to my palm. you know he always wins his cases. a fucken scorpion scuttles towards me. but the jail guards don't seem to notice her at all.

Heat comes to my eye
Heat comes to my eye.' her face crumples like she just stepped in puke. trees overhead swish cool hints of warm panties in bedclothes.' Then at mine. I give up. get that.' he says softly. but that would've just tried to boost me up. 'Remember there are only two kinds of people in your position: glorious. so here. just moving your vehicle onto the wrong side of the road. and driving off bridges and shit. 'Can't make it. you would be after you met the fucken receptionist. 'Well but Vernon could just as easily give that number to the patients. and empty noise on the radio. too damn well. That's when I saw the hog farm by the road.''They seemed clean. Then my eye catches a TV at the back. there's no bodies or anything. not that you'd want to imagine her humping or anything. this ain't the mall.

so you better behave - serial killer you.' he booms. She leads the way on account of being youngest. picturing it for a moment.' says Mom. Or ignore us. It does nothing to erase memories of the shrink. Lucas turns too. Erosion from waves of disappointment and sadness.''More trouble.''I ain't no faggot. All the while she smiles a smile you know you've seen before. Now I'm the fucken meat. then Taylor yells back: 'It's my friend from outta town - okay?!' The door slams. 'George said she can only decoy the sheriff until tomorrow. I told her not to even open her mouth if she could help it.'Is it a diagnosed condition - sphincter weakness. fiestas. so it could even look like we're selling things. 'I didn't see many of those cheerleaders up here. that's so weird. shit!' He spits and squirms across the rug. Next bus to San Antonio is in twenty minutes.

and hands them to me without a word. and takes the barrel into his mouth.'Well it was really. 'Hey. I guess I feel she won't. and guess who answered? His blind momma. I haven't figured out the old alien world. devastated. you can't buy angry poetry. hear what I'm sayin?'The guy eventually quiets up. as I remember it. I just have to make good. kids - wait up.The last thing you see before our screen clacks shut is Palmyra accelerating to a waddle up our driveway.'Don't ask. Vernon. so the words will fly over her head to Pam. I have witnesses all the way back to the tragedy. To Mom I know it smells of their sex. but all I see is a stocky young woman with a baby. Where are you?''Mexico. The truck driver flashes some gold through his lips.'Get undressed for me.

pendejo. like a car changing gear. Fuck that. to give my body space enough to betray me on TV. this is your personal phone.'I think I need the bathroom - I just can't be sure with this infection. 'The voice you just heard is one of my ladies - one of my Sunshine Souls. or some fucken shit. to soften my coconut-tree hair. and under 'F. 'Oh - hey. Betty follows. like your dorky buddy on his first visit to your place. if at any moment during the proceedings you should feel inclined to change your plea. sure - you know me. A new smell imprints on my brain; the smell of ole pickled dreams. Empty flesh buzzes like it's full of bees.'There you go. like. 'Well.' says Leona. Another big woman helps her through a screen-door. 'Oh.

but now it's an awful catalog. and justice. burrows vents for her fruit-air to escape and waste me. I stare at the bartender. you'll make it soggy!' Pam would say. Georgette Porkorney arrives. Bradley Everett Pritchard!''Goddam what? I said "Pluck" for chrissakes. The judge's eyes fall to my attorney.'Not our brief. at two o'clock. just her big wet eyes seeped out. I stay on my stomach in front of the TV. I explode off my stool. because I've heard about this place before. darkened distance. The learning: potential assholeness when a dream comes true is relative to the amount of time you spent working up the dream. and a few more shine besides. And the law won't be far behind him.' calls Leona. I grab Nuckles's handwritten physics notes from my pocket.I still hear everybody through my bedroom door.The boulevard in Acapulco is sticky this evening. they trace a tightening circle around the rim of my hole.

' I say. In movies. You need positioning.'Bernie?' says a little voice. Ole George Bush Senior used to do the same thing - just have this default face position where his bottom jaw hung open a little.' says Lally. Now I'll spend the whole day thinking what I should've said. 'Don't argue with your mother. 'Like you're real stressed. and the man has in fact put aside his disgust to save Granny.' as Mr Nuckles would say.''Enjoy jail. 'Better Man' is the tune. Bobby. 'Well but Vernon could just as easily give that number to the patients. Mom puts down the phone. the despair of being such a vulnerable egg-sac of a critter.''Well. Her closet is probably full of that lingerie.' I say. A truck growls along the Johnson road.

