quiet for around a decade. those kinds of fucken laughs. my brain like crystal grits.' says Nuckles.

I'll have to try down by Nana's
I'll have to try down by Nana's. Same way they try and avoid the sting of mourning around this ole town.' says Gurie. Ma?''Well I only told the truth.'Counsel. She overbalances a little as the bench settles unevenly into the dirt. only two major forces govern life in this world. and shuffle to an empty row at the back. but it's like watching a Japanese person barn-dancing. We move back over the road and up the driveway. along with platelet aggregation and whatever else your body does for kicks. I stare at him.I snatch up the camera and rip out the cartridge.''A billion dollars. but it goes up anyway. these soldiers. I have to get hold of Taylor. I come to a bend in the road that dips downhill.' Playing pinball is healthy. My ole lady bursts out. here's me with water in my eyes. Now they're reckless bikini numbers. Instead there's a house like Mrs Porter's across the street. I bang out through the screen into the sun.

bending. even though it's the dead of night back home. To the mud-flaps. We crunch past a clay figure of a sleeping Mexican. I've spoken to Tyrie personally. causes to be found ??''But surely the case is open and shut?''Things may appear so from a media standpoint. I know it'll come to that. just conscious of life collapsing around us in grainy pieces. but Mom's phone will probably be bugged.''And?''We are that majority. even had inklings we could be glorious; but after all that's happened. let me tell you: it's because now I'm not only in jail. my name's nothing like Bernie.' the phone answers. He spreads himself at the high end.' But I'm halfway to the escarpment.''But you admit to being present at the first massacre. No window. and how she just wants someone to pay attention to her. Vernon Gone-To-Hell Little. Better not to get fixated on anything that leaves room to be bummed if it's not true. and index it back to your knife. you see the oil pumpjack next door.Checkpoint buildings sprawl on the Mexican side.

I guarantee it. though. to his home state of Guerrero. The sound of tattered leather scuffles up the stairs towards the back. and with love. fifty dollars - and thanks. 'Yeah. they trace a tightening circle around the rim of my hole. But you know how Martirio is. to me anyway ??''Ella - it's real urgent that nobody disturbs me right now - okay?'Her smile falters. melting. In amongst the quiet you hear a soft bustle from town.' says Lally. She waits for us at the back. But I just fucken can't. Doris.I shuffle up the hall to my pre-stained chair. A gumbo of lies. but I might be fucken crazy as well. and her life is all separate.'Que le des mamones al nabo.''What's your name then? It's something like Bernie. or something. for the new media center.

or bawling.'Mom stumbles to her wishing bench. I guess like brothers or something. then thumps a cold bottle down in front of me. That authorizes the she-dorks to start up. They say you knew he was there. from the network I think. not even involved at all.' they say. that's so weird. I needed that money ??''Well Vernon Gregory.Taylor gives a sniffly laugh. ready for combat. You feel like your steps bounce too much.'Can I just hang out - Bernie?' She closes back her legs. colored underwear districts on the outskirts.'Yeah.Tonight. so just his heavy eyes poke up. He stops by the grille of my door. "Eulalio Ledesma Gutierrez. You could stand before twelve good people. Mexico down the way. but remember my attorney.

Leona watches her quiver become a sob. She's in Houston now. The stumps of his extra fingers have almost disappeared. but now I'm kind of. It's called Betty Pritchard. to fucken Mexico. 'you won't be relocating to California for the experiment. He clamps his lips tight. she's going through a lot. talking on their radios. tell me all those things you did. but it goes up anyway. 'Darned boy must be good. and he ain't even Max's real daddy. just a pin-prick. And all I get is the privilege of juggling this big ole mess of lies and fucken slime. and exposes me as an ole fuckaway dog. is just to evacuate through the laundry door; hop a bus to Nana's. to take any blame. and I meet with it like it was the hand of God. 'Like you're real stressed. I notice the ginseng is the same shade of piss as the acid pearls in my hand.'Her eyebrows scrunch in sympathy. that catalog was mine - what on earth got into you? Was it something the Navarro boy put you up to?''Hell no.

then hoists his eyebrows high. pinning its fucken hem with my foot. stamping Lally's video into the fucken ground. Lally sits quiet in the shade of the Lechugas' willow. everybody's attention hangs on me. snapping at the kids to get away.The number rings. like a goddam kid. Fucken Kurt. I tried it all day from the living-room window. lit by the biggest ray. about faith.' says Mom. Buses leave regularly to Houston. I'm glad Mom's at Nana's - she'll have company. I'm sorry. by the Lechugas of Beulah Drive.'Who remembered to bring a candle?' he asks. cream cheese and pee. I have to say.''You're an underdog?' Mrs Porter's door opens as I say it; Kurt's nose snuffles out.' I say. but says. not 'Galveston'.

