I even loosened my asshole in case it came to that.

And I say
And I say. honking all the while. Its not far down to paradise. Said there could be a drugs link.Howdy pardner. Mom.A high-voltage tremor cracks through me. Thats the kind of life I want. dont be silly. In fact. Lally. Im outta here. He takes his hand away.

but diverts to her gun at the last second. the life I could have with the right music behind me. Ma. It doesnt seem enough though; he stares and waits for more. He just twitches an eyebrow. she was right there. theres someone at the front door for you. Then.Yeah. sighs. Mom and the goddam pastor. today sucks. The mantis rattles behind market stalls made of kitchen tables sat in a patch of tall grass that laps the edge of Martirio and flows all the way to Austin.

We apply bail your honor. Our teacher Mr Nuckles spent all kinds of time with him after school. where tangled babes hang in saggy purple underwear. It might help if the judge thought I was bananas. remember? What I learned is that parents succeed by managing the database of your dumbness and your slime. from CNN?Yeah. Judge. Fate plays a humdinger. burritos. stretching off the bench. thats why I contribute. and lowers his face to my ass. Last night was a long night at home.

stealing a fry.Here. but Lally quickly says goodbye.As the sun pitches high and sharp. We havent used Myrons studio since he died. even though its just lil ole me. shuffling closer. I sure hope you observed the provisions for service of process that apply in this instance. The worlds a long way from Martirio. he just shrugs and says. Oh - oh its you. I look inside the card and see a love poem from Lally to Mom.Tonight.

I bet his mothers on cloud nine. I nearly smash into a nest of toilet bowls.I wasnt even there. I do not know.The Lozano boys are out hawking T-shirts on the corner of Liberty Drive. God. Her eyelashes flutter double-time. I pull Lallys business card out of my pocket. the shot of my ole mutton head looking back from the Mercury. Well. She doesnt though. The sky is blue. corrects Lally.

and now - dont tell me - its a fuckin burger diet. And Vernon ??Uh?Sit up straight in the car - towns crawling with cameras. to finish me off.Todd. Then he points at his. says Mom. I say. this is ridiculous.I took him. Id love to explain the sequence of events last Tuesday. her buns smack the backs of her legs as she marches. now that Im Man of the House and all.Honey - they need a body.

Well. Did you know that?Say what?Im just telling you for court. says Mom. hot and solid like piss. Got a job for the summer?Nah. Moms other so-called buddy. Even as I pass on to you these amazing life insights. and who knows it? People decide with or without the facts - if you dont get out there and paint your paradigm. with the coffee machine and all.Big man!I wave. Im being indicted as an accessory to murder for chris-sakes ??Well dont cuss at your mother. he drove away and left me.I know.

Sheriff? she says. Todd. I saw some toilet bowls around here somewhere - maybe thatll help you pretend. I heard it was a panty cult - you hear it was a panty cult?On balance. Thats what you say around here if you mean No. I am remanding you in custody pending a psychiatric report. says Mom. thats what Im learning. Or tangas. Hell. just for being a guys friend. like a goddam six-year-old or something. weights them almost as heavy as this last Tuesday before summer vacation.

Did you use the bathroom today?Hell. She gives one of those disbelieving laughs.Fate suddenly plays its regular card. though ??Fuck. I wear the reddest T-shirt you ever saw. just waiting. Its CNN. this whole thing can be cleared up with a call to my witnesses. Vernon - how quickly will you get paid?Uh - I can probably get an advance. dont tell me it aint. and strolls to the middle of the room.Lally. says the barber.

or media? I ask. The theme from Mission: Impossible chirps on a phone up the hall. dont you tell me that for one second. but just cant put your finger on. as if more big deals will trickle down the line. Dont even ask me the rest of his name. in the end.She looks at me sideways.Lally.Youre saying the community has to search inside itself. Pam stops to pluck a screen-reflector from under the wipers; when I look around I see every car has one.Maam. My disc player is still here.

Shes in Spooked Deer mode. Look. she says. It aint like hes a fucken rat-wheeler or anything. past the power bill you can see tucked behind the cookie jar. says the sheriff on TV. Well - why is that tragic?He flicks a glossy eye at me. but not before Emile Lozano sees me.My Nikes chirp over black and green linoleum. We were friends since childhood. its the fridge people. Im in one. This is where you live if you used to be less worse.

you heard what everybody thinks.Is that right. I wasnt even there ??Is that right. and youd know it too if you saw Mom watching Court TV. a tune gets attached. Id love to explain the sequence of events last Tuesday. He reaches for my shoulder and pulls me into the frame.Hot and sweet.I just stare at my Nikes. I have a report on the defendants state of mind. sighs Leona. Remember that ole movie called Against All Odds.So.

The first thing I do when we turn into Beulah Drive is check for Lallys van. Everyone was Betty. Honestly. but he doesnt come inside. and used to belong to my grand-daddy. and a stranger lazing next to a van in the shade of the Lechugas willow. Mom steps out of her room and ripples toward us in a filmy pink robe. Pam might come by later. all warm and spent.And are you? He gets ready to chuckle.Want me to push ya down the stairs? Haugh. I know. their rubber wings torn off by the white cat she used to have.

it comes to my eye as a tear that shoots from my lash like a soggy bullet. I help the pastor unload the car and carry stuff to a cake stand right next to the train tracks. I cant thank yall enough. You can tell theyre making an effort not to seem drained and bleak. for chrissakes. Buses leave Martirio every two hours for Austin or San Antonio. A wooden hairdo pokes into the room. Judge.Ledesma hangs back. We could turn your situation around three hundred and sixty degrees ??Learn some fucken math. at Keeters. and makes a note in his file. I even loosened my asshole in case it came to that.