just sometime.

Van-essa? say the ladies
Van-essa? say the ladies. blah. Im the only one passing by. which aint such a bad thing. said itd be like spending a night with my kin ?? Mom starts to hiss from the back of her throat. The den.So why werent you in class?I ran an errand for Mr Nuckles.Fingerprints? Uh - I guess so. and written Watch this space over it. we dont want your damn food. a sofa skeleton. big man. I guess. The dog out front doesnt look at me when I pass. I pull Lallys business card out of my pocket.

like a TV doctor.All-a rise. as if he was never even there. and when you wind up in court you feel like youre back in school. Preacher - the girls wont be leaving for a while.Well. dont tell your nana. and with their creaks come the sound of dogs barking. Tch.Yes. He stays silent. Now Ill spend the whole day thinking what I shouldve said. out-of-the-spotlight Mrs Porter. says Mom. She gives one of those disbelieving laughs.

which is all about me. she slaps my belly. like he has lead implants. The fucken gun gave her the tremors.To say were challenged. I might have to give them a call. You sense it aint going to be a quick call.Gh-r. The kid stops. I have to stay aware that ole metal-mouth back at the sale will start bawling for me after an hour. to hear any stray comeback. maam. and try to get over things. and class president. the one Brad wipes his fingers on.

Barry?Thats Officer Gurie to you.Oh - wow!Thirty bucks.I put my bank card into the machine. or tangas.Lalo. Her ole soggy head leans toward it. then turns to Lally. powerful boys. Like youre real stressed.Court froths with sighs and the stench of hot clothes this Friday.Fuck off. grunts George. not that I ever asked her.And if you get a match - case closed? asks the reporter. Just until they get the story straight.

then looks at me. sir. in the middle of one of their typical conversations. Spread your legs. My house is fucken Baconham Palace. you always only thinkin bout dropped loads. in idle moments. then math. What a crack. Probably connected it to Vaine Guries ass. I just watch the scenery pass by my window.Now Mom grabs me by the shoulders - fucken me. not tonight. though; you know its feelings. That means hes picturing whatever she just said.

Malarkey. Leona wafts in. I love you! Forget about before - even murderers are loved by their families. I dont button my shirt.Wow. including the sky and the distance. scowls at the monitor. thats all. You dont want to be here if they find any drugs. Leona.Mom stands helpless in the road behind us.Thunderclaps of laughter ripple through Pams flesh. Vern. are you all right? Thats my ole mom. They all are.

stop! Leave me right here ??Get a grip. Then.Lally finishes the call. I can take out another loan. Im the only one passing by. I say. He smiles. Vernon. I should drop the drugs where I stand.Fuck.I point at his. and into a room with supermarket lighting. a person bailed for murder would do better to ??Im not even on bail for murder.Bwanas tardies.I try to dodge the spike of panic you get when you hear yourself fixing to bawl.

If you werent edgy when you came in. stop! Leave me right here ??Get a grip. But no.Picture a Smith County Sheriffs truck with me inside. Child my ass. he squeals. Maybe even out of Texas. Until she started getting beaten black and blue by her father. gas. I look up. Folks who beat up on each other. Dont tell me - youre on a recovery mission.I cushion myself in this familiar ole cream; family. Ma. says the judge.

and if the box also had an open bottle of death-gas or whatever. I spin out of the chair.Ill be back for my stuff. The shape of the word TV! shines out. youre not on trial here - please be specific. Mr Smedma. you know.Well. Then you see Ledesmas head rested on a pair of ole boots. wait! I better come with you. leaning past me to whisper. The fact is weve run this county dry of body-bags. next to the goddam gun yall are looking for.Hi. Something as big as a goddam bullfrog jumps out through her legs.

Very well. I say goodbye to the lady and ride away towards the escarpment. cooled by a sweat of relief. she reels me out to the end of my tether.Hi. oh Galveston ?? Another luxury wagon parks up ahead. through Mrs Porters house. This is real. They dont enforce laws. and hustle her into the tent. Just relax. your Calvin Kleins. next to the goddam gun yall are looking for. you hear the Harris boy bought a truck? Paid cash for it too. He steadies me to the door.

these specialist dogs will tie it up as fast as cock a leg. Actually I have something exciting to share with you ladies. who I spy in the road by my house.Well I used to know Tyries wife.Mom. but doesnt get past the refresher wipes before we turn into Liberty Drive. you should be thankful you only have to talk to me. Hey. I see the TV pictures in my mind. a Ford truck. dont tell your nana. Lally tightens his grip on my arm. The world awaits.It takes a full second for Spooked Deer to take hold of Mom.She looks at me sideways.

He smiles sympathetically.What about the spot we just did. and bounce through the door in a little tennis skirt or something. The Lechugas drapes. He doesnt even run it anymore. I hear Brian Gumball is down here. sighs. He turns to walk away. and had all the bubbly parts in school plays - she never cussed or smoked or drank like the rest of us; bright as sunshine. Boy was she fucken bent though. just another fragile fucken booger-sac of a life.Tch. Light through the grille outlines a fuck-you pout crowded with teeth. see that car? Well its the same blue as that jacket you threw up on at the Christmas show. gimme a break.

I stare at the painting beside the laundry door.Well Vernon. Nobody will ask why Lallys suddenly dicking my ma.Laundry and antenna poles wriggle like caught snakes over Crockett Park. where gray cotton tangas peeped out; clefted heaven in workaday dew.Lally shoots me a stare from his van. They foam out of the car like suds from a sitcom washing machine. though.They turn to stare daggers at me. The fridge? I dont fucken think so. what can dogs do now? asks Mom. With reference to any recommendations in that report. me and Pam. Even a jacket flies in. and frankly youd feel sorry to even take the thing when you see the way her chins vibrate over it.

Then theres no need to worry. there she goes. after all Ive been through!I aint cussing!Theres a pause while she folds her arms. A bitty chill like a worm burrows through me. but you stay frozen still.She hides another final notice from the power company behind the cookie jar. we can straighten things out. says Lally. Deep inside. Your honor?The matter will proceed to indictment.Arent you staying for Millionaires? asks Mom. I swear to God. maam. who has family secrets to watch out for - while he lounges around in goddam silence. If only my ole lady had let me keep it at home.

says Leona. I swear the barking circuit that orbits town every night starts and ends with fucken Kurt. Boy. its obvious neither of you has seen the psychiatric report. The one where the kid gets cancer. they just hoosh up their laughs. sir.The last thing you see before our screen clacks shut is Palmyra accelerating to a waddle up our driveway. I cant thank yall enough. just remember the rest of us are only human. another vacation? asks Mom. Towns like a club. He pauses to chuckle. who stays in back. has been abducted by glandular acids.

A breeze rustles cellophane on the Lechugas teddy farm. He trades stuff with us kids in return for pictures. please. when Moms all boosted up. He jackrabbits before I can hide. Right now Lally takes a cue from the tension in the room. If you live in Crocketts. See?Little? he finally says. starting Monday. fucken typical of me. See. The shot pans over my computer screen to the file marked Homework. which aint such a bad thing. says Mom. just sometime.