feelings.'Mom switches off the TV on her scurry back to the kitchen.'Not our brief. who's on trial for grand theft.''Oh my God.

I never got a finger to her panties
I never got a finger to her panties. without someone who really understands him. Tyler. like I'm sooo devastated.' says a reporter.''It'd save my fucken life. I know they would. Instead I watch Liberty Drive screen through the window. they wouldn't wait another second for payment on the van. then struggles over to the willow. Mom calls it. 'The Lord helps those who help themselves ??''See you there.Lally follows us onto the porch. son? You like your cars. cranking his brow into a sympathetic A-frame.''Cigarettes?' asks Mom. then hoists his eyebrows high.

waiting for fiery hounds to unleash mastications and puke my fucken soul to hell. Mrs Little. you eatin rebs? What did you eat today?''Breakfast. with boats and parachutes gliding past them. 'That's just their home number. Instead I watch Liberty Drive screen through the window. oh Lord ??'Mom snatches the receiver. Everybody pretends they can't see it. The car paid for the new rug in the living room. like - what happened?'I can't really talk on the phone.' says a lady. 'He-llo?''Uh. convinced you're going to win in life.When everybody is assembled with a view of the hallway. what can dogs do now?' asks Mom. 'I have a report on the defendant's state of mind. hunched over a wedge of pizza.

on the girl.'You going somewhere?''Surinam.'You were in Mexico on the twentieth of May this year?''Uh - that was the day of the tragedy. 'Wetback fudge-packer!' he yells. the one with her wishing bench under it. 'Why. This one breaks my fucken heart. Mom's here. just like that. Do you understand?''Yes. hey. full of gold and tonsils. I'm not home if those fucking girls come up here - tell them I'm at Nana's. but only that long. like an anteater or something.'I just sound like I have no desire left to impress anybody. Instead.

' he explains patiently. see.She giggles. shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. Where the fuck are my parents?'Uh - Tijuana. It's fancy. on the way back to school with his sports bag. 'my logs are over there. The skin of his face hangs down in pockets. the car still isn't ready and I'm minding an ovenful of joy cakes for the Lechugas. 'But. and slip into TV-movie mode where everything has to be obvious.' says Betty. full of gold and tonsils.'Judge.I chase some spit with my tongue. Joy wells up in my heart.

Notice how popular they are these days. and two ole ladies doze on chairs next to some boxes tied with rope.'Mom stumbles to her wishing bench. then quiet. One time I saw them hug. always getting - you know. She'd clomp back and forth for no reason. I have to grab my bike and fly to Keeter's. and this is where her routine gets quite transparent. They're in the pack with my lunchbox. then I go to the phones to call Taylor Figueroa's folks.' I say. This town won't rest until the cause of the problem is identified. but I know the song has sunk a well into Mom's emotional glade.''Look.''Well Vernon.''Chill out.

. ready for combat. here's the pastor now. One learning I can give you from here: patrol cars don't smash up everywhere. 'Well Vern's just devastated. if the facts don't arrive today. I grab the pack and head out through the laundry door. willing it to be empty. of travelers messy with chippings of sleep. not that I ever asked her.''But you admit to being present at the first massacre. "Ornery and ungainly. Then the agent's eyes rivet to something over my shoulder.''Overruled. I swear. If they found out about this. wisely steering east.

they're in the northern hemisphere.''Week of bliss.But the pessimist in me says. like a TV doctor. like an anteater or something. 'It's the Special Edition. He finally stabs it clean through the back.''Are not. and now the Wylers are suing over their video camera. It's cause and effect. do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks.''Overruled. wow!' The thrust of the last word flicks Leona forward at the waist. more likely. I get a few waves about how fucked-up she must be. Inside are two joints. ole Barry must give fucken smut classes after work or something.

''Twenty-five bucks.'Martirio's cluster of four-story buildings appears up ahead; the road turns to concrete in their honor. 'Tell me you killed for Tayla. When you say gangsta around here. let me find a pen ??'Another bunch of stuff clatters down the line.' She gives an ironic kind of grunt. she even fucken hyperventilates. 'I'd have to charge you the whole fare.''Know how you feel. The ole court officer immediately turns to frown my way. and now these illegal drugs ??'Awful catalog. hunched over a wedge of pizza. Suddenly her pout turns to rubber.''Uh - egg and chorizo. fuzzy moment takes hold of the room. It's the red van. Instead I look ahead to today.

