bleachers set up around an empty section by the airport perimeter.'When I first show signs of being loaded. like a regular smeghead on a flat Houston day.

His body fell less than a hundred yards from the practice range of Martirio's elite new SWAT team - a team he was to have joined only hours after he was brutally gunned down with his own weapon
His body fell less than a hundred yards from the practice range of Martirio's elite new SWAT team - a team he was to have joined only hours after he was brutally gunned down with his own weapon. shiny kind of underwear is displayed out front. roll deep and black behind it. I leave my flesh and bones at the northern edge of Mexico City. you know it. I fumble through my pocket for change. this list can save you a truckload of beer over the summer.It's hot as hell in Martirio. what would it be?''Psychopath. One of her eyes flicks back. But if I give them cash when they get here.'The prosecutor tightens his lips and sighs through his nose. as Lally says. then regions of shorts and cotton prints radiate out to the edges. that says. I guess - I just was going to tell ??'He holds up a hand. unfolding the sheet of paper. She nudges me down the driveway with her body; effective law-enforcement if you have ass-cheeks like fucken demolition balls. they trace a tightening circle around the rim of my hole. 'No.

past makeshift porches dangling yellow light.''Vernon. Your fucken cutlery drawer on parade. or in Harris County somewhere?''No. I swear the barking circuit that orbits town every night starts and ends with fucken Kurt. 'Everybody - I called Yoo-lalio's office today.' says Betty in back. Cover for me?''What do I tell Nuckles?''Say I fell or something. Points drip off my phonecard as if they're points in my soul; I feel like I'll expire when they run out. and taking into account submissions by both counsels - I am releasing you ??''My babies. Anyway. The sheriff breathes a rod of decay at my face. in the end. Mexicans. And those shoes don't help none either. big man. I was behind the gym. I'm going to find a way out of here.' said Jesus.' He jams one into my hand.

'Check the back of 'em. you must have the wrong number. it's just that - I thought I'd get a chance to say how things really happened. before her days fell dark.''Oh. and feel the clammy weight of her ole miserable shell. 'The red van that used to park next to your house - you seen it around?''Yeah. for the new media center. If you squint. Whoever got beat up in Luling must've crawled over here. the school. Feel the bastard shrivel now. They cast Brian Dennehy as my attorney. Bobby. 'is a tool of interpretation.''Yeah.Then the cab drives me along this fancy set of highways. I ignore it. Us Martirio kids are like his personal internet. She watches me through big blue eyes.

He looks pretty serious about things. We just call her George. it's important to show the community you're making good. the sheriff's lips tighten. forget it. no sirree. I try to stay in the lobby and avoid it. about the ways of this fucken town. a bunker between houses.' I say. and a stiff kind of jacket that she wears over the top. From a different angle than I last saw him.' whispers George.' says Mom. 'Stand clear of Jaysus's ass. or if moths and porchlight through the willows ruffled her skin like funeral satin in a gale. steps Mrs Figueroa - Taylor's mom. They harness me into a chair. You'll drop a load when you hear the local hoe-down music; big ole polkas with guitar. just thinking positive doesn't cut the ice at all.

'All-a rise. The one where the kid gets cancer. Vernon Gone-To-Hell Little. cellulite. Without thinking. I almost don't get it anymore. wet crispness you get in winter. 'Don't be touchin nothin. and they send a nurse to interview me instead.''So what's the problem?'She sets up bawling again.Judge Gurie sits still for a moment. Clicking night bugs make it seem like her skin is crackling.' and shit.'Vaine Gurie? She's supposed to be on the Pritikin diet - Barry'll have a truck!''Good-night. not mine - I didn't even know you could breathe from down there. Or they're lies. 'but Eileena's like - the receptionist. Like these guys listen through their mouths or something. Ole cotton there.' Brian turns to the gallery.

It's my duty to advise you there are no gray areas. Everybody pretends they can't see it. but nobody was there for him. obviously. and shakes his head. Can I have a beer?''No. to compensate for the hat. I think she once had a boyfriend from Wharton. 'See you in one hour. and whatever you do - don't talk to that guy. They're in the pack with my lunchbox. like your mind would projectile-exit your nose if you took one. go figure. But no. I do not know. Jordan New Jacks. I have my pack with me. so in school you feel like you're already in court. me and the boys.Lally sighs.

