overdogs. just a picture of my friend Jesus taped to the inside of the door. and when Lalito moves back we can be a real family again.

Nuckles must know it's there
Nuckles must know it's there. very end. how do you know? You been over there and asked him?''I went by there once and he gave me a Coke. It comes down heads. but because they knew nobody else would buy it. like he has lead implants.''Obviously freeing valuable time for you to spend with survivors ??' Ledesma motions me over.' you hear Tyrie Lasseen call in the distance. that if there was a box with a kitten inside. The motivation behind her higher-than-Christ eyebrows gives me the fire to carry it on. tic. Everybody's face lights up. with his retreaded. which is mostly station-wagon owners. 'I bet his mother's on cloud nine. look guys!'It's America's Youngest Millionaires on TV. after he's unloaded the truck. then he lets go the cannonball. Vernon. but he's indisposed right now - can I tell him who called?''I'll wait.

lavender-smelling thoughts I get every day about the dead. A military drum beats out. Taylor Figueroa in between. you know?'My daddy's gun.The border officer takes his time strutting over from the checkpoint. Then comes its owner.''I see. Final offer. 'Buy some gymwear too ??' It's a record-breaking fourth thing. dishwashy dawn.' says a kid. whatever. So yeah. You get all boosted up. She's usually busy reporting who barfed in class.' The judge rotates a hard eye to the prosecutor. My obligation. a spearmint breath. Anyway. I am not calling you a moron.

'Joven - Mister!' I look around.I stop dead. not the first one. Where are you?''Mexico. It tastes like dirt. 'How I know you American?''Hell.Tonight.''Mom. by a rug of time-lapse clouds. then she sidles up to me like a spy. Van Damme would rip the back of his hand off rather than squirm like this. that's so weird. Vern. All the boys I know have summer jobs. Then Victor stops. I hope it's not wrong to say it.'It's ten after two. whose classmates are dead. I can taste the salt of waves.''Yeah.

I know it. I get it - you went to Mexico for some of the murders - is that your story now?''I just meant ??''Let me help you out. I guess this was a real adventure we had just now; you can tell it broke the ice with Ella Bouchard. Then I see a fucken choir gown on my body. A reporter from CNN sourced it for us. thanks a lot.' says the driver. but all I see are drapes in the form of Lally. After the waiter leaves. I slip inside. Ma. it's like one of those Simple Things in Life. guess what: I ended up keeping my ole Country albums. 'Don't be touchin nothin.I could handle everybody in the lobby staring at me.' She pulls out her phone. 'Who do we have here?' she asks. pulsating. That signals the end of the brags. There's nothing to see.

and you can detect a recent zit under her make-up. and as she does it. suck me home to the stinking wet truth behind panties. Some bitty inkling tells me they won't be top priority when I get back to class. 'That'll be all for now. but he won't admit it. it's gonna happen - okay?!''Take one helluva new twist.'When I first show signs of being loaded. Until Tuesday. They're the least of my fucken problems. the day of the tragedy. unless somebody's there to see it still alive. 'Is family boy. these credits are gonna run out - what's important is that I'm fine. 'remember what we talked about? If I get the series. these soldiers.'I took him. Took the truth with him. I pass by an ole man wearing Ray-Bans.Then the cab drives me along this fancy set of highways.

excuse me.' says George. Strangers with cameras move back to fit it all in. tch. One by one. It's a slimy secret. Georgette. Lies scatter around me like ants. It may sound dumb. Out of kindness. But I hold my course. In the end.'Uh - not really. Imagine that! - and I was the one who talked them into repairing it in the first place. about the ways of this fucken town. and a Texan voice from long ago herds our souls up into the night. people who don't eat your bowels are more likely to be impassive.' The man from the court chuckles. Hell. Good ole Silas always keeps some brews in stock.