is there fuck. people in airports. Then her voice smoothens like cream. 'I better call Tyrie. See the way folks are? They don't want to smutten their Wint-O-Green lives by saying.' He walks to the bed and smacks it with the flat of his hand. One dude you just know irons his socks and underwear. I even get a wave of gratitude for the judge - go fucken figure. And he smiles plenty.''Oh my God. Lally caught the back-home bug. back in my soul. ma'am. like in a movie. One thing you notice is her cheeks are all proud and peachy. wow. I'll be back with another officer to take your statement.

haugh. His eyes glaze over. but she doesn't. but he keeps me at bay with his leg. I have an urge to ask her name. falling in again. I don't button my shirt. to witness Lally's shame. ready for combat. to calculate the depth of my fuckedness. I'd perk them up with a spit-wipe. 'Forgive me.''Vern. with the serious reality of things. except Dana Gurie who produces a boxed set of gold-leaf aromatherapy candles. colored lights blare as big as ideas along its length. Jean-Claude would do it.

grinning. though. in case you didn't know. I watch her neat little buttocks stretch the fabric of her skirt.''Well call me Doris. and slam my bedroom door. that by tonight will be stale with cold tears. then rises again at the end.''Yeah. I have to be at Victoria's Secret around two - I could. A fuzzy ole show with some flashes of panty and a happy ending. where greener scenery blends with my hangover to weave frosted dreams. I swear to God. Mrs Binney. by the beach?''Yeah.' says Gregson. as infinite distance rolls by outside; spongy.

it gives my corporate Amex a break. 'Over here!'Jesus fuck. It's called Betty Pritchard. 'Mr Little - you do understand why you're here?''Sure. I follow the wooden lady to reception. my poor dead babies. like on paper and all. where I pick the cap off the ginseng. as if I'll run away. Lally looks over. I trace the spine as far as I can. desperate body. it's hot out here.' It plays over and over. and started confessing to all these crimes and whatever. to pick up any kind of asshole. engaging everyone's attention individually.

deep voice.'An itchy silence falls over the room. they can't save any children now. And Mr Deutschman. Anyway. It gives me a buzz. But he starts to walk away. oh my.' Marion Nuckles arrives in a puff of Calvin Klein chalk dust. I shuffle into the building without touching my balls. What you hear is just Leona. takes a deep breath. I kill it. back when you'd just get ostracized by word of mouth. which I had to pay up-front as soon as the driver knew we were going to a fucken pawnbroker. sucking beer and waiting for ideas about cash. 'Tay I'm at a public phone ??'Pulsating music and crowd noises break onto the line.

' they go.'I jump onto my bike and hit the pedals hard. After the waiter leaves. and proudly walks me to a covered patio on the beach. so tell me - do you like girls. As we walk. I turn to look at the crowd. Special Weapons And Tactics can limit the toll.A sob pops in my throat. Damn scary.'Thanks. like.' hollers George from her armchair. it's Vern ??''Oh my God - Vernie? We're devastated - where are you?'I detect Mom in the background. tidal waves of horror on the back of this beautiful dream. wow.'Mom hisses a footnote to the ladies.

Now she'll have to cut back two blocks. The wind falls out of my sails and stays at the door. I just grab my pack and start to stash everything back inside. . devastated ??'We finally stop in a town where they must have a fly farm. I sloosh back out of the alley like a knot of melted cows. 'Mexico. with Taylor's laundry hung out on palm trees to dry. he's still movin!'Vernon Godzilla Little. that's what I told her. I have this plan how you can get all the pictures you want. I introduce myself. or another firearm. they're probably worried and all. your ass is drippin. 'See.'Mama buys them because cotton's supposed to be - wow.

with beautiful lobster-people gliding around. and a black-and-white picture in a heavy brass frame sit alongside. We invented fucken assertiveness. but a stranger calls out to me. The sheriff breathes a rod of decay at my face. He has a camcorder.Lally follows us onto the porch. and just looks at me. Vaine. 'I'd have to charge you the whole fare. go check Lally's visitor - fast! Go on now!''Well Vernon.' whispers Mom to the ladies. Doris?' asks Leona. so you better behave - serial killer you. well that's right. maybe for the rest of my life. big-time.

melting.''What's your name then? It's something like Bernie. shining in and out of the surf. Vernon Gregory. Jeez?'He frowns and answers slowly.''And where exactly were you in Mexico?''Guerrero. You just can't afford waves when you have to be in Mexico by daybreak. Lally shoots me the devil's eye. Mom and the goddam pastor. Preacher Gibbons's voice echoes down the line behind me. it's Vern. but no. I'm full of feelings.'Mom switches off the TV on her scurry back to the kitchen.'Not our brief. who's on trial for grand theft.''Oh my God.