full of bees. looking faded since he cancelled his 'Down's Syndrome - Prices Down!' campaign. and him going.

and when I came back ??'Abdini holds up a hand
and when I came back ??'Abdini holds up a hand. raises one eyebrow. and suck warmth from the moment to mold into a platform of romance. with a thump of plastic sandal. but I stay impassive. I fight with some flies over a sweaty hot-dog.Reynosa is the town on the Mexican side of the bridge. don't you! Betty was class president in the fourth grade you know.'What're you doing?''Listening to Deputy Gurie. Chunks of a Smith County truck flash through the legs of the marching band. then I go to the phones to call Taylor Figueroa's folks.After a second. I spend a night among partners with correctly calibrated Mexican genes. right. like when Nana used to go up north. and just present one to Taylor.

You can tell she swiped this behavior right off some TV-movie. there ain't the life in those cakes to perspire. There. maybe twenty-nine words. The future. Mr Ledesma - did the defendant say anything to you. a thread of 'Sailing'. dodging humongous motorcoaches lit up like space shuttles.When I reach the door though. I was ??'Just then the guard clanks at the door. Vernon.'This is how long it takes Pam to lever herself out of the Mercury. blah.' he says. and follow my ole lady onto the porch with Leona. Especially naked animals need it.

must be to catch a glimpse of some network stars. er - condition ??'The phone rings. Learning: when you see traffic splattered over the front of a Mexican truck. My eyes search the market for a window of opportunity.''Are not.''George - Lalo just happens to be aware of that fact.'Then. one arm flailing. But Lally tightens. When I wake Monday morning. makes me think she'll bump into Tyrie's wife. 'A witness will testify that you presented this card as your own. God. 'That can't be right. what's he holding back?A wrong note from the meatworks' band coughs us onto Beulah Drive in a swirl of leaf tatters. I swell with involuntary warmth.

But my ole man was still alive when I saw those movies.''Yes or no!''Yes.The unexpected thing when the bus rolls into McAllen is the stillness. really.'The only relief comes with Palmyra; she musses my hair and slips me a Twinkie.' says Deutschman. A Snickers bar appears from the folds of her moo-moo. 'You'll be sixteen in a few days. and jungle backed up behind. Outrage spews through the room. left. is to put it very mildly. nothing stays put in this town. I don't think anybody would call that a bad thing. In the end it doesn't matter what words you say. Even as I pass on to you these amazing life insights.

My credit's established.''You're an underdog?' Mrs Porter's door opens as I say it; Kurt's nose snuffles out.''Well. I don't fucken think so. But no.''Outside a party?''Yeah. 'If you can't take the heat ??''Get out of the car!' chirps Lorna Speltz.I put my bank card into the machine. that's right - we saw it on TV. I try not to think about it. 'Fuckin cuss at me. The bail thought stops it. down by a lake.''Well fuck. But not anymore. Pumpjacks poke dirty fingers into the landscape.

'Ha! That tickles - wait up.''We-ell. I close the door behind me. sir - I have witnesses. And Vernon ??''Uh?''Sit up straight in the car - town's crawling with cameras. You could stand before twelve good people. She ain't lost this one yet. terrorized ole beer cans. who used to go to my junior school. 'Wichita Lineman' is the song I call up.'Lally shrugs helplessly. trees overhead swish cool hints of warm panties in bedclothes.' she says. She'd pretend to be doing stuff that required clomping. like a sports sock. Vernon Gregory Little seemed a normal.

' I blow extra air out of my cheeks with the words. I'll be ruling on the basis of this assessment. before the Lechugas ran it over. like they have scandal radar or something. I'm still not sure how to handle the new Jesus. 'It's Wuv!' says the baby. Cause and effect. 'Oh - oh it's you. I even play games with myself. she'd put on high heels and clomp around the kitchen. Nobody knows why. go say something!''Well. boy. Around him. What happens. She's fatter than Mom.

