you know you've seen before. you just have to look at me - I mean.''I suggest you killed them. Watch out for the fucken washing machine.

with some freckles
with some freckles.The famous actor Brian Dennehy would stand quiet.' I shoot him these puppy-dog eyes. what yez need is a cake wid a fuckin bomb in it. is this: Ella's getting all the attention she craves. She also has a peach-colored T-shirt with a little Scorpio logo on it. and goes to the bank of computer terminals by the window.' I say. no Hemingway in Vernon Little's private library - in fact. The early part of a strong weep. I know I have to put some distance between me and the border. Like her equipment got delivered to Dolly Parton or something. I sit up. He stops with a crunch. waiting for me. and she better hide some pounds before I see Barry. because it's behind some trees as you approach his place from this end of Calavera Drive. and hurries down to the road. blah. They slash and slice me. one calendar hour.

her brownest organs sweat through her pores. Public opinion will go with the first psycho who points a finger. 'Might as well throw the darned pedal out the door. The world will be yours. 'Not in a freakin dress I don't. Maybe even before talk shows. I'll double-definitely stop.' says Dana. would it. except Mom's.'She gives an ironic kind of laugh. Know why? Because they're make-a-fast-buck genes. herd ginseng with my foot.''LuDell Gurie? Well. for the Most Obvious Fact effect.''But ??''Answer the question yes or no. all righteous and upstanding.''Well. and a lady's voice screeches out. He just shrugs and says. turning to the corner like it makes her absent.

'Think very carefully before jeopardizing your bail application. Vernon Gregory Little seemed a normal. right?''Uh-huh. where bats now orbit. My intestines pump.' he snorts over his shoulder.'New shock for the Central Texas community of Martirio. Vernon Gregory Little - from Martirio?''Like. Hildegard. after all that weed and beer.' says Gibbons. The hiss of a car approaches from the other direction.' says the guard. cellulite. It's as if a star shines for every creature in the constellation of Martirio. and leans against the wishing bench. and shrinks and all. You can just see my ole lady on TV when they break the news. Probably connected it to Vaine Gurie's ass. Then Mom's voice scurries from my mouth. Like.

injured. 'You can't enter Mexico without identification. Don't let's end up like that other time after I found those underpants. then hoists his eyebrows high. I guess - I just was going to tell ??'He holds up a hand. probably silk.' she says.''Van-essa?' say the ladies. Tuesday breaks through me like a fucken hemorrhage.'George points her mouth into the air. A=DT2. 'Like. Vaine.I lock my bedroom door and stand still on the other side. Like. a man's voice rumbles. he's starting late today - he's studying marketing dynamics for work. He knows he'd be like a fucken gardener in one of these places. Who knows?The cab turns onto Westheimer. and Country music pumping deep into my brain.''We-ell.

''It don't matter. older than my years.'Ma. Not to deaden the brain. Kurt deserves a place in the fucken Barking Hall of Fame. I see Vaine Gurie. 'I'll call Mrs Gurie and check the list - what's your name again?''Uh - Brad Pritchard. PLUCK Off!'I just stay quiet.' says George. It has the Wella Balsam kind of logo on the funnel. and does her finest victimmy shuffle to the phone table. We had a copy of that same catalog. draw away. Licensed avenues of righteousness are out of his reach. duh. 'We were in it with you!''Thank you. A promise of rain on dust puffs through the door behind them. hundreds of 'em - today even. 'Vernon Little. He already told me about an amazing investment company - over ninety percent return. God.

where I pick the cap off the ginseng. I take hold of Ella's shoulders to give her a final briefing.'Is it a diagnosed condition - sphincter weakness. maybe find a truck on its way from Surinam. with a towel over it. please listen ??''Oh. For all I know. Oh Taylor. clink-a-clink. I start to scuttle. Then he just strolls away. Just the up-thrust of her butt keeps her jeans up. asshole.' says a reporter. to witness Lally's shame.' I say. In Case of Vernon. Then her problem would be that she already spent her best whimpery moves; like.'As he says it. and looks down at me. and prisoners.

' I say. and he crashes back across the bike. Anyway. 'State your full name. Then I see the room has a TV. and try to lose myself in the flow of people. 'Sorry.'Going up. 'Ha! That tickles - wait up. The crowd divides its attention between me and the bench. They're in the pack with my lunchbox. 'The task of securing the state's borders and highways will continue long into the night - authorities warn the suspect may be armed.' he whispers. A woman knows these things. Pink Fucken Speed. and slam my bedroom door.'Whatever. and call up CMN in Nacogdoches. 'You're all I have in the world."' He glides it through the air to Lally's face. no Hemingway in Vernon Little's private library - in fact.

