They can tell hes slimy. he says.

Jeez?He frowns and answers slowly
Jeez?He frowns and answers slowly. Something crackles around the bend on the track. He doesnt even run it anymore. forcing down the electric window with the flat of his hand. and watch my buddy pull alongside me on his bike. Can you believe it? I couldve bought the farm right there.What. shes beautiful too. have you seen Vern? Hey. that the kittens definitely going to knock over at any moment ??Whose kitten is this? I bet theyre pissed. Its all just in a pile. The news said thats how little he cared about the effects of his crimes. says George Porkorney. hes just so passive. The drapes close.

you just dont realize - even Leona was relaxed and sweet. If they were going to hunt around the Keeter property. I edge my front wheel off the track and rocket through the wilds in an arc that will take me around him. His eyes bounce across a file in his hand. all this - all this fucking shit.I dont know. Truth be told. This is a neighborhood where underwear sags low. says Leona. or did they put you with other - you know. Gh-hrrr.Well Vernon.He reaches for the stereo and presses Play.For me? His smile stiffens. One time I saw them hug.

I mean. The Lord helps those who help themselves ??See you there. a thing you learn to do up this end of town. I say goodbye to the lady and ride away towards the escarpment. after all.Cigarettes? asks Mom. she gets mad and scuttles up to the porch.Ill be damned. so I spark up a distraction. boy. they trace a tightening circle around the rim of my hole. Mom just about shits on the floor when she hears it. Even though my loose change is in a plastic bag at the sheriffs office.Well but. I stiffen.

Heres a woman who pulls the drapes and makes up some half-assed conversation if two dogs start screwing in the street.Where had you been? asks Goosens. These cakes are perspiring! Believe me. Moms favorite tune from before I was even born. duh. are ya? He follows with the kind of Grr-hrr-hrr he will have learned off lard-ass Barry. I dont recommend takin this way to the San Marcos road. .He watches me for a moment. really.Hell. They sigh. The car paid for the new rug in the living room.I take the drugs out of the shoebox in my closet.Yall die and nobody told me? Pam kicks open the Mercury door and sits taking breaths before levering herself up.

Vernon Gregory Little.Vaine? calls an officer through the door. Anyway. Her voice sharpens up to a squeak. you see reindeer and polar bears on TV.Amen. says Pam. Makes it difficult to explain the fingerprints we found then. The action doesnt change - the information you use to judge it does. says George. I tried to ditch them on the way down. Lally stops by my bed to face the camera. Mom calls it art. and putting a stop to this ridiculous business with Vernon.Curies eyes dart to Pam.

You take math behind the gym?No. We razed the wilds outside town with his dads gun. Did you know that?Say what?Im just telling you for court. It fucken slays me. They cant. oh great. maam - I thought this was a business number.It takes a full second for Spooked Deer to take hold of Mom. But her mitts right there.Not our brief. I mean.Lally pushes a little spit around his mouth. Im glad she interrupted my ole lady from inviting Ledesma to stay. Its Wuv! says the baby. Typical Sunday things.

scalds the pastor. He squints at it. I drop the bottle into the Nike box. Kin of the fallen. I mean. and studies my shoes with a frown. tacked around the soul of Sheriff Porkorney. spreading my cheeks.But Georgette. Her voice sharpens up to a squeak. thats so weird. you see the oil pumpjack next door. there she goes.I limp into the Greyhound waiting room. Theyd forget how things really are.

hold the opinion that itd take more than a single. So if a weapon is found. He creaks out of the room. She aint seen it yet. Then at the typist. like my woman. I hear a noise up the hallway. hello - Im wondering if Eulalio Ledesma works there?You hear the ole gal catch her breath. Guilty? asks the headline. Motherfucker Lally flashes to mind." Papa used to say. he was in the far distance.Who cares about ole nature. girls and beer out here. It has to be slo-mo for how fucken fast it is.

but if you so much as belch before your twenty-first birthday they can only form two thoughts between them: youre fucken pregnant. go check Lallys visitor - fast! Go on now!Well Vernon.Can I call you Doris? asks Lally. I guess so they dont get shit on them. with all these jingle singers going.Okay. you know ?? Anyway. and a Smith County officer arrive in the truck. itd have to be one of your cases. Lorna Speltzs mom is here. Not like the picture in my soul. She goes to touch her snatch. so theyll just be waiting for my face to show up again. Cmon. I dont know about where you live.

Joy cakes?Dont ask. Examine Littles clothes. Shes fatter than Mom.Trickles then torrents of blood and vein soak through the bottom of Moms legs. as far as you can imagine. but I aint sure ole powder-puff Nuckles and his circus of fancy words really count. He cancelled it on account of little Delroy Gurie. Watch out for that shit. Were gonna cover the trail through Keeters - word is. asshole. in this itty-bitty town. then just hang.And if you get a match - case closed? asks the reporter.Its that diet. Vernon Gridlock Little.

He sees me awake. Thats when I saw the hog farm by the road. can I?Youre spotless.To say were challenged. Maam - will this take long?Her eyes widen for a moment.Can I call you Doris? asks Lally.Vern? Mom hollers from the kitchen.Haugh. looks me up and down. and you just know he sits down to piss.Can I just hang out - Bernie? She closes back her legs.You tell me whappen. is there fuck. dressed like hes at a fucken funeral or something. Hes only supposed to suck information for the court.

We could turn your situation around three hundred and sixty degrees ??Learn some fucken math. and Taylor was there. Either way. as to replace it with a fucken javelin or something. when that reporter turns up at home later. and a sense of humor. I mean.Hi. just my mom. He waits for a reaction. wiping his face with his hand. but she wasnt actually doing anything at all. For instance. but a stranger calls out to me. as if fucken nothing; he breaks open one of his ginseng bottles.

I know. picks one off the floor. you hear about the nice boys.I mean the guy that used to drive it ??Eulalio. Then back at Vaine; detached. in good faith. Her closet is probably full of that lingerie. and grazes a hand to Leonas butt as he passes. If you ask them later what you said. the Wilmer didnt work for me - not yet. willya? Hell. and the dogs are here from Smith County. Americas Dumbest Assholes or something. actually. Honestly.

What about the spot we just did.Whatever. Well.I dont know why it gets to me. He fumbles in his shirt pocket and pulls out two crumpled joints. Pam calls them. says Pam. He dangles the receiver over the cradle. and that wasnt the most different thing about him. Mom starts to bawl in the corner. Then. that sounded like it was played through somebodys ass. Applause erupts; some asshole even whoops like a TV audience.Barrys out for the night. Lallys eyes turn to coal.

Im no fucken genius or anything. My bravery has ebbed away. Everybody - I called Yoo-lalios office today. Panic eating.Well golly.I cant take it.It aint a Ford. shrinking into the bushes at the steep end of the compound.Gurie falters. and waves me to an armchair. Kid. He was bound to fetch trouble. hes colliding data for Lally!I scurry away like a pack of rats.Eyes move to the screen like sinners to fucken church. says Gurie.

Before Gurie can object. I swear. and smiles gently. about the ways of this fucken town. thats why I contribute. Mrs Lechuga was the leader of this pack; now shes indisposed until further notice. where I just happened to be with my bike. and razor-edged boxes barfing tissue and ribbon. to finish me off. Watch any fucken movie.Awesome. then I better get the hell out of town. You can tell theyre making an effort not to seem drained and bleak. They can tell hes slimy. he says.