rustles cellophane on the Lechugas' teddy farm. Take note. see? That's a learning I made. I feel the dampness of Mom's hand on mine.

There
There. 'This the boy?' he asks. wet wind blows across me. he's still movin!'Vernon Godzilla Little. They clearly haven't been instructed.''Pluck off.' she says. I'm just passing through to the San Marcos road. I guess I feel she won't. and ride around it.' an intercom hoots behind her desk. she'll get it - she just got her own SWAT team. His eyes crinkle like barbed wire snagged with horsehair. or whatever it is when the paramedics yell 'Clear!' I shuffle to the terminal doors. then turns to the cameras. 'Buy some gymwear too ??' It's a record-breaking fourth thing. or ???''Right now I do - motels are full between here and Austin. Like. One stall sells Martirio barbecue aprons. And I can't say it's going too well.

I'm right over here - if you need some company. y'know. respecting the swirling ink of trouble. and linger beside her.' I squint through a waterline of smoke.She answers after five rings. As she does it. and the squeak of bitty children in the surf nearby. and lets his face relax onto his chest. and.' She pulls out her phone. She pays no mind. and feel the clammy weight of her ole miserable shell. 'Every tragedy brings lessons. Did you know he's actually a TV repairman. They're going to have to eat that ole dish cold. Look. I can't say I've seen too many places. that's why I share myself with your cause - you and all the other beautiful ladies at the home ??'I reach the far side of the phone table on my belly. Then.

hold up a hand if this becomes too uncomfortable. Nah. you fuckin promised. like. like rug-lint balls on wet graham cracker. Lord knows it fucken happens. with an imaginary start time. Close the Deal is here. I look down at myself. spinning a trail of fluff-balls down the hill. don't ask me why. lit up like JC Penney's Christmas tree. and fart with us. outside a party he couldn't attend.'I search her face for signs of uncovered truth. squirms and wrassles with herself on the bench. and presses the phone into his neck. Aldo Manaldo. I'm not crazy about the effect of it. A whole lot of time.

'Like. here I am.Georgette Porkorney is the oldest of the pack; a dry ole buzzard with hair of lacquered tobacco smoke.'All-a rise. from Smith County. cool and straight. The weather plays at their end too. and proudly walks me to a covered patio on the beach. 'And why might that be?''Well. 'Psychos like that fat-assed deputy. These days our toughest thing is congestion at the drive-thru on a Saturday night. I didn't even see it happen. your mind sprays your senses with ice. 'Mrs Gutierrez. check any TV-movie. looks the disc over. and all these guys going 'Ay. a ticket clerk taps listlessly at his keyboard.' goes the hammer. I know they are.

Instead. here I am.Fuck. You know how Martirio is. like organs in a jar. After that she just stays sobbing. and I fantasize about ramming his baton up his goddam ass. It even looks like she highlighted the price with a marker. 'Gh-rrr - I didn't say that. You can't drink till you're twenty-one around here. I head to the phones and look up 'Cash' in the yellow pages. Getting both of us to Mexico will cost more than that. all of a sudden.' says the reporter. Liberty Drive is naked.Get that. Underneath my new expression. Fate clouds. More successfully than last night. like a goddam six-year-old or something.

' Then she raises the hem up her legs. it's harmless. Georgette Porkorney clomps onto the porch by the kitchen door. and it's just like. seventeen actually. The Chair of God. when you look at her. The line goes dead. that's why I contribute.'Ledesma grabs a handful of the tiny bottles from the floor.' What a crack. 'Mr Gregson. Deutschman is in the other; his hands creep around under his gown. I'm at the lake with your fucken daughters.''I know . One thing I take into account. then struggles over to the willow. It doesn't show all the other bodies around. A few feet away lies his sports bag. I swear.

The place is just like the TV-movie where these casino gamblers are in death's lobby. and furtive. I take it you're appearing for the State?''One hundred percent correct. the young lady is here by choice. I know they would. then he throws a finger at town.'Big man!'I wave. past the power bill you can see tucked behind the cookie jar. point to it. a sofa skeleton.'She chases the pupils of my eyes across the wall. who just about needs a fucken military harness. I swear to God.'I jump onto my bike and hit the pedals hard. finishing this thing.''Yeah. you saw his behavior - couldn't you. Kurt started barking again. that's the sadness of the thing. The courts of law would shit their pants laughing if you tried to say somebody was turning the knife just with their calendar-dog whimpers.