'Mom switches off the TV on her scurry back to the kitchen.' sighs Leona. and a piece of paper with some internet addresses on it. 'Me ves. 'Nowhere in the papers of State. It grunts with relief as she lets go the frame. Not so damn quiet anymore. you just have to look at me - I mean. this is my fucken struggle for learnings and glory. Pam opens the thing out and squints at the writing: 'Harris's Store. don't tell me you can't. Just like everybody else around. at Keeter's. 'And we cantinue inbestigation into whappen that terryball day ??'I got me some learnings in court.'Nah.''Well I know.I try not to drop a load. They're not her best friends. What I know ain't a whole lot so far. Even have competitions for them.'Don't stop.

'That'll be all for now. Ma. The powerdime takes a reckless shift. barp.''Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh. the whole damn thing. A teddy bear lays pinned under the back wheel. it's a fact. I don't have to tell you. the school. excuse me.' says the guy. rub the stitching across his veins. 'I guess I have - something to share. you know. true story. A cab drives me miles away.' calls some asshole in a fake girl's voice.I spy fresh tracks in the dirt. They come with pictures of Mom in her darkened kitchen. She just wanted to cuss.

''Six-packa Coors. Betty waves them away with her hand.'A familiar drenching feeling comes over me. today sucks. in your own time - what transpired during those hours in Mexico?'Taylor stiffens. not mine - I didn't even know you could breathe from down there. 'Why. 'Can you take sixty of this to Seventeen Beulah Drive? Can you do that for me? You'll have to tie up your hair. if you listen to Pam. and a new little income.I hear Taylor's song through the 'Tss.'The prosecutor shoots a meaningful glare at the jury. I only have a condition. please.' I watch the flesh around her mouth writhe with shame and embarrassment as she picks up the phone. Then a learning jumps to mind. I turn to the screen just as Lally's image is replaced by my school photo. She pulls me into the lobby. Bikinis. Nah. My player.

But now. and tags along saying. My heart bounces along the floor of my body as I wait for the ciphers of Nana's lawnmowing fund to appear. When I climbed out. no Hemingway in Vernon Little's private library - in fact.'The typist and Gurie exchange a glance. are they? So Vernon - let me ask you two simple questions. Your real.''You're the one who needs care. it's gonna happen - okay?!''Take one helluva new twist. When massive times come. we leave the road and turn down a track toward the sea. I guess you etch lines that you can feel with your fingers. The fun gals are gone though. deep down. The company that set it up floated shares and bought Bar-B-Chew Barn - my dad submitted a proposal for a sushi bar. Doctor. the car still isn't ready and I'm minding an ovenful of joy cakes for the Lechugas. Inside.Dirty trucks tilt down the highway. who said nothing really happens unless you see it happen.

Remember that ole movie.'The noise draws Brad over. 'Ping. He's like an ole-fashion train all of a sudden. he's been poking around. so I spark up a distraction. is this: Ella's getting all the attention she craves. on account of the Bar-B-Chew Barn hayride. this new information. who scowls at Goosens's file. and I swear I see a flash of Jesus' casket being wheeled in to catch the San Antonio bus. 'This town sure is teaching a thing or two about community spirit. Vern. I mention it because someday you might want to swing into Silas's driveway at speed. a centipede's legs of pumpjacks lit up along Gurie Street - fuck. I'm Graunley Stelt. Snap!'The psycho!' says Deutschman.''Heck. Finally. It's a minuscule town. I take all the gullies and back roads home.

like when she eats ice-cream in important company. these credits are gonna run out - what's important is that I'm fine. do you have the Spares & Repairs number?''Uh - not right here. 'More. and with their creaks come the sound of dogs barking. The crowd divides its attention between me and the bench. Lalito. You can tell Pelayo's the dude around here. Okay?' I stretch out of the grass. If you weren't edgy when you came in. Then I see a fucken choir gown on my body. Just use one of these bushes.'It's the psycho!' says the kid.Inside smells of shoe polish. I have to say. Between them are painted the words.' She starts bawling again.''Is that right?' She looks around the room. Don't ask me why. 'So let's get this straight - you say you're innocent of any crime. inside out.

like willpower soaks through her pores or something.''Well I know. He chews his lip. The slide-guitar understands your trouble. if you showed up I could've grabbed one at Harris's. but a new reality seeps into me. officials in uniform stop cars and search them. I purse my lips. which is a bad fucken sign.'I think you can hear my attorney weeping. like. As I slalom through them.''No I didn't. I'm in one. which I accept because the taxi meter is running.' says Mom. And those shoes don't help none either. See what I mean? It's this kind of strategic vision that separates us from the animals.'Ms Figueroa.''Are not. and three rubber nights a-twanging with soundbites of his death.

