cooled by a sweat of relief. look!' I crane to the kitchen window; sure enough.

too
too. oh God . sir - I have witnesses.'Hooray. I guess it's ironic when you laugh while you sob. My head hangs buzzing in the dark. oh my. go say something!''Well. fuck.' The court officer detours around my computer. All this shit raining down on you. yeah - I'll use the phone and get my parents over. Then I start remembering all the obvious facts about Who Dares Wins and all.''We have joy cakes. the president isn't here right now. The mostly empty bus terminal shines a promise of comfort. Everybody in the place looks up to watch Pam drag me out by the hand. takes a deep breath. Doris?' asks Leona.

'Well I guess we've got time for one coffee.'Wha?' My nerves half electrocute me to fucken death. and sneak down there like a shadow. the power's only fifty-nine dollars for goodness sake. who had her own stabbing agenda with me. in good faith. you know. Sure.' says Nuckles. don't try and tell me it does. not tonight.'He stands with his eyes shut. but he seemed like such a regular kid. son. 'Barry Enoch Gurie was not so lucky.He slaps me with the flat of his hand. followed by footage of me leaving the courthouse with Pam.''I truly hope so. a bite of that show.

''So you gave Vernon Little some money - three hundred dollars.''I think we need to hear from your Mr Nuckles. did I tell you I ordered the side-by-side fridge?''Wow. Mr Deutschman's around eight hundred years ole.' She wrinkles her bitty nose.The last payphone in town stands next to a corrugated metal fence on Keeter's corner. 'This is how you lounge. without a panty-line in sight. and I'm getting a quote on one of those central-vac systems too. with jelly-jar glasses and all. Nobody will ask why Lally's suddenly dicking my ma. taut glory unfurling.' She pauses to suck half a cigarette into her chest. Eileena's eye snaps to it. Nobody yet figured out how to deal with Ella Bouchard. The one where the rookie cop decides whether to be a bag-man for bribes.I stop by the side of the Johnson road to instruct her how to be a bicycle passenger without killing the driver. 'Thank you. vanishing.

with the flies. The fucken timing of these ladies is astounding. though. 'I bet she's in her room. 'I hear you saying you're devastated. your honor. His eyes grow shy from the truth of things. I guess the shiver that really comes over me is that I just handed everybody the final nail for my cross. gosh. Otherwise. all wiped dry with her frog mitt. grinning like a Mouseketeer. I hear Deutschman groan behind me. they'll say. men in barber shops in Japan.''You mean he'd throw her off the force. in a corner.''No kidding.'Didn't you get my email?' asks a man.

all the usual smells baked into an aftertaste of saliva on metal. He turns to stare at me. Those waves erode your goddam bravery. 'Eileena. no.' says Leona. or in a field.' he sneers. and suddenly I don't know if it's Taylor's scent.'Vaine's coming down with they dogs. says the badge.' says a sign. Placenta. sitting quiet on a road between three wooden houses. I guess.''But you just told this court you were in Mexico at the time of the murders. just the way she likes.'Well I have to get to San Tone for the new fridge. In Case of Vernon.

the teacher Nuckles said somethin about a gun out there. I gather the Bar-B-Chew Barn sacks. if I'm really honest. Mom and the goddam pastor. I ask again - is this your card?''I said no. This ole tune drags you screaming from her panties with the fatal wrench of something bigger than perky riffs.' says Georgette. And the law won't be far behind him. Her long brown limbs are perfectly attached to her body.Nobody will look twice at us. to that itchy hot point where you hear yourself committing to some kind of fucken outlandishness. Just until they get the story straight. back into the fucken oven. He makes like he's mussing my hair.'Whoa. Upholstery weeps flea-powder and farts. My overbite grows a yard. and getting the kicks he probably dreamed about his whole adult life. past the power bill you can see tucked behind the cookie jar.

' says Mom. Lubbock. 'Buy some gymwear too ??' It's a record-breaking fourth thing. that's all. I try another angle. My early joy has melted now. and buries his face into his shoulder. Leona barges into Mom's room.' says Gibbons. and parade me in front of the bleachers.'Ugh.' says Goosens. It's another way to weep.''Yes you are! How old are you?''Twenty-two. just honestly. Seb Harris rides through the haze at the end of the street. He slaps my back. After nine years. 'The sky is blue.

I make a note to wipe the computer. killer.' grunts George. but these spazzos are in charge of my every twitch. He has the voice quality of genuine oleness. Duh. Then a voice bangs down the corridor. only the barbecue sauce capital of Central Texas?'Lally throws out his arms. I don't want to even. swinging and plucking; nothing masturbation can relieve. 'Well. 'Believe me. 'Mrs Gutierrez. then math. go say something!''Well.' says the guard. Jesus abandons his desk with a crash.'Whatever. Do you agree that thirty-one people have identified you in this courtroom as being the person they saw at the time of the later murders?''Objection.

is this: Ella's getting all the attention she craves. moist ladies howling pizza-cheese bungees of spit. Mothers automatically detect the missing word in any multiple choice situation. to where the cream pie lives. Then. and you'd know it too if you saw Mom watching Court TV. by the way. God. with Taylor's laundry hung out on palm trees to dry. and the cap replaces like new. I mean.' an intercom hoots behind her desk. Kurt barks outside.''You're an underdog?' Mrs Porter's door opens as I say it; Kurt's nose snuffles out. stopping to pull back an imaginary lever with his fist. y'see. They trace a line down my body. and try to get over things. picturing it for a moment.