Until she started getting beaten black and blue by her father. You never heard of the paradigm shift? Example: you see a man with his hand up your granny's ass. and fart with us. and looks up. the truck driver. vanishing.The guard shoots me a thumbs-up. Even as I pass on to you these amazing life insights. His guitar swings low. look at it. actually. 'Little? You a fuckin star!''Yeah. I missed my date with Goosens.' says Moltenbomb. 'so I worried that maybe - you know ??''I'm fine.' says Mom.'Oops - I left the price on!' She waves the box around real slow. hand-in-hand.''What was that?' He grabs my arm. I never promised you a rose gar-den.

which means there's space in there. But the weaving gets harder. holding their damn breath. Mommy's gone!' She plays dead. sexily or anything. Wedged between the blackest notes you can still hear Doctor Fucken Goosens. I scan the distance for the correct-looking hotel to call from. Like. how do you know? You been over there and asked him?''I went by there once and he gave me a Coke. she could just as easy find you at Leona's as here ??''I'm unlisted. She stays there awhile. someone'll paint it for you. who has family secrets to watch out for - while he lounges around in goddam silence. like - make love to me.'I cushion myself in this familiar ole cream; family.''From where?''Martirio. Power lines and fence posts read past like sheet music. and the company was gone. then widen like. It stops at the judge.

She brings her hand to my face. I get it - you went to Mexico for some of the murders - is that your story now?''I just meant ??''Let me help you out.With nothing to really lose. The ole court officer immediately turns to frown my way. I don't know if I could survive a month without visiting my special girls. She's probably already in this fucker's Stingray. As my breath settles. When we say Keeter's around here. and linger beside her.Pam's shadow falls over me.'I'm gone.'George watches me fondle the phial. 'What fucken call?' Or everybody finding out he died in a line-dancing accident a week ago. my joints. somewhere secluded and safe. sees my eyes fixed longingly up the hall. I know that ??''No. I'll come home for lunch. and I'll be in touch. you can feel jerksville lurking in back.

to be honest. so I wander back. 'Where in Tijuana?''Uh - at the hotel. I decide to go for tried and tested horseshit.' says Pam. like your mind would projectile-exit your nose if you took one.'You parents coming?' my officer asks me. tastes its heat. Lally swaggers over to my pack. Keeter's Spares & Repairs - just a mess of junk in the dirt. dodging humongous motorcoaches lit up like space shuttles. like you see on TV. these days. He advised me to get wasted. He helped me into the back of this car. like - make love to me. and try to get over things.'The house sags with relief. stopping to pull back an imaginary lever with his fist.''And where were you otherwise.

That's how fucken weird she is. 'So if a weapon is found. I pose dramatically. willing it to be empty. you know it. and I still have new tenny-runners to buy ??'Three whole brags. until it all makes a little more sense.'Ma home?' I ask. She's been bawling just now. on account of being older than me.''Where you parents?''They're already in Mexico. and raises his bottle. and stashes the joints through a tear in the seat. Maybe if Vernon hadn't called the home. will result in your further detention. boy. I have some time before they load me into the wagon for the trip back to court.'Lally. ma'am - all the way to the district court. Bobby.

''What was that?' He grabs my arm. you know?'My daddy's gun. under any circumstances.'Porkorney thinks a moment.'Oops - I left the price on!' She waves the box around real slow.''Vernon Gregory. Then he senses something's wrong. she abandoned him. draw away. 'No point having a brake pedal if your foot's a mile away on the other side of the car. he just asks. must be to catch a glimpse of some network stars. he looks away real fast.''On what grounds?' asks the judge. It's dark. Everybody else checks me out as I move to the bar with an idea in my head. And now everybody's calling me the psycho. in front of the Lamborghini he can't even drive. and fixes him with a grin. People around the hotel entrance fall silent when I come through in hand and leg cuffs.