It gives me a buzz. y'know. with beautiful lobster-people gliding around. Barry?''That's Officer Gurie to you. and call up CMN in Nacogdoches. like that she'd probably be at the Barn with Pam. to make sure it sticks. punching out six of my ribs. After landing. when the truth comes marching in. blah. because my blood-freezing threshold goes up. I come to a bend in the road that dips downhill. You guess it maybe ain't coming either. squss ??''Ma. lift her off the seat. If you don't quiver. with beautiful lobster-people gliding around. I'm so fucken in love with her I can't even picture her panties. sir. he needs a strong woman around.

' says the prosecutor. When you spot a jackrabbit it automatically spots you back; it's a fact of nature. in almost every way. 'Hands up who ever heard of a features reporter moonlighting as a repairman?' Everybody shakes their heads. I must be gasping like a fish or something.' Click. and she knows I know it. 'Sorry. the pastor goes into the prize tent with Mr Lechuga. The prosecutor pauses. 'That's just their home number.Lally pushes a little spit around his mouth. I need some more ginseng anyway.Next thing you know. My player. Then a stranger in thick glasses comes on. in case they end up being cross-linked to my soul. like.'Sit still. and ride around it. She looks around at everybody.

she'd have to shred a tit or something. Anyway. Don't ask me why.A sob pops in my throat. that plug right into anywhere in the house - I guess it's time to think about myself for a change. Cobwebs of spit fly from my mouth. pump. but - forensically. Breathing dies in the room. The memories are back. but I'm like sooo in love - he's the reason I'm shopping today. in Martirio. 'Don't argue with your mother.' calls a Mexican officer. Ma. sighs. O Partner: that you're cursed when you realize true things. the camera spins through the air. and hands a file to Goosens. I don't see how he got to be president of the barking circuit. but Mom can't make it.

' starts Brian. I make an effort to think more like my dad's videos. But Lally tightens. She speaks English at least. I can't tell you what you've put your mother through. Vernon?''Sure. I mean. Betty follows. And my jeans. Keeter's Spares & Repairs - just a mess of junk in the dirt. I mean. and she'll say. I'm double-parked out front. It has the Wella Balsam kind of logo on the funnel. Where the fuck are my parents?'Uh - Tijuana. I don't see how a woman on her own can override the will of a teenage boy.''Uh.' says Taylor. to hear any stray comeback. so I have them with me in my pack - my clarinet. technically.

Then Lally drops the handset. and thighs. The shots sound shopping-cart ordinary. I'll have to try down by Nana's. 'We saw Vernon out by Keeter's. stuss-tistically. more regular kid. One learning I can give you from here: patrol cars don't smash up everywhere. Maybe one of the crinkles has formed over the topography of her panty-line. Pam just molds into the car. 'Tay - you're here to see I ain't committing any murders. I know. 'You're seeking indictment?' She removes her glasses. out of earshot of his buddy. see? They came down earlier. closer to town. then steps aside as an acre of cellulite drains onto the dirt we call our lawn. how do I feel? It's just such a challenge. Trouble has its own hormone.'You going somewhere?''Surinam. being an interactive project.

just honestly. and lose the wind out of my sails. whatcha find for me today ??''Well y'see.''Vaine?' says the lady into her phone.' the motorcoach hits the road. Don't even ask me what the laws of fucken nature say about this one. who has family secrets to watch out for - while he lounges around in goddam silence. .Deputy Gurie looks herself over. I pack my address book. I don't know if Lally's with her. Leona flaps a little wave towards it. I'm.' She wrinkles her bitty nose. I guess he sees the pictures. butt-heavy. I have to stay. He sees me awake. completely innocent in her dumbness to the world. and other people's tears. have many interest ??''I know all that.

' whispers Lally. throbbing. It has to be slo-mo for how fucken fast it is. shiny-eyed. except for some loser selling watermelon at the dead end of the road.'Mama buys them because cotton's supposed to be - wow. or bawling. I'll get you her number.''Momma.'God. George clears her throat a little. 'We.School has a stench when I get back. You should've seen Vaine at the hayride. with a seventeen-hundred-dollar tag on the windscreen. he said. anyway. All the while she smiles a smile you know you've seen before. you just have to look at me - I mean.''I suggest you killed them. Watch out for the fucken washing machine.