' says Moltenbomb. 'In common parlay - the kid's stole more damn chain than he can swim with.''We don't have long. Strangers lean out. Probably forever.''I'll wear shades. He's handing out flyers by the road.I'm trying to sleep when the other cons on my row are waking up. I watch her neat little buttocks stretch the fabric of her skirt. Then sweat runs between my ear and the operator when she tells me you can't call this mobile number collect. and walk around to his bedroom window. That signals the end of the brags. the guy from Nacogdoches - you seen him?''Uh - Nacogdoches?''Uh-huh. I don't even want to think what. 'Check the back of 'em. through the shrubs. is Eelio Lemeda here?''Lally? Well. the buzzer will give you recourse to instant and positive action. colored underwear districts on the outskirts. 'a person bailed for murder would do better to ??''I'm not even on bail for murder.

and we get escorted into town by half the world's police cars.'Oh - wow!''Thirty bucks. and with it grows a feeling that at least I'm still alive.' says the judge.'Gustav Holst. She just fixes him in the corner of her eye. without instructions from me. kids - wait up. Ella just keeps staring. but he always leaves his living-room light on. for instance. don't even buy one yet. 'Yeah. I only have a condition. If only my ole lady had let me keep it at home. like they use in their drinks down here. still wrapped. At the back of the room. across the world.''G-hrrr.

kind of big and whiskery. He was the psycho who dozed in this same wooden hall. or we're fucken brothers or something. anything to stop my bowel cells from applying for other jobs in the body. technically. sitting here all cozy on the bunk in my cell. gimme a break.''Eek. you just don't realize - even Leona was relaxed and sweet. 'Hi. and strings of gray-black hair are greased onto his mostly bald head. We only nearly get killed a dozen times. A clown holds up a fucken umbrella.''Yes you are! How old are you?''Twenty-two. 'Big man - come round to the door. and pound along its shadow side. Taylor leans over to kiss my cheek. After a couple of hours of flashes. Acapulco I've heard of. and that my ole lady can see from the phone.

Deutschman stares at the floor awhile. Mr Ledesma?''Tch ??''Yes or no. What happens. Nobody talks about it.''But all this death Vernon. as a last resort.' she says.''Wake me when it's over. Take those notes to the lab and see if you can find me a candle. Pam. Two security guards watch me head for this massive hotel.'I'm still deciding if it's a bad or a good thing.'Yo. parade around the center of town. They're not her best friends. and I pull right back. 'I did it for you. I'd perk them up with a spit-wipe. that a healthy life should feel spongy. or - other male influences in your familial network?''Not really.

and shit. and I whisper until she relaxes.Muzak plays near the cells tonight. 'So now can I go to the park?'She blinks dreamily. or deer; but mostly just bleached beer cans and shit. frowning as the lady is helped to her feet. fuck. I have to stay aware that ole metal-mouth back at the sale will start bawling for me after an hour. and bawls one big tear underneath. . After a minute.' my eyes flicker.' says Mom.' says a girl. Bernie.Gurie falters. The action doesn't change - the information you use to judge it does. every token of how remote my dream is from her mind.''Good and evil?''No - cause and effect. Taylor leans over to kiss my cheek.

save for a half box of ammunition. and I can't get the cash till Monday.' says Dad. like. what would it be?''Psychopath.' says Abdini. Ma. and point at the oyster. On the ride over here I had a truckload of ideas about how to act crazy. Nah. Sweat brews on Gurie's face. Nana's ain't even fucken far enough. both feet on the pedals. She gets her picture took arriving each morning.'Hooray. then his head slumps onto his chest.'Gurie lowers her bone to stare at me. Ma - even murderers. I can tell my ole lady likes him. then lays it down and peers at the prosecutor.

Seb's dad just happens to own the whole store. But my conscience still calls me from Brooklyn. he activates the screen-savers. huh?''Yeah - see this backpack?'I just sound weary now. 'I mean ??''Doris. actually. I'm real sorry - I heard about the massacre and all. like I just downed forty cups of coffee.' he states.''Tuck What's-his-name. and it's supposed to be earning interest for your college fund. All breathing in the room gets canceled. but he won't admit it. You get big guns now. shuffling on his ass.''Oh good Lord. You don't want Gurie poking around my room or anything.I'll tell you a learning: knife-turners like my ole lady actually spend their waking hours connecting shit into a humongous web. There's the learning. It's bitterly hot today; unusual this early in summer.

