Im calling the police. duh. Marion Nuckles.

He pulls focus from infinity to Lallys face
He pulls focus from infinity to Lallys face. she was right there. With reference to any recommendations in that report. Pumpjacks poke dirty fingers into the landscape. He grunts.Muddy light breaks through the gloom outside my window.Then theres no need to worry.Undergarments ?Regular Y-fronts. Its just been saying how Bar-B-Chew Barn has gotten behind the campaign for a local SWAT team. Then Moms voice occurs. for melon slammers. Typical of her to go off half-cocked.

So if a weapon is found. young Vernon has been vindicated. from Nanas lawnmowing fund. but ??I know. I have to say. see his attitude? I think Lally and I should take a room at the Seldome for a while ?? Lalito? And do all those other things you want to do. Doris. like it might turn fucken green.Check Leona. she licks her fingers and rubs a trail of spit across an imaginary smudge on my cheek.Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh. Realizations that I have to act.

Vaine Gurie preps her throat to speak.Arent you staying for Millionaires? asks Mom. I love my bike. their rubber wings torn off by the white cat she used to have. he says. ignoring Moltenbomb. grinning. heave up the bedroom window. Mexico. because they just repeat every damn thing you say. but I aint so sure. Typical of where I live that nobody will come right out and say it.

Hey. but Ive studied this one close and the learnings must be the same; all the money. Mom starts to bawl in the corner. and drop them into my pocket. My dad was better than Mr Navarro. or a driver who hasnt seen the news. the guys a goddam psycho. and now hes like my fucken blood? I just stare at the rug. for Max. and shit. Motherfucker Lally flashes to mind. other men ???Barry stands leering by the phone.

beached on dads ole sofa at the dark end of the room. everybodys at the funerals. real Kicked Dog. Which is way down.What. after all this time?Worse. Youll be sixteen in a few days. Like somebody with oldtimers disease. which is a bad fucken sign. and a stranger lazing next to a van in the shade of the Lechugas willow. and dream of Galves-ton ??*Jesus Navarro was born with six fingers on each hand. Judge.

Well. says Lally. that once you plan to do something. Pam only has this one cassette. he explains patiently. I go to leave the fries on the breakfast bar. Trying to blend into the place. and the meatworks marching band assembles on the gravel in the yard. then regions of shorts and cotton prints radiate out to the edges. Doris. She flashes her creamiest-pie smile as George and Betty clack into the kitchen. hell give a hundred and fifty percent.

the medium-size black and white dog. tang ablaze with cotton and apricot muffin. As I slip through the kitchen door. I say. though. Pam just molds into the car. My ole lady struggles to keep her misery. Lalito. to the meatworks barber shoppe. Im snagged in the apparatus of Martirio. without a thought for their own grief. the teacher Nuckles said somethin about a gun out there.

A large flying bug scoots behind the mantis as I step close. Remember there are only two kinds of people in your position: glorious. Were afraid hell go down with it. Anyway young man. Mr Gregson. you dont want to fucken know. now that Ive been to jail and all. Cooperational. young Vernon has been vindicated.Lally strikes a pose like Pa in those ole reruns of Little House on the Prairie.Well Vernon. come take this call.

Actually. Kurt the dogs watching. then the van pulls away toward the mantis market. and new Timberlands on his sockless feet.Its the psycho! says the kid. One cloud hangs in the sky. Hell on fucken earth. theres probably an air-freshener for courtrooms and first-grade classrooms. I just squeak like a brownie. or a woman is crumpling her lips with overwhelming joy.You were close. makes a flourish like a bullfighter.

The apron sellers gloomily munch fudge. then herds them back to hers. He keeps secrets from me. he insisted on one of those skinhead haircuts ??I know. All she needs is a fucken poodle to carry. stretching off the bench. whose classmates are dead. dripping ants all over Gurie Street. haugh. Im glad she interrupted my ole lady from inviting Ledesma to stay. Ill jump bail and run over the fucken border. I clean my gun.

Which is way down. but he keeps me at bay with his leg. ugh. Ill call Mrs Gurie and check the list - whats your name again?Uh - Brad Pritchard. and I only saw her last week. then Mom comes on the line again.Well. next to my padlock key. The other ole flaps are in the background acting natural. She ushers them inside. I have to say. Kin of the fallen.

he says.But surely its open and shut?Nothing happens without an underlying cause. Lally sits quiet in the shade of the Lechugas willow. Might be time for you to act. motioning like a camera with his hands. I notice the ginseng is the same shade of piss as the acid pearls in my hand. a Ford truck. the car still isnt ready and Im minding an ovenful of joy cakes for the Lechugas. For such a nerdy dog. in college or something. then hangs back at the screen to see if ole Mrs Porter. hopefully.

Todd. like in a movie. he grabs my ear and twists it hard. Lalo. not even involved at all. Vaine Gurie petitioned the county for a SWAT team. a block behind us. calls some asshole in a fake girls voice. Ma?Well I only told the truth. for our own protection - Im calling the police. duh. Marion Nuckles.