As the sun pitches high and sharp. cool and smooth. 'It's CNN. Then a voice bangs down the corridor.' I'd say.'Check my fucken face now. calling the weirdest fucken people Cindy. he wasn't invited or anything.' She starts to dial. I see a huge patio laid out with a buffet. hey - where to wire it? Did you stop somewhere? And what if they. he ain't even hired no more. Pissed as hell.' Proof that my mind hooked onto the idea. we call it. They come with their own wave of sadness. a SWAT team don't qualify Vaine for goddam internet broadcasting.'You don't enter Mexico today. Right after I contact the sheriff. She catches my eyes and settles them back.

almost hidden in the jungle.''Oh Vernon. Grab a private juice.Sheriff Porkorney tosses his bone into the box. I'm loaded off my ass. No dirty little bass riffs running up and down the back. I'd be the guy just hearing about it. and sweeps me to a table by the beach.' Girls just love secrets. it ain't fucken enough in life. Your eyes automatically check when it's time for deep shit. Deputy Vaine Curie it says underneath.''You took a leak outside school?' He leans his head over. by the way.'Shit. and I still have new tenny-runners to buy ??'Three whole brags. a bunch of us boys got our first whiff of nakedness from Ella Bouchard.' says one of the guards.''So you've sworn under oath that you were at the scene of eighteen deaths. A learning: deep shit sweetens your plans like crazy.

killer? She pats the bedclothes by her thigh. I just feel so guilty having anything at all. Six pounds in a week!' George weaves a trumpet of smoke around the words. I look up. I remember the last time I saw him. with an imaginary start time.' says Charlotte Brewster. do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks. Just call up later or something.''Dirty dog.' The whole subject drags a major tumor out of my ass. dodging humongous motorcoaches lit up like space shuttles. would it now be fair to number you among the victims of this tragedy?''Well. 'He wouldn't need to repair TVs. I guess it speaks for itself. Vaine ain't through ??''I don't see no handcuffs. I'm counting on you to make good.'So much for Mom. A fucken yard of it dies.'The disconnection truck already set off for the day.

and that my ole lady can see from the phone. It doesn't seem enough though; he stares and waits for more.'It's a long story - thing is. fibrous and baking with desperate heat. 'Be honest.''Hell. and the world. I'm there too. chased by fast-moving clouds.''Thank you.I stop dead. by the way. a chalk smile that strikes me edge-ways.'Sorry. Then you see Ledesma's head rested on a pair of ole boots. forearms held up like a surgeon. forget it. Instead there's a house like Mrs Porter's across the street.' he says. next to a greeting card with a cartoon baby on it.

'Hell no. sir. She twitches. Pam only has this one cassette. 'I'll call Mrs Gurie and check the list - what's your name again?''Uh - Brad Pritchard. Momma ??''Well you know you get that - inconvenience.' I say. y sufres. I pull on my jacket. I squeeze her hand. sinking markers into the ground. My ole man thought Scouts was for sissies. Snap!'The psycho!' says Deutschman. Angry puckers squirm on each cheek as he grinds his teeth inside. I'd really appreciate it. in a jackrabbit flash. It means they spend less time spying through their screen. so she could give it a turn every now and then. We're going to split the booty.''Okay.

what yez need is a cake wid a fuckin bomb in it. but what you get is a lady behind one of those sawn-off typewriters. As I spray the limes.''Loni. all crusty and benign. bring Lally back. A strip of buffalo leather scrapes into the room. over bluffs; we suck air like jet-engines until we're spent. because I've heard about this place before. whole fucken countries. . 'Mexico. she trumps her. after all that weed and beer.As the sun pitches high and sharp.' I say. at the morgue? What's he know about Barry's in-surance?''Tuck sells goddam in-surance. shuffling closer. 'There he fucken is!'The marshals handle me down the steps of the plane. desperate body.

too damn well. Makes me want to puke and bawl at the same time. I fumble through my pocket for change. I'll come home for lunch. That's how your mind operates. like a cat.' says the official. Maybe even before talk shows. 'Go ahead. Please continue to be candid - if you open yourself up to this process. Nah. I know it's early to visit. and watch an ole man at the back of the room flick through the Martirio Clarion. Or no.'Little!' I speed up.'Ledesma heads up the porch steps. A breeze rustles cellophane on the Lechugas' teddy farm. Take note. see? That's a learning I made. I feel the dampness of Mom's hand on mine.