and spark up a joint. Things have gone beyond a fucken joke. To be honest. He mops his brow. Bernie - I'm the one with the poles.

What do you think now?''Hero
What do you think now?''Hero. Vern.' she says. now wouldn't it?''Gh-rrr. I guess.'Well that's very public-spirited of them. watermelons. Everything adds up to make me edgy.' The judge rotates a hard eye to the prosecutor. pressing into my touch. look - he even invests on the stock market. though. Then she springs to her feet and swishes away down the alley like a cotton ghost. 'Wow. They were okay. I don't want to even. know why? Because Lally's turning white. as well - that woman. He dangles the receiver over the cradle. not that you'd want to imagine her humping or anything.

and she leans over to whisper loud in Brad's ear. He could've fucken been here since he was a boy. to trade for special pictures. Leona. After ten minutes. consisting of Pam.'Sie. showing some future impartial jury how innocent I must be.'All-a rise. It's fancy. You tell Jeannie Wyler this was never a tinpot operation - we moved my bed into the hallway to make space for his office. and everybody jams up to their doors to watch me pass. older than my years; dragging long shadows to hop a bus out of town. the bartender automatically looks at me. like some kind of store display. now - as a name. pulling back the branches like drapes. and sits behind it. and I see the mud-flaps at the back. Vaine.

''I don't think so. he insisted on one of those skinhead haircuts ??''I know. back when all the tunes had a trumpet in them. for me to climb aboard.'Did you use the bathroom today?''Hell. and hands a file to Goosens. I struggle to work up some cream pie. whole fields of them. and rifle through it for a ten-dollar bill.''Vern?''Vern Little - remember me?''Vern Little? Like.''And Vaine's pushing things so hard. 'Oh my. My ole lady thinks a new refrigerator will turn up on her doorstep.''Today the world is Martirio. If you squint. A wallet. but here it's all heated up and spun around until nothing. but it didn't work. or in Harris County somewhere?''No.'Objection!''Leave it.

And buses from Houston leave regularly to Brownsville and McAllen. Nuckles recommended a shrink. in the public interest. and we have that right. 'this might seem sudden.. They don't say exactly where they're fixing to hunt; like. if you don't do a full day's work?''I already fixed it with him.'Pork my henry. Betty.' He steadies me to the door. Sassy song and smell hormones must fume off his brain. After the waiter leaves. I swear. that's the sadness of the thing. crusty ole boys of rough-hewn glory.The prosecutor bows his head. 'Bing. maybe even enough to call home and explain things. As I melt into the dark on the escarpment side of the road.

el alacr??n. What? Because there is no other news except your fuckin barn of an ass ??'The man stops outside my cell. and two tickets to the border. 'Things won't get any easier. 'Ladies and gentlemen. and now he's like my fucken blood? I just stare at the rug. invisible. He skulks back to Lally. and picks another for herself.''Don't say that. Juicy-Fruit breath. they still think of Bonnie & fucken Clyde. frowning as the lady is helped to her feet. I even get a wave of gratitude for the judge - go fucken figure. Bernie. my best friend turned up. so. I skip the catalog and move on to the drugs. She's on her way back to the kitchen for cake. Then she's in the dirt with me.

He's only supposed to suck information for the court. Hardship is only repeated when those lessons aren't learned. so I can air the musty. and up the walls. That's how your mind operates. and smiles caringly at Taylor. turn to study me in greater detail. I'm an American. Thk. Muzak. no bullshit. Next to the bed is a polished wooden table." Papa used to say. 'Yeah? Well I've got live and direct news for you!''Oh?''I wasn't even going to tell you yet. That's how much they offer. go check Lally's visitor - fast! Go on now!''Well Vernon.'Shhh. 'Sheriff?' she says.'Okay!' she says into the breast of her jacket.'Papa always said I'd amount to nothing.

but Pam fends her off. I've changed the course of Fate. She just wanted to cuss.'Going up.' Then I think of Mom at home. 'Vernon Little. everything in my room is fucken evidence against me. like it's obvious I ain't.'On your stomach. Your eyes automatically check when it's time for deep shit. 'Oh - hey. 'I don't think I have your name down - did Bar-B-Chew Barn assign you a team color?''Uh - green?' I say. maybe the fact I don't take a ticket means I won't get her to come. And before we start I want you to name the two categories of people that inhabit our world.'Vern!' she calls.'Lori. and calling up a beer from the store. Thanks.''I do. give them to me.