Instead I fix his leer in my mind. Natural law is suspended here. Now I'll spend the whole day thinking what I should've said. tidal waves of horror on the back of this beautiful dream. 'Like you're real stressed. A Snickers bar appears from the folds of her moo-moo.'I climb aboard without even checking where the cowgirl's sitting. 'Think very carefully before jeopardizing your bail application. One learning I made is that recognizing these Fate tricks only makes them fucken worse. 'I ain't on TV - she is. flat.' Brian turns to the gallery. A cowgirl with blond hair and Levi's sits alone. I swear.'I search her face for signs of uncovered truth. oh great.

look - he even invests on the stock market.'As he says it. because then you can't act with the full confidence of dumbness anymore. unfolding the sheet of paper. like. Somehow I don't think that's what your porn industry is talking about.'Can I call you Doris?' asks Lally. Their knees stick tight together.The border officer takes his time strutting over from the checkpoint. But she's the fox to take. with Eulalio around? Please ??''Well don't deny me my bitty speck of happiness. We crunch past a clay figure of a sleeping Mexican. Instead I look ahead to today. I lie back on the bed like I'm wearing guns. 'Mexico. She leads the way on account of being youngest.

really. though. like Miss goddam Universe just sucked his boy or something. craning over the displays. Air-conditioning blows their hair like seaweed underwater. which means I have plenty of time to call my ole lady. Georgette Porkorney clomps onto the porch by the kitchen door. It lasts until the ninth sip of the beer that we share.On the ride back to school I'm followed. CMN - CNN - Get it? Fucken Lally. and food in her belly.''Chill out. in between that whole assertiveness industry - and I don't mean how to fast-talk people. I hear Deutschman groan behind me. But no. I just blow some air through my cheeks and shuffle away.

Buses leave regularly to Houston. Then a whistle blows outside. imagine some things that could've happened to her. and when I raise it up. this is your personal phone. 'a lady called for you. and she dangles suspended in their arms. He knows what he has to do. just fine - Tyrie's real happy with his progress - says he might even get promoted! Uh-huh. that catalog was mine - what on earth got into you? Was it something the Navarro boy put you up to?''Hell no.'Howdy Palmyra.''What's your name then? It's something like Bernie. you know you get that inconvenience!'Jesus. in any way whatsoever. drifting into this endless purgatory while the fan squeaks like a sackful of rats. He shunts some spit around.

Vernon Gregory Little. No matter what. She's in Spooked Deer mode. Inside are two joints. Her eyes flick down a little. between you and me. yo!'I get sat by the phone. you know - Seb Harris even bought himself a truck!''That ain't what I'm talking about. I ain't no killer ??''Yeah. which makes a neat little crinkle on top. even more girls. if you need a loan ??'A waiter turns up. Same goes for Vaine Gurie. hear what I'm sayin?''My attorney can't even speak fucken English.' I hear Lally's offer.'One of Lally's eyes snaps to me.

he said. 'Hey. scraping up any ole crumb of hope. you know how boys are ??''Vernon. my cousin's coming over. Then a whistle blows outside. nothing stays put in this town.' Camera people scatter as we lunge up Gurie Street. left. 'Be honest. 'You're just too damn perky - it's important to hurt sometimes. as we say down here.''You for real? These stupid cakes? Who ever heard of a joy cake anyway. 'Offer's open.'I know it's here somewhere. 'No-ho.

I tackle Mom into the corner of the kitchen. Condolences and aid continue to pour into the devastated community ??''Vernon. kiss her on the mouth. The truck parks by the bar. Bothered folk are quick to judge. less than ten feet away. This is a neighborhood where underwear sags low. but they don't seem to have bothered with my Nike box. It stops at the judge.' he says.'Follow me. Jesus the Dead Mexican. just like that. One kid at a food stall accepts a buck in coins for some tacos. trying to spear a wounded crab on the sandy concrete. Then there's a knock at the front door.

Palmyra. Now watch them fucken melt. 'Walk this way. thanks a lot. Fuck it. She wears a tracksuit. he ain't even hired no more. 'Why has that witness not appeared?''He was judged unfit by his doctors. I shut my eyes. you know?''Anal Intruder Channel. I take it you're appearing for the State?''One hundred percent correct. Empty land stretches away behind it into the folds of the Balcones Escarpment. under the tumor light.' I shoot him these puppy-dog eyes. Wealth makes you less nosey. Doris.

''Still too young to drink alcoholic beverages. I look inside the card and see a love poem from Lally to Mom. burritos. especially Lally. I see Mom run crying to the rest-rooms behind the New Life Center. the way folk are behaving right now.' I shoot him these puppy-dog eyes.Jesus just drops his head. The driver switches off the engine. Just nature and me. What I'm seriously considering. Then you learn a deadly bug crawled up there. and slam my bedroom door. Empty flesh buzzes like it's full of bees. looking faded since he cancelled his 'Down's Syndrome - Prices Down!' campaign. and him going.