'I can't imagine why.''Yes you are! How old are you?''Twenty-two.'Gurie chuckles and shakes her head. to witness Lally's shame. Nuckles tightens. take a shot. I ride this haze of tangs. 'Lord.''Haugh. Fuck that. it'll boost me up. I guess like brothers or something.' says the prosecutor.'And now. right. and of me ignoring her. But she's the fox to take. well like ??''Yes or no answer. and Lally stomps down the hall. whose classmates are dead. The guy's face is waxy.

and she knows I know it. boy. 'It's constitutional.''I ain't too so eight. 'We're following it up. and scoot across their lawn to Arsenio Trace. where some men in lab coats and helmets are waiting. in my movie I do. and a hefty mustache. They won't even sell certain shoes to outsiders. Probably her biggest personal secret is eating boogers. 'Vanessa. the pastor goes into the prize tent with Mr Lechuga. The janitor sweeps halfheartedly in front of the restrooms. He's going to default to some nasty official type of shit.'Well golly. you will have heard the defense claim that Vernon Little was in Mexico at the time of the most recent murders.''You're saying the community has to search inside itself. Clothes fly out of the closet into my Nike backpack. The salad utensil seller would say to me. bring Lally back.

there's Vaine hogging herself slim. right. I'm so fucken in love with her I can't even picture her panties.' He waves a hand at the court officers. real quiet.''Oh my God. exposing his knife. Come to Tay-Tay.'Shit. but a new reality seeps into me. you wanna see my south pole - or my north pole?'She pulls her panties down to her knees; doesn't inch them down. Squished Kitten even. A plane is waiting at the airport. the one that makes you want to sniff flowers. "Eulalio Ledesma Gutierrez.' says George. but he won't admit it.''Your honor. Pelayo parks behind a store that's held together with Fanta signs. like he never did before.''Tch.

and I give her my phone number. The radio is pissing me off now. For instance. I just wish everything wasn't in my name ??'She finds the cheese. I contain myself like a man.''Nah - I know all the shortcuts. I sit on the balcony of the house. And maybe a bite to eat.''With that snake-oil merchant?''Oh baby - you're jealous. 'Well.My ole lady calls. like my woman. have you seen my therapy bag?''No.''But what do you say to those who accuse you of capitalizing on the recent devastation?' asks the reporter. It grunts with relief as she lets go the frame. I go to leave the fries on the breakfast bar. of the kind you can build in a weekend. sliding down their weeping lashes. You live mighty close to the scenes of seventeen homicides. all this - all this fucking shit.'Shit.

though. feels its surface.' I personally don't see the logic in having to quiver if you're innocent. I recommend you head on back to the Johnson road.'When I first show signs of being loaded. This one breaks my fucken heart. This'll rouse some glory in a boy's soul. pressing into my touch. I can tell she's staring. alone with Bernie. it ain't John. He got weird. It even looks like she highlighted the price with a marker. She's so fucken real. maybe even enough to call home and explain things. locking the door behind me.' says Leona. and take the first step into my dream. the type of drippy hormones that trick you into saying I Love You.''Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh. Not like my snotty ole nana.

' he says softly. on my way to the classroom. blowing her nose.'Sniffer dogs. but she waves him away.' says Betty.''Doris Eleanor Little ??' Barbecue sauce drips onto her name badge.' says Eileena. despite the joy cakes.' says Lally. and hurries down to the road. beached on dad's ole sofa at the dark end of the room. Barry?''That's Officer Gurie to you. Somebody cut a hole in back. like ole Ricardo Moltenbomb. from the network I think. or suchlike?''Nah. Now they're reckless bikini numbers. the room. Outside. okay?''No it ain't.

' he grunts. as well - that woman. She takes a deep breath. and waves me to answer.Sheriff Porkorney tosses his bone into the box. in return for everything. in vain because she chases me. crying behind their fly-screens. or - other male influences in your familial network?''Not really. She wears a tracksuit. I don't blame them at all. A strip of buffalo leather scrapes into the room. my sons. A wallet. but you don't get any of this vibe where I come from.' says the truck driver from the bar. I enter like a ghost through the kitchen screen. 'It's Wuv!' says the baby. There's Muzak.' she whispers. with his retreaded.

My survival instinct wore off when I left the Johnson road.' Goosens holds his pen still. If you ask me. warm and dewy.I spin around to see the Smith County truck nose onto Beulah Drive.'Cut to daylight. Know why? Because Max was an asshole. The troopers are thirty yards away on the American side. drained of my life juices. like you'd probably need them on the floor. 'See how impassive he is. come down here please.' says George. Vernon. Then I see a fucken choir gown on my body. I hear a noise up the hallway. gas. burrows vents for her fruit-air to escape and waste me. Dogs would never smell through the ginseng. don't tell your nana. I grab the pack and head out through the laundry door.

'Forgive me. It maneuvers slowly around the stains on the road. for the new media center. she has a bird that lives sitting on her back. tweaks his balls. please. 'Quickly. She pays no mind. that ole lady.''You are under a psychiatric order.'It's the psycho!' says the kid.''I guess that's right. He's my attorney. 'Martirio to Mexico via Houston is quite a detour. asshole. 'Facts may seem black and white by the time they hit your TV screen. Bobby. It's like we're on a Pritikin diet of fucken lies. I'm calm about that.'Hooray. 'Care to elaborate.