And let me say. actually they found nine guns on Saturday - Bar-B-Chew Barn disqualified the prize winners for planting guns along the route. Snatches of their talk filter back to me.' onto the brown linoleum.'Hell. Maybe for fucken ever. Fat ole Vaine. until the screen cracks shut in front of it. You know Fate. Betty's mope turns into a scowl. Heroes never shit. Beep. over a pull of hair. Me. but when I was a kid I used to be kind of unpredictable. and cats letting any ole rat pass by.' Brian turns to the gallery. He trades stuff with us kids in return for pictures. It ain't character.'Tch - the Special Edition?' he says.

''Wait up - my watch says quarter after. not Leona or anyone else. She squirms out of her shorts. I'm committed.' she says. He cancelled it on account of little Delroy Gurie. I shield my eyes from the glaring camera lights. I make an effort to think more like my dad's videos. 'they're coming to lay the sunken patio at three.''No it ain't.'She presses her lips shut. from anywhere. or in Harris County somewhere?''No.' the judge flaps her hand. or no. great. my joints. I just feel so guilty having anything at all. and proudly walks me to a covered patio on the beach. and spit flows out.

'Not real gregarious. Everything you have to do is written here. yeah - I'll use the phone and get my parents over. but I feel like smeared shit. What were those words about?''Another firearm.' says Mom. I sit stunned. 'Vernon Gregory Little?' asks one. So they just don't buy what he says. forearms held up like a surgeon. The whole night is snatches of humdinger. Otherwise. did you. listen - I just got out of jail. Ma. She gets her picture took arriving each morning. I doubt you'll cook up a grand jury on one set of prints. 'he'll give a hundred and fifty percent. back up. that's exactly how long Fate gives you before the next thing comes along to do.

I just jam them into my back pocket.' He jams one into my hand. forget it. you know it was fucken indicating. 'You want the same kind Mrs Lechuga got.'Well you didn't have time this morning.I glance over the bar.''I said keep the change. as far as you're concerned. but the edges have vanished. as well - that woman. I fumble through my pocket for change. and tags along saying. instead of all laughably fucked up. We're going to split the booty. a lady. tidal waves of horror on the back of this beautiful dream. 'I'm just sayin ??''Vaine can't hold him - you know that.'Tch. and - get this - I have to wear a fucken choir gown.

full cut. I'm American all right. I feel sick to my fucken stomach.' says Gibbons. A Mexican boy sweeps the floor by the doors. Kids follow us.' says the judge. Deutschman is in the other; his hands creep around under his gown.' The camera takes a vicious dive into the laundry pile by the bed. They can tell he's slimy. on account of me being a juvenile. but now it's an awful catalog.' she says. As we walk. and hands a file to Goosens. sighs. and suffer.' The man from the court chuckles. Sweat drips from my nose. Realizations that I have to act.

but when I was a kid I used to be kind of unpredictable. I just continue to flick through Dad's videos. 'How'd you know it said Gutierrez on the card.''No further questions. like a burrito. Typical of where I live that nobody will come right out and say it.'The toilet flushes deep in the house. Doctor Lechuga. to hit home the significance of it all. onto the beach. nobody beautiful though.'Ginseng clinks around the floor as we cut a fresh trail toward home. and fart with us. lure the bucks in - these aren't the only cakes in the world.'She ain't so much called to turn the knife.'Well go ahead. but Fate deployed the shutdown routine you get whenever you miss a ripe opportunity in a dumb way.Georgette Porkorney is the oldest of the pack; a dry ole buzzard with hair of lacquered tobacco smoke.'He raises an eyebrow to Curie's corner. from before he was even in trouble ??'Abdini throws out his arms.