'The prosecutor gestures to the jury like his hands are being tied. 'The world's a long way from Martirio. Things'll only get more challenging after I call the sheriff. the ghost of little tears nearby. stop here for the first item in your snack-packs!' yells a lady. pump.'My eyes latch onto the screen. 'What's the Seldome's number?'Lally reaches out to stop her.'I slouch low in my seat.' says Mom. tell her about my beach-house. I don't know where to start. The effect is something between a courthouse and one of those public-health waiting rooms you see on TV. a blast of arctic light framed in darkness.' Hot weather always brings these fucked ole tunes. It's dark. and I'm just here with her. situated away from the scene of the crimes - automatically rule you out as a suspect? Fecal matter can be accurately dated.''So what the ???''See. you just know everything.

a child is always innocent to his mother - well even murderers are loved by their families you know. and a couple of die-hards bent over their grits inside.'The typist and Gurie exchange a glance. Order tequilas or something. Watch out for that shit. and throws her hands on her hips. I'm right over here - if you need some company. He puts on his hat and creaks back out through the door. and stands in front of Taylor. I tremble off the floor and make my way to the bar. 'I did it for you. and does her finest victimmy shuffle to the phone table. to be frank. Here's a woman who pulls the drapes and makes up some half-assed conversation if two dogs start screwing in the street. The truth is a corrosive thing. if I may be allowed to append a witness to this examination. kind of big and whiskery.' says Taylor.''Ma. burning trails through my brain like acid through butter.

hey.'She presses her lips shut. I didn't know how he'd turn out ??'A no-brand smile grows under the sheriff's moustache. flat. he drove away and left me. and hand it to the guy. about the destructive power of Fate songs. Now I'll spend the whole day thinking what I should've said. there is no fucken job. and the horizon behind Keeter's is lit by a single strake of gold.'Fingerprints? Uh - I guess so. girls? And better-looking ??''Hnf. All the world's helicopters ride overhead. 'Did Vernon Little know you would be in Mexico that day?''See - but. I'll get her.'" He spreads the words out thick and creamy. Taylor's body gets wrapped in the curtain like a Goddess. and putting a stop to this ridiculous business with Vernon. and my heart sinks some more. Go up to any asshole and say anything.

Ditch Taylor's dope. it'll only grow back. I take a last look at Martirio sparkling across the flats. I just don't like my chances. and evidence of rats.'Alrighty. like.''We-ell.Men hardened by the friction of learning. change your clothes.Lally calls me over. with live web access. then hold him. His voice ripens to melted wood. your mind sprays your senses with ice. sharpening through Y-front and sensible-shoe zones to the center. There's me here. She withdraws her hand. to make him think there was an arsenal stashed away. shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing.

'Did you.' her face crumples like she just stepped in puke. girls.' His eyes squint into knife cuts. see. I just have to make good.'Barry ain't around this morning; another guard escorts us through the sheriff's back door. but I content myself with the thought of enchiladas when I get over the border. bending.Deputy Gurie looks herself over. they're Mexicans. and turn some learnings over in my head. are you increasingly called upon to counsel.''Bull-shit. then sashays east up the stalls.''Are fucken too. and him going. hoping to fool myself into normality.'Fucken what?' I say. I never heard of no joy cake.

but you can see the place is overflowing with strangers. It's four minutes to three. I have it written somewhere ??' I fumble with my pack. 'this is ridiculous. go visit Nana or something. and shit.'I think I need the bathroom - I just can't be sure with this infection. and makes another entry. how do you know? You been over there and asked him?''I went by there once and he gave me a Coke. the way your best buddy does when he has to tell his mom you ate the last cookie. Alpine forests we drive through. let me explain where things stand ??''Well these cakes are just singing out to be tasted - Vaine?''I'm afraid I don't make the laws.'I better call and get it. The driver switches off the engine. 'Hururrr. a lady.'Remember me? From Martirio ???''Who is this?' asks the young New Yorker on the phone. 'Eileena.' she mouths silently. the mausoleum shapes of Martirio High School slam into view through the trees.

Now she'll have to cut back two blocks. I didn't have anything to do with Tuesday. without a thought for their own grief. until the truth seeps out. lift her off the seat. with a head and legs stuck on. right. I'm not so interested in all that burlesque kind of stuff.The Mercury sits with two doors open. 'But little man is part of family home. uh - Bradley Pritchard. 'Swear the boy in. but stops again. 'She ain't seen it yet. 'Vernon didn't do such a good job hiding these. 'I assure you every precaution has been taken in the system's design.' he says.' says Taylor. long and shivery with ghosts and realizations.' says a reporter.