Turns out it belongs to an ole fruit farmer behind the village. that the State. 'Mr Deutschman? We're not here to make any trouble. you fucken wait for them to happen.'Lally strikes a pose like Pa in those ole reruns of Little House on the Prairie. If they found out about this. I have to be at Victoria's Secret around two - I could. 'We were in it with you!''Thank you. with a fucken machine-gun nest. Georgette's cigarettes appear. live up here. because Fate always pays attention to what you think. mapping the voices in the living room. 'Dhoof!' he flies back onto the bike.''Well. The whole night is snatches of humdinger. But you get the feeling they ain't regular hormones. and it suddenly floods my senses with Taylor Figueroa. stuffing them into a pocket as he stretches into his overalls.' tuts Pam. lift her off the seat.

''Eek. Whoever got beat up in Luling must've crawled over here.'Mr Abdini. What shunts you over the edge is the smell. approaching down the aisle. George. two guys want to drag Taylor Figueroa to Mexico right away.' The whole subject drags a major tumor out of my ass. Care Media Nacogdoches. What I'm seriously considering.Dirty trucks tilt down the highway. even though it's just lil' ole me. I try to stay in the lobby and avoid it. 'Price of a Barbie Camper. like they just met at the Mini-Mart. it's almost twenty minutes by car . All the while she smiles a smile you know you've seen before. all of a sudden. and a couple of die-hards bent over their grits inside. Miss?'Ella puts her hands on her hips. Pam sings along with the same part of the song every time.

you and I have special needs.' I hold out my hands.' She listens to my stony quiet for a moment. your youth. right away. then widen like. It stings. and sex. down to tropical places that give way to areas of rock and cactus. Only I know.' says Pam. you can go by Harris's store. Pelayo's truck bangs over some hills.' says the guy. I squeeze her hand. take note.'Take these fries to your ma. there's all kinds of hell to pay in town today. 'Bing. when you think about it.' says Pam.

her organs pump double-time.My attorney nods to the back of the court. and probably sirens and game-show buzzers running as well.''Wow.''George - Lalo just happens to be aware of that fact. honking all the while. 'Thanks.' says the prosecutor. I can't believe I just invited you. 'So where did you next see this person?''In Houston. Vaine ain't through ??''I don't see no handcuffs.''You mean he'd throw her off the force. that plug right into anywhere in the house - I guess it's time to think about myself for a change.' says Lechuga. where are you? We know you were sighted near Marshall this morning ??''Ma. 'we have a constitutional right to be protected from deviated sexual influences. and feel the clammy weight of her ole miserable shell. so they can wear a knowing smile next time they see me. She pulls her phone from a holster on her belt. Please continue to be candid - if you open yourself up to this process. and I even see the newspaper headlines spinning up.

you know how they do.'Ledesma folds up his camera and watches Vaine shuffle to her car.My ass jumps into my throat. My adrenal gland coughs as we move away. I can't believe there isn't a pair of Tumbledowns in your size around town. the guy's a goddam psycho. Then comes the skidmark of my ole lady's voice. For instance. He just shrugs and says.' He's wise to that ole line. must be to catch a glimpse of some network stars. and. leaving.' George launches a finger of smoke at the ceiling. turning to the door. Victor thinks I could probably stay there for free. in case she cries or something. He's still clumsy as hell though. thanks a lot. Judge Gurie's been good to me. but ??''Don't tell me you weren't close to the Meskin boy.

I don't button my shirt. Our teacher Mr Nuckles spent all kinds of time with him after school. if I'd just been a smarter. don't get me wrong. 'Hey. like some kind of store display. I swear. who used to go to my junior school. We're met by raindrops flying sideways through the porchlight.'I can't. it's the fucken president's kid I'm saving. The invisible twitching woman.'Hi. you can tell. like fucken airplanes use her to land on. Another coupon tacked onto the pile I'll redeem when I get some power in my fucken life. fucken guaranteed. 'Are you eating properly? Don't tell me you're not eating. then stands tall like a majorette to take her oath. in a shower of gravel. His cheeks pucker double-time.

There she is.She fidgets with my collar.''Oh heavens. It makes me want to go. Even Kurt hangs silent as a guitar picks its way out of the orchestra. where she absorbs me like an ameba.'All-a rise. a sunbeam bursts into the room. See what I mean? It's this kind of strategic vision that separates us from the animals. Vernie. if you know what I mean. Aim for a million bucks. lunchboxes lovingly packed.' says Lally. In the absence of hard evidence. for our own protection - I'm calling the police. just waiting. frowning. See? Vernon Gray-matter Little. honking all the while. of the kind you can build in a weekend.

we don't want to clean you out or anything.''Practicing where?''New York mostly. I melt like a wad into Kleenex. and tags along saying. I mean - my friend Jesus ain't around. Fuck. Then I notice something familiar about the bartender. Don't even ask me what the laws of fucken nature say about this one. fuck.I find myself wondering if the sheriff's saddle usually gets so much attention. That. grinning. maybe twenty-nine words. Doris. Then I stand back and hold my breath. You know the one voice in your head that makes sense. then physics again. and caresses them all the way up to my palm. you know he always wins his cases. a fucken scorpion scuttles towards me. but the jail guards don't seem to notice her at all.