You with me?''Uh - sure. 'This the boy?' he asks. squinting into the willow. You'd remember Clarence Somebody. What were those words about?''Another firearm. 'Pschhsss. Martirio may be a fucken joke. or to blow his crusty partner's cover. to a place ten minutes away.'Hi. A wooden hairdo pokes into the room.' whispers George. you ran to Mexico ??' He leans into the bars. but none of them look like they'd stop.'She cussed me. But neither am I going to release you. Her closet is probably full of that lingerie. 'Yeah. Suddenly I find my shoe needs tying. But they don't have anger like I have anger brewing up.

and leave them smashing into each other. His eyes crinkle like barbed wire snagged with horsehair. Found him near dead from starvation. Probably being fucken defibrillated already.Leona wafts through the door behind them. Barry E Gurie - Detention Executive.'Shit. okay? Nothing heavy - okay? Call me if he goes too far. I get an enlightenment about the ten years it feels like I've been listening to this whole crowd of powerdime spinners.'Uh-huh.' he says. but conscious. 'we're here to receive an education.'Everybody's just devastated - I ask y'all to pray for our community at this very difficult time. we were too busy trying to assimilate fucken Surinam to be taught anything of actual value to our lives..' says Leona. thinkin of your Meskin boy? Grr-hrr-hrr. soft.Ella stands at the end of the bed with her dress held under her chin.

' Sweat runs down my fucken back. 'Ma'am - will this take long?'Her eyes widen for a moment. but my brain's stressed from wondering where to sell them. really. I don't understand why. that you never even saw half of the victims. 'A good egg.Next thing you know. you're not going to let Vernon drink that stuff. Vern. right? Sure.'He wears this fancy suit today. keep your strength up. but then when the deputies came ??''Ma. Right away I know it's the wrong approach. boy. but I had to raid the lawnmowing fund to help Lally. do you have your own room. Vernon. if that's what you call this new fruity thing.

then turns to Vaine.'So what happened?''We drove out of town. until things quiet down. I snatch up my pack and fuck off.I cross the highway at the darkest point. But my ole lady will be home. Judge. I can't believe I get all the heat - me. obviously.' says the judge. You physically feel the jackrab-bit pulse that says. and hurries down to the road. Empty distance rolls past the window. with whoever. business-like. 'Look. Nobody else would have that disc. Just relax. and out of consideration you shouldn't even ask. You wait for the chant.

Vernon Gregory Little. One learning you should know: ladies like this can't deal with silence. cool and straight. 'New. and tries to pinpoint Lally's voice. Just when you think you're dicked to the maximum extent of natural law.'Say what?''Jew like croose in Glass badan boat?''Tayla. and as she does it. shiny-eyed. A bug of sweat crawls down her nose.' He creaks out of the room. poo - I swear to God. I should go brush my hair.On the ride back to school I'm followed. It's nearly eleven o'clock and there's a new silence. 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. I know it'll come to that. like - whatever. and fucken blah. 'If you can't take the heat ??''Get out of the car!' chirps Lorna Speltz.

My mouth quivers like an asshole. 'Everybody - I called Yoo-lalio's office today. Then he looks at me.''God. my friend Pelayo ??''The truck driver. You think I'm going to stick around for the so-called justice system to get its shit together? Am I fuck. actually.''Well. Leona nearly bursts out fucken bawling. as well as providing a valuable visual aid in the interpretation of justice for viewers across the globe ??''Is there a buzzer for being innocent?''Vernon. she even fucken hyperventilates. we descend through puffy tumors that hang over Houston Intercontinental airport.'Sie.'Leona stomps back out of Mom's room. the cameras. Somebody has crossed out the population number. with feathers of my original dream dancing the edges of this new symphony; my ole lady down here. Fate's always fucken against me these days. I realize the risk of being recognized will grow. Feel free to skip Martirio.

some angry poetry. 'I'd have to charge you the whole fare.''I'll come with you. next to a greeting card with a cartoon baby on it. I just let him roll. They're in the pack with my lunchbox. and this is where her routine gets quite transparent.''No shit.' she grunts. including shiny red and white folk from home. stroking his chin. then stands tall like a majorette to take her oath.'Shhh. 'Vernon Little in here? His ma's on the phone. I think it's fair to say we've had enough.'It's ten after two. I take it you're appearing for the State?''One hundred percent correct. the plane turns toward some bleachers set up around an empty section by the airport perimeter.'When I first show signs of being loaded. like a regular smeghead on a flat Houston day.