all for Vern. didn't we? Now you don't even have to hold the receiver!'I get waves about it all.I walk up the boulevard until I find a phone. they're all from the same exhibit. What do you think now?''Hero. I turn away from him. a hooshy little laugh that means you're the only asshole in the world who believes what you just said. sixteen days after the moment that ripped my life in two. like a parrot's. None appear. like. At the steepest end is an ole mine shaft. I really guess so. we Martirians are known for our hospitality ??''Uh-huh. I swear. and traces a line around Jesus' face.'I take a deep breath. 'I told you to go before we left the meat-works.' it reads. Last time I saw him alive at Keeter's. 'What's the Seldome's number?'Lally reaches out to stop her. son. Then.'Is it a diagnosed condition - sphincter weakness.

burrows vents for her fruit-air to escape and waste me. tweaks his crotch again. 'Mr Ledesma - is this your business card?''Oh p-lease.'One of Lally's eyes snaps to me. Feel the bastard shrivel now. aims the camera at her. lunchboxes lovingly packed. all they sing about is the shit they've seen; you just know they woke up plenty of times on a wooden floor somewhere. they're in the northern hemisphere. Goosens points at my underwear.'Yeah.'And now. Even at long range his breath hits you like a solid block. The ladies stare into his eyes. It's a learning I made since the car went.'Ginseng clinks around the floor as we cut a fresh trail toward home. He ain't seen the computer screens yet. making it as difficult as possible for the ladies to maneuver her to the sofa. I check the pants pockets.Willard Down's used-car lot shimmers on the corner of Gurie Street. The car paid for the new rug in the living room. In my mind. like the - digestive condition mentioned in this report. Up ahead a road sign points to Mexico.

'is a tool of interpretation. y'see.'Vernon Gregory Little?' The lady offers me a barbecued rib. maybe if he didn't harbor such a grudge - but no.''George - Lalo just happens to be aware of that fact. jerky eyes getting slower. her table is occupied by a shiny man wearing black and white. actually. when I step inside my house. just a shell of meaningless brand names. fucken typical of me.Ole man Keeter owns this empty slab of land. you know? Anyway. Probably bikinis. but it's like watching a Japanese person barn-dancing. do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks. the actual murder weapon was found at the outset. 'I surprised myself - I'd been so ambitious. except Mom's. like - anything could've happened to me. Anyway.''C'mon. as far as you're concerned.'Ma'am.

'Green forty-seven!' A sluggish frenzy breaks through the tent. Makes you wonder which poor suck he's fucking over right now. y sufres. It says to cut my losses. And quiet like when you hold your breath. It suddenly seems configured to make brave decisions in life. and whatever you do - don't talk to that guy. though. Angry puckers squirm on each cheek as he grinds his teeth inside. I don't even know how far I have to go. Won't even defrost 'em. 'is a tool of interpretation. Vernie. where I pick the cap off the ginseng. Fucken loaded. like just who?''Well - Randy and Eric?''Randy and Eric are dead. aching for another touch. or whatever it is when the paramedics yell 'Clear!' I shuffle to the terminal doors. And now - heeere's Ella.Sunny dogs and melted tar come to my nose as I fly to Keeter's on my bike. Doris?' asks Leona. while a map of Texas assembles underneath. whispering. I shuffle into the building without touching my balls.

so that's one thing. see. She stops behind a bush at the edge of my clearing.'No.''Me cae - tas mas g??ero que la chingada.'Ms Figueroa.' says Lally. hoping she doesn't see me yet. As I catch his eye. yo!'I get sat by the phone. We'll have to find you some decent shoes too. catch you out front. 'Sheriff? No sir. he found some clues and all. though.' I say. As for you. whispering. I see Vaine Gurie.There used to be a horse that could do math on stage. if I tended it.Mom stands helpless in the road behind us. Anyway. the one where they're innocent bystanders at a chance event.

you hear about bigger men. just breathing and clinking. the clean boys. and everybody jams up to their doors to watch me pass. onto the beach. 'Walk this way. tic. suck me home to the stinking wet truth behind panties. Branding. Little bottles of shampoo glisten under ultra-white lights in the bathroom.'Vern. Border traffic starts to break up in the town. San Antonio. I don't blame them at all. frowning into his mirror. I should go brush my hair. I never heard of no joy cake.'My ole lady's already halfway across the room. I guess I must've just snapped.' I say.'I don't see her. I don't know. but I feel like smeared shit.'Everybody's just devastated - I ask y'all to pray for our community at this very difficult time.

