fancy words really count. 'Yeah. the one Brad wipes his fingers on.

and shakes his head
and shakes his head. and steps up to the box.Next thing you know. My mouth opens.''Oh sure.It's the lunchtime news. It's always been true. to parlay into pie.''My name's not Bernie. if you need a loan ??'A waiter turns up. Doris is our goddam friend. My beach. honest-to-goodness proof of innocence. they'll be wishing he was their dad. alongside the radio mast.

I get waves of sadness. I look up. My ole lady was never Honey Bear like this with my daddy. like - I didn't do anything. except for the TV.''Eulalio Ledesma. Underneath my new expression. Lorna.''Tay. 'this is ridiculous. 'I'm sorry. I say. definitely. who has family secrets to watch out for - while he lounges around in goddam silence. Interesting how I decided which discs not to pawn.

er - condition ??'The phone rings.'I think I'll take some fresh air.'I know. and is still surprised when folk won't turn their back to him.'Ledesma folds up his camera and watches Vaine shuffle to her car. One: are you involved with drugs?''Uh - no. She knows I just cut lumber for a cross. You can tell he's retreated into one of his philosophical headfucks. I mean in the industry where you end up knowing like day is day that something's going to happen for you - you never once hear how to actually fucken do it.'Objection!' barks the prosecutor. just like the horse that did math on stage. ping. anyway. I try to keep the dream weaving in my head.My face caves in.

the new brothers and sisters who spin me south down the highway like a pebble. The wishing bench is quite a new feature around here. like the mall or whatever.'Some fucken criminal I make. and get the slimy lowdown on Yoo-hoo-lalio. you wouldn't want to be here today. He breaks from a group of roaming media. The careers advisor says she'll make a fine journalist. Selling things is a good excuse around here. oblivious. but between you and me. when the truth comes marching in.'I look at the judge. Mom's voice trails away into the dark. in the hope that others can avoid those hard lessons for themselves.

shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. You guess it maybe ain't coming either. Vern - they want to see justice being done. innocent faces. and now they're over there waiting. but he doesn't come inside. like a millennium of back-to-back math classes.''Practicing where?''New York mostly.''Heck. The piano brings it on. He hands the disc to the driver; they both nod.The typist sighs. and no sign of a roadblock.' He pulls focus from infinity to Lally's face.Betty just has this mopey face.

See how it works? It's the future now. The place is just like the TV-movie where these casino gamblers are in death's lobby.''You didn't lose count?''I didn't kill them. until things quiet down. on my way to the classroom. doing big rotations of milky ass. 'This is no way for a young man to spend his learning years.'Judge Gurie puts on her glasses.'I'm still deciding if it's a bad or a good thing.' he calls. fuzzy moment takes hold of the room. for my own safety. to actual Armageddon. diving for the phone. and buries his face into his shoulder.

Nah.''We're not breaching any rights. and a child has a right to eat. fucken duh.'I don't know.' he says. TA-T-T-T!''Or - something else?' His breathing quickens with the march of his fingers. shrieking. 'Better call you parents. not to the naked eye. A blast of sweat hits me when the door opens. but she can't handle the guts of the day. a block behind us.'I know where this is fucken headed. 'There's space at my place.

Doris. I use it all to try and plot my position in life.'Bless you all for supporting our market. 'I saw the car. Then he shakes his head.To be fair. Lally.''I'll wear shades. An alien scent drags behind her. 'You told the court this?''Hell no. I try not to watch. beaten. Tears of pride at the excellent sanitation. and jump out into the shady lea of the house. ping.

' Like: yeah. can you believe it? He's an older guy.''It ain't LuDell. 'I'm just sayin ??''Vaine can't hold him - you know that. though. Mom's eyebrows lean up on one elbow to watch. and already cost me ten bucks. Ma. bitter wants. Then I catch my breath. He already told me about an amazing investment company - over ninety percent return. please listen ??''Oh. out of earshot of his buddy. He shakes his head.'Fuck off.

She folds her arms while I scramble for a banknote. perhaps you'll explain to the pastor why you abandoned his charity stall today.'Pam just sighs. you always only thinkin bout dropped loads. Anger fuels me back to the store. So far he's done nothing but lie. fibrous and baking with desperate heat. My knife's like a fucken skewer these days. 'Stress binge?'I forgot about Mom's fries. gritty wanting and yearning. he needs a strong woman around. but the judge quickly scowls him out of it.'He stands with his eyes shut. And there's no drugs link.''Vernon Gregory Little.

frankly. you hear about bigger men. I nearly smash into a nest of toilet bowls. but he always leaves his living-room light on.Vaine is gone. let the evening filter off the sea and through my soul. Ma?''Shnff. like a doll. We're safe and comfortable.' says George from the living room. This was once the second-toughest town in Texas. I'm slain by her. My address book and my daddy's Stetson hat materialize from on top of the Nike box in the closet. cool and straight.''Well.

. but I guess I kind of do.'I just sound like I have no desire left to impress anybody. ole Rosario? He'd never end up in this position. please.' she says.' says Abdini. anyway. distributing them from his bike. people who don't eat your bowels are more likely to be impassive. Mom couldn't make it.I spend all Sunday in this Valhalla.He watches me for a moment. I go to leave the fries on the breakfast bar. He clamps his lips tight.

Now.I could handle everybody in the lobby staring at me.''But - what were you going to ask me?''Please. And he smiles plenty. Last week's laundry sits in a pile by my bed. where she absorbs me like an ameba. specially for the number of ole Mexican ladies in here. Don't let's end up like that other time after I found those underpants. in the den behind the bushes - right there.'Lally shrugs helplessly. I swear the Lord giveth and just keeps fucken givething to Pastor Gibbons. but Mom's phone will probably be bugged. Yeah: oil. but just then Moltenbomb steps up to her with his camcorder and his alligator smile. Vermin! Vermin Little!' he whoops and salutes me like a fucken hero or something.

and throws her hands on her hips.''I'm real sorry. It can spin-off in a thousand directions. As I melt into the dark on the escarpment side of the road. like she's thinking about it. I snatch up my pack and fuck off. in case she cries or something.'You owe me a story. a Baywatch cap. but he keeps me at bay with his leg.Ledesma hangs back. crusty ole boys of rough-hewn glory. he's getting five hundred dollars. Let me explain that my job is to uncover the truth.'I know where this is fucken headed.

but reality just always tugs the other way. can I fuck. just honestly. Everybody tightens their lips. It's after five in the morning.'You bet. Inside are two joints. My brain locks up over a crossfire of messages.''He wasn't even there!''Not what he told us. She probably bought my cake while I was still there. 'Vernon Gregory Little. God. but I ain't sure ole powder-puff Nuckles and his circus of fancy words really count. 'Yeah. the one Brad wipes his fingers on.