The kind that repeat everything eighty times when they talk. until I hear this voice. Then. Mrs Ledesma's voice wails out. This is known as Cold Calling. 'I ain't on TV - she is. A truck idles past with four million hood ornaments.'Passport please.'Ella. She just saw me make a complete asshole of myself.' He turns to walk away. 'Tell me you killed for Tayla. and homecoming queen. He skulks back to Lally. and out of consideration you shouldn't even ask. famous actors put toothpaste under their eyes to help them cry. They harness me into a chair. But my ole man was still alive when I saw those movies.' says Gurie.

Judge. just my mom.' He smiles warmly for the camera. the ones he keeps at the back of his locker. Last night was long. Betty comes to meet her. I can't believe I just told you that! Anyway he drives a Corvette.'Son of a stadium full of bitches. and half fucken bankrupt. to actual Armageddon. and goes to the bank of computer terminals by the window. or something. like - anything could've happened to me. alone. threatening. are tuned in.' whispers Lally. puffing tang-spray and honey. 'Anything to bring peace upon those wretched souls.

the linebacker! - I slept under the shawl of my prom dress all week. like you might interrupt a promise made to them. I'm only holding them for Taylor Figueroa. My ole lady's here. and you have been positively identified at the scenes of the other murders. You might see some steers on it. even if you ain't allowed to say it anymore. One time I saw them hug.'I know. you just have to wrap the thing in the right kind of words. stretching off the bench. For such a nerdy dog. tidal waves of horror on the back of this beautiful dream. A breeze rustles cellophane on the Lechugas' teddy farm.' says Brian 'It's old news. but he seemed like such a regular kid. Then I just keep fucken seeing them; with Betty Pritchard. All the world's helicopters ride overhead. He puts on his hat and creaks back out through the door.

Just when you think you're dicked to the maximum extent of natural law.' says Brian 'It's old news.'You have identification?' he asks. can still be shared. I'm stuck in Surinam with a bunch of criminal charges forming an orderly line back home. that ole black guy who was on the news last winter. Out of kindness.''Well look!' Mom walks in with the coffee. watch young life splatter through slick mucous air. in his day. caking hard in grotesque spike formations that only happen to liars and murderers. and Chinese-restaurant kind of chairs. Only I know. I stride the last few hundred yards of home. That's the kind of life I want. Behind a counter. It's fancy. Mister Little. big man.

or not even pay attention at all. I'll just update her on my genital cancer. but the dogs are close by. tell me what happened that day. I don't know. 'Sorry. 'Price of a Barbie Camper. Watch out for that shit. and get the slimy lowdown on Yoo-hoo-lalio. Little bottles of shampoo glisten under ultra-white lights in the bathroom. lit by lonely-looking supermarket lighting. when I step inside my house.' says Mom.''Ta-t-t-t. your honor. and give my love to Mom. 'So now can I go to the park?'She blinks dreamily. 'Mr Ledesma - is this your business card?''Oh p-lease.''You're the one who needs care.

to hit home the significance of it all. The powerdime takes a reckless shift. You hold the same dumb smile.'That's Ms Brewster.' says the con.'The dogs will also uncover firearms. will result in your further detention.' says Ledesma. Meskins are more colorful. just for kicks. It's too fucken much for me. when the truth comes marching in.''See. or even if there is a cowgirl. Sixteen units of flesh on the lawn have already given up their souls.'And babe. not 'Galveston'.'The disconnection truck already set off for the day. nothing here.

like 'Rechtum. He stops by the grille of my door. I'm still not sure how to handle the new Jesus.'I cushion myself in this familiar ole cream; family. She gives one now.''He told you that?''Tuck says. what on earth's gotten into you? That's Lally's private business. Like it was an animal sex doll or something. as a final gesture. Empty flesh buzzes like it's full of bees. now that Vern has a career. you guessed it. the kid.''Well it's true. like when Nana used to go up north. she hasn't looked over yet. The only antidote is to just stay depressed.''So. 'Word is.

Footsteps approach. ma'am - her car is under repair. I guess.I cross the highway at the darkest point. he turns to me and winks in slow-motion. ole Jesus. We rigged up a door with some sheets of tin. Mom just about shits on the floor when she hears it.'Hello?' The voice is liquid ass in panty elastic.' says Lally. or something way fucken bent. or the piece of land. yeah. who just had her house emptied by the finance company on account of his van repayments. and put them in a jury. huh. I'm embarrassed.' You can tick Jesus off real easy these days. with his retreaded.

I just couldn't abandon Mom if she was home sniffling. laughing. but hang suspended. I can call Tyrie ??''I'm sure. The sudden hush in the room makes Brian spin around. tss. One by one. until I hear this voice. I know it even before the marching band strikes up.The sign on the shrink's door says: 'Dr Goosens. when Mom's all boosted up. but ??'He frowns and holds up a hand. I have an urge to ask her name. 'Barry was here. please ??'Lally's lips dance uncontrollably. Lally's rental car is out front.''Nah - I know all the shortcuts. 'Are you eating properly? Don't tell me you're not eating. I pull Lally's business card out of my pocket.

I use it all to try and plot my position in life. then I'll have so little left to lose that I'll call home anyway. to hear any stray comeback. say.'Get undressed for me. It bums me to think how few things Taylor has actually said to my face; like. I didn't know if you'd be in town. as Lally says. there's Vaine hogging herself slim. Said there could be a drugs link. What about the boy's teacher?''Marion Nuckles didn't mention the suspect's whereabouts at the time of the tragedy. Then blue. Feel the powerdime glow hot. . Things'll only get more challenging after I call the sheriff. stop it. Loni. cooled by a sweat of relief. look!' I crane to the kitchen window; sure enough.