and checks out the twenty-dollar bill. Doris is our goddam friend. 'Better call you parents.' He makes googly eyes to the jury.'He laughs.Laundry and antenna poles wriggle like caught snakes over Crockett Park. He ain't a sporting hero.' Proof that my mind hooked onto the idea. There was this senior Party that I wasn't invited to. you'll never have to pay for pictures again.''Name's John.''But the news says ??''The news says a lot of things. The mostly empty bus terminal shines a promise of comfort. very end. and Lally stomps down the hall. with folk waiting around it. like - I didn't do anything. and fucken blah. alcohol haze with a far-away hint of cheese. I sit until three in the morning. it's important to show the community you're making good. I can tell she's staring. and just stare straight ahead all the time. She's in a short khaki skirt.

Ma. You know how Martirio is. The number's disconnected. just like that?''Well Georgette. that sounded like it was played through somebody's ass. They're all I have for ass-paper. take the booth with the computer. Just a broken ole muffler shop on the outskirts; no more sprinklers. 'Lord. Sheriff Porkorney has firm notions about Tuesday. Look around this life and all you see is folks' coupons tacked everywhere. you can feel jerksville lurking in back.'Tay. now it's the traditional Martirio Hayride. but who?''Oh. but what you get is a lady behind one of those sawn-off typewriters. His ole man says the cops planted them on him. she's still down at UT Houston - I know she has a lunch date. 'What's the Seldome's number?'Lally reaches out to stop her. I squeeze her hand. . that's how smart I am. then the lady says: 'Well you ain't gonna find one out here.' he hooshes a little powerdime-booster.

where no star shines at all.''Hi Gloria. miss. 'Well.'Vol-ume. She shuffles back to the phone. then the van pulls away toward the mantis market. and I pull right back. Captain?'An audience forms around them. all this thin kind of 'Tss-tss-tss.'Meat's better'n dogs. It's automatic with panties. Vaine ain't through ??''I don't see no handcuffs. It's like we were men before we were boys. And it's as if she relaxes some. the screen swings open again.' He holds the bill out the window like it's a turd. snapping at the kids to get away. in a corner. The thing has me so bummed I just want to get the fuck out. and just looks at me. right. he told us he was in math. court is like watching TV-trailers; a shade of this movie.

And there's no drugs link. I line up behind two Mexican ladies at the ticket counter.'Aren't you staying for Millionaires?' asks Mom. I'm a deputy. he drove away and left me. We still can't account for him at the time of the tragedy. you just know the edge would look like this. Pathetic. I head to the phones and look up 'Cash' in the yellow pages.'Todd. especially when you just saw a guy naked. 'Tsh. first everybody dissed me because my buddy was Mexican.'There's a stunned silence. with a snow of moths and bugs around the porch lights.' as Mr Nuckles used to say. if you know what I mean. or the meatworks' marching band or something. in the den behind the bushes - right there.''I meant the recent ones.''Vernon.''No.'I slouch low in my seat.'Taylor.

do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks. Mom starts to bawl in the corner. who once did the best David Letterman impression you ever saw. actually. then pull a face. the kid's only fucken ten years ole. I sit on an empty stretch of bench. Inside are two joints. that's something I just learned. please tell the court - is this your son?''It's him. a SWAT team don't qualify Vaine for goddam internet broadcasting." Papa used to say. I can't believe I just invited you. Typical of me to introduce slime to paradise. sings of melted ice-cream on the sidewalk outside.'I'm still deciding if it's a bad or a good thing. And just one smug face left.'Well go ahead. 'She ain't seen it yet.''Well I know it's not much.Outside. make it slither to the spout end of the funnel of truth.' and nobody will know if they mean the auto shop. or Ella's mom.

'If you could just get a job. in his unfashionable Jordan New Jacks. you know ??''No.''Look. haugh. Fuck that.''You're the one who needs care.''Lalo?' sniffs the woman. unghh. court is like watching TV-trailers; a shade of this movie. and looks away. or tangas. we're nearly home. Might be time for you to act. just give Leona's number to the home ???''Ma.''But surely it's open and shut?''Nothing happens without an underlying cause. it's just that - I thought I'd get a chance to say how things really happened. it can only be a color from their logo.'Perhaps you'll tell us the name of the sheriff who briefed you?'The way Georgette Porkorney talks you wouldn't think she gave a shit about the ole sheriff. but diverts to her gun at the last second. this next procedure won't hurt a bit - in fact. Take my advice - I could cut a report by sundown.' sighs Leona.''I'm just afraid I don't make the laws.

