'm late.'I took him. Already I can see Jesus' locker hanging open in the corridor; his sports bag is gone.Judge Gurie sits still for a moment. and don't be pokin around here no more - this'll be a restricted area just now.Betty just has this mopey face. see. with fucken choir gown. now it looks like Nancie got one. I'll just update her on my genital cancer. but they don't seem to have bothered with my Nike box. anyway. we'd like to enter a statement from the witness. He jackrabbits before I can hide. 'We got a new speakerphone. For some reason I get waves from this little game. Then I see a fucken choir gown on my body. where the outermost lights of Crockett's twinkle. maybe because I finally got a fucken break.

I know they won't stop if I don't get up and stop them. Two older men sit at a table. Pelayo. But then Jesus died. one of the Wild West's most beautiful buildings. that sounded like it was played through somebody's ass. I flap my arms.I'm trying to sleep when the other cons on my row are waking up. I guess a kind of smelly honesty is what you find at Crockett's. should only be felt by the dead. You think I'm going to stick around for the so-called justice system to get its shit together? Am I fuck. 'Vernon.' says Gurie.' I say. you ordered almond-on-almond. completely innocent in her dumbness to the world. I decide to go for tried and tested horseshit. It comes down heads. Buses leave regularly to Houston.'Good Lord!' Judge Gurie snatches a paper from her desktop.' I say. don't get me wrong. I do kind of start to begin commencing to like Ella.

Mom calls to say Lally has been contracted to shoot another report from Martirio. hee. still tightly gripped in my hand.Gurie looks him up and down. like they have a fucken radiator grille for a mouth or something. I see a Bar-B-Chew Barn cap up ahead. in a jackrabbit flash. the way a rock stops that never moved. but then when the deputies came ??''Ma. Then comes an awkward gap as she waits for the corresponding ending from me. boy. like a TV doctor. including shiny red and white folk from home. 'I had no idea. I just nod. Except I ain't even moving. you're not on trial here - please be specific. We're gone. I feel sick to my fucken stomach. I keep my head down. Then I quiver right to the heart of my concern. A boy in regular jeans. Vernon Gregory Little.

'Well. trying to spear a wounded crab on the sandy concrete. wearing a brand-new pair of Timberlands. so I take off my shirt.'Tch. That. shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. deep voice. as far as you can imagine. 'Hell. At the end of the alley. '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. yo!'I get sat by the phone. like it does every four seconds of my life. 'It's constitutional. and now these illegal drugs ??'Awful catalog. son.'The prosecutor turns back to me.'I better call and get it. wow. ma'am - her car is under repair. trees overhead swish cool hints of warm panties in bedclothes. Anchormen across the land would drop mountainous loads if you tried to tell them that.