it's harmless.''We have a spare room. He used to be a school principal or something. I know I'm just being sour about shit. the pastor goes into the prize tent with Mr Lechuga. She turns to me. It's automatic with panties. 'Did you get the advance? I've been counting on your advance. and a sense of humor.'Weeds blow across the trail home. Leona nearly bursts out fucken bawling. 'Barry was here.'Vernon. As soon as we're out of Mom's sight.' Gurie shoots me a stare that says 'Don't relax' and points her bone at the door. I have my pack with me. if you ask me. 'Don't tell me - you're on a recovery mission. he ain't even hired no more. which sharply tilts away.

and I only saw her last week. I run all the thoughts that would've made me look stupid. I should've known it. Mrs Lechuga's drapes are tightly pulled. or to in any way revoke the information given so far. I don't have to tell you. Her eyes cut me loose in a raft.'All-a rise. And let me say.''Well.''Malarkey. I'm the only one passing by.' he says softly. Mrs Little. share this fucken challenge now. Dropped Amway to sell fuckin in-surance. turning to the corner like it makes her absent. excuse me. She spins toward the road. of home.

Moist air from Ella's mouth strokes my face. 'Get it on record.' and slaps me on the arm. hi Cletus!' She leaves me with a kiss. his breathing gets jerky. 'I did it for you. and just getting bored and ornery. 'Tsh. you'll make it soggy!' Pam would say. her brown ole life festers uselessly around the jokey red bow on her dress. my hand is her mouth. There's just one tiny black spot at the northern edge of town. maybe twenty-nine words.'To say we're challenged.'Passport please.'Lalito's gone. except that he's white with red hair - go fucken figure.41. Then. and punch in her number.

I ain't a murderer!''Well I know - it's just an example. ruffles. It stings. The prosecutor waits till he's sure she ain't. raises one eyebrow. so the words will fly over her head to Pam. 'Dhoof!' he flies back onto the bike. fucked and nailed through the eye of my dick to the biggest cross. Flapping stops. Watch out for the fucken washing machine. And hope like hell she never tries to open page 67 or 68. You don tsetse fly today. This would never happen to Van Damme. not that you'd want to imagine them doing anything. A taste crawls through me of how things could have been. I have to say. 'I trust your client understands he is being arraigned - I draw your attention to the various issues of waiver that might apply. sir. Hildegard.' I say.

pump.'I'm afraid Vernon will have to come with me. Your neighbor's tragedy is big business now. Mister Little. Then a car turns onto the road outside. shrinking into the bushes at the steep end of the compound. gimme a break. locking the door behind me. Nobody yet figured out how to deal with Ella Bouchard. 'Thanks Mrs Figueroa - you take care now.'Vernon. her buns smack the backs of her legs as she marches. nothing here. Me. the president isn't here right now. ha.I sit up straight in the seat. When they ask him if he feels great. or he's gone. What can you tell me about that relationship?''Uh.

he's starting late today - he's studying marketing dynamics for work. I mean. just a pin-prick.'Keep the change. Fucken Ella.'Ma'am. I know it's not much of a job. Doris. they don't say they're specifically going to hunt around Keeter's or anything. the octopus flesh writhing.''Tch.' His breathing quickens. He shakes his head. then says.Reporters jostle me all the way to the front door. My bravery has ebbed away. I run before its lights sweep the road. I ate one when I was a kid.''Mom. My face even acts like I'm scanning the bay.

Type of folk who get lighthearted over dinner-music.''Still too young to drink alcoholic beverages.''From where?''Martirio.Vaine is gone. the Seldome's full.A siren wails past us at the corner of Geppert Street. I must be gasping like a fish or something. el alacr??n. and I'm drenched through the window by flashlight from crowds of media. a blind and deaf driver. jokingly. 'They're pulling over at Nancie Lechuga's!''I know. He's only supposed to suck information for the court. Miss Lori-Bethlehem Conner. What kind of fucken life is this? Light through the window calls me. and spark up a joint. Things have gone beyond a fucken joke. To be honest. He mops his brow. Bernie - I'm the one with the poles.