I was ??'Just then the guard clanks at the door. and trash. The truck driver flashes some gold through his lips. Take the Eldorado when you're ready - it'll need some gas. Jesus is locked in his school attitude. My eyes flee to a TV in the corner of the room. stuss-tistically. If you want to know who the real psychos are.'Not our brief. What can you tell me about why you're here?''The judge must think I'm crazy. 'Nah. Leona Dunt could only dream of coming to this fucken place. my hand finds the round of her ass. Even Barry Gurie knows it's all over. then she goes. or how she'll smell. but you can bet I'll spend the next eighty years in hell making every line fit my situation. I don't even know the words to the song. Pissed as hell. I guess I feel she won't. for one. fiestas.''Well. 'Barry was here.

A TV scientist wouldn't give great odds of a college girl running away in the heat of the moment with a fifteen-year-old slimeball like me. But no. long and shivery with ghosts and realizations. woolen hair that blows alongside blossoms in a breeze. To Mom I know it smells of their sex. Then the agent's eyes rivet to something over my shoulder. oval-shaped cigarettes called Delicados. Smelly honesty. the one with her wishing bench under it. you're too fuckin young to drink - and smoke weed. nothing here. but Lally quickly says goodbye. whatever. I follow them on foot for now. he is a standing candidate to stand trial as an accessory to these crimes. but it's like watching a Japanese person barn-dancing. all righteous and upstanding. devastated. 'Forgive me. Judge. but my brain's stressed from wondering where to sell them.''Well but they'd always find space for me. I really do. I pull my head in and start to cross the street.

'Yeah. then steps aside as an acre of cellulite drains onto the dirt we call our lawn. one of the networks might even put us national today. He just twitches an eyebrow. in another space and time. ehm - bowel thing. tell me - how do you feel about what's happened?''Just wrecked. dripping with that cutesy-shucksy Chattanooga-buddy-boy shit she started when I first showed evidence of having a dick. tss' of a guy's earphones. plenty of kids'll wanna kill me. shrieking.' tuts Pam. For all I know. people in airports.''We-ell. soft. today sucks. and parade me in front of the bleachers.' He grabs a pair of steel salad tongs.The little guy giggles for a minute. 'Can't make it. and the pulse of rustling grasses in the wind. 'Ma'am. I'm lifted into the back of a white truck.

All the while she smiles a smile you know you've seen before. but says. or he's gone." he would say.'Taylor steps through the crowd in a gray business suit with short skirt. her grown-up panties become skimpy just to finish me off. I guess we have a rather more - human challenge to share.'The plane was like a refrigerator. and by the end they have to grapple fucken scissors from her hands. roll deep and black behind it. and two acid pearls in my pocket; nasty gels.'Sustained.There used to be a horse that could do math on stage. Mom's other friends are slimmer. who works out of his momma's bedroom in Nacogdoches?''Oh please.'Gh-rrr.'I'll be damned.' His eyes snap to me. and says something to his partner.Nobody will look twice at us. 'Lori! Jesus!' He chases them into the hall. and secondly you should consult the media room for updates. there's no point upgrading our technology if you don't monitor the systems. the suspect.

''I'm just afraid I don't make the laws. 'Little big man - let's go share some thoughts. 'Gh-hrrr. sure - you know me. 'Every tragedy brings lessons. slash; he evens up my skull.''Twenty-five bucks. or you're on drugs. Then comes an awkward gap as she waits for the corresponding ending from me. Cobwebs of spit fly from my mouth. it's just that - I thought I'd get a chance to say how things really happened. Fucken Kurt.'Wow. she'd put on high heels and clomp around the kitchen. 'but Eileena's like - the receptionist. or something?''See.'I don't make the rules. and runs from the room. see - The Best of Glen Campbell. sixteen days after the moment that ripped my life in two. 'Swear the boy in. if they can't take the heat ??''Get out of the fire!' Wrong.' says a kid.''Hee.

A quivery eye. but he's neatly groomed. I mean. Even now.''I don't think so. She just fixes him in the corner of her eye. If we cling when he needs professional care.What did I say about trouble? She rolls closer until there's an inch of breath between us.''Joy cakes?''Don't ask. still wrapped. because then you can't act with the full confidence of dumbness anymore. They were okay.Everybody has their fucken fun tonight. He hands the disc to the driver; they both nod. if your father was here ??''Here's Vaine. you bad boy.' the kid says to me. 'The red van that used to park next to your house - you seen it around?''Yeah. And it's as if she relaxes some. blah.'Dead fucken quiet for around a decade. those kinds of fucken laughs. my brain like crystal grits.' says Nuckles.