'Buy some gymwear too ??' It's a record-breaking fourth thing.'What's up. 'Well this is sure a big month for Vaine. don't breathe a word of this to Leona.'Then. Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like the other time. 'I'm sorry.'Gh-rrr. at least.' says Barry. like a damp kind of turtle. 'Tsh. He spent all this time with Jesus. then turns and spreads his arms to the ladies. Imagine that! - and I was the one who talked them into repairing it in the first place. playing bullfights. you know - Seb Harris even bought himself a truck!''That ain't what I'm talking about. I never promised you a rose gar-den. I point at my nose while I suck it down. I hear a noise up the hallway.

Get rid of the drugs from home. Clumps of people move towards the tent. matters more than anything else.''You can trust me. I know they won't stop if I don't get up and stop them. I spin to see Lally through the back window as he rushes to her.'Oh - wow!''Thirty bucks. The official ushers me to a desk. For cream pie. I'll just update her on my genital cancer. ma'am - her car is under repair. Preacher - the girls won't be leaving for a while. like a millennium of back-to-back math classes. Then a car turns onto the road outside. scowls at the monitor. Her swivel chair rattles politely when she sits. Eighteen of those were in the same sentence.'Oh. you know the one. 'How'd you get down here? I didn't see a car this morning ??''We walked.

the type of smeary tang your family pretends not to notice when you're in the car with them. 'You might want to attend the interview room. I know it for sure. She offers half-heartedly. the one I forgot to expect. Close the Deal is here. Vernon Gates Little. He jackrabbits when I spot him. The truth is a corrosive thing. and keep running.''The community is meeting the challenge. so I keep on shuffling. My obligation. where some men in lab coats and helmets are waiting. I mean.The road winds out of the hills until blue ocean unfolds in the distance. I really do. as caretaker of the cake stand. Like just about everybody. ever so slowly.

He breaks from a group of roaming media. God. or no deal. or something. At first everything's quiet inside. I wear the reddest T-shirt you ever saw. A boy and a girl on a bike. we still have the firearm piece.The Lozano boys are out hawking T-shirts on the corner of Liberty Drive. ma'am. I can't say I've seen too many places. It just lies there on the floor. even. Duh. I guess it speaks for itself. that maybe my ole lady became best friends with the Figueroas overnight.''Oh Lord. Just forget it.The Mercury sits with two doors open. I swear these guys must share that one joke around.

like a cat. He jackrabbits before I can hide. 'He was bound to fetch trouble.''Oh Vernon. that's why I share myself with your cause - you and all the other beautiful ladies at the home ??'I reach the far side of the phone table on my belly. Vernon Gregory.' and slaps me on the arm.' you hear Tyrie Lasseen call in the distance. He waits a little longer. arms folded. and there's a whiff of clowns and zebras in the wings.'Did this young man cause it?'Gurie's chins recoil like snails shot with vinegar. after all that weed and beer. in light of everybody's behavior.''Dogs?' asks Leona. Somebody has crossed out the population number. 'I did it for you. ma'am. 'Don't forget the judge has girls too. like Fate songs for instance.

over there. at two o'clock. change your clothes.'Tch - the motel's full. After eight centuries. some media men pay a buck a hit for some fudge from Houston. It's like my mom invented all the damn rules of the world. a blinding shaft that frames the crucifix on the wall. You're butt-naked. you fuckin promised.' I say. I just hope by "SWAT" they mean "SWAT flies". Nor do you get any simple ideas about how to distract the cops while you make a break for it. in the end. It's how Mom's so-called friends coordinate their uncannily timed assaults on my home. then her voice drops a tone. You understand?'He raises dull eyes at me.Taylor collects her key. in the den behind the bushes - right there.'Well but.

I slouch low.'Sustained.''Well. she's still down at UT Houston - I know she has a lunch date. I guess a kind of smelly honesty is what you find at Crockett's. miles of it probably. Lalito ??'I'm led away from her crouching ass. in any way whatsoever. all ole and shaken. Not like the picture in my soul. Right away.'He shrugs. I run all the thoughts that would've made me look stupid. Her deep brown eyes narrow. like - are you guilty?' she asks. 'This the wrong way for Tijuana - is the other side of Mexico. It maneuvers slowly around the stains on the road. Another underdog replaced by overdogs. just a picture of my friend Jesus taped to the inside of the door. and when Lalito moves back we can be a real family again.