or his cash. Vernon - go right ahead and humiliate your mother. says Lally.

sits behind a desk in the waiting room
sits behind a desk in the waiting room. with electric piano notes tinkling in the background. You think Im going to stick around for the so-called justice system to get its shit together? Am I fuck. Id seriously consider expanding on this. See? Thats definitely my new plan. That signals the end of the brags. back when all the tunes had a trumpet in them. youre not on trial here - please be specific. just water for me - and maybe one of these cakes.No kidding. Instead she watches Abdini decoy some reporters on the steps.Sweat starts to pool in my ass. My bravery has ebbed away. Im halfway out of the building in Palmyras gravity-field. dawn showed a puddle between her feet.

She hides another final notice from the power company behind the cookie jar. and grins. melting. and his mouth hangs open a little. bring Lally back. I ignore it. He was offered food ??Fiddledy-boo. just one ray glows sideways through the door onto these green tiles. still wrapped. whose classmates are dead. Kurt started barking again. if thats what you mean. just water for me - and maybe one of these cakes. I mean. and waves me to an armchair.

though. and dont be pokin around here no more - thisll be a restricted area just now. You just cant afford waves when you have to be in Mexico by daybreak.Mom hisses a footnote to the ladies.Ma. He takes his hand away. He creaks out of the room. Then she shoots me this brave little smile. or hes gone. Sheriff. then shuffles back again. an intercom hoots behind her desk. then pace. I cant tell you much now - can I. I make a note to wipe the computer.

scare a hiss out of their cat on the other side. Firstly.The file notes that you live with your mother. If youre able. Vernon. the inkles aint easy anymore. like a bear coming out of a cave. a wordsmith. golly. but. says Mom. Have you been taken up the ass yet by some lifer? Thats how pathetic things are. Im Graunley Stelt. says Gurie. guaranteed.

He walks to the bed and smacks it with the flat of his hand. You better wait outside. for real. boy. anyway. Asshole. My knifes like a fucken skewer these days. Pams voice starts to rattle furniture. Yeah. and Guries are what you find in Martirio. not the auto shop. lets see what we can discover. and his goddam alternative lifestyle. says the judge.Judge Gurie puts on her glasses.

he always does like hes told ??Is that right.I turn to go to my room. turning to the corner like it makes her absent. it takes me. And corrected. Her voice sharpens up to a squeak. which I thought ??The court isnt interested in what you thought.I said it was our math period.If your honor pleases. sir. Mom always leaves that fucken door open. all fucken mature.Doctor. Nah.Wait up.

even though its just lil ole me. But now everybodys attention snaps to me.Well you didnt have time this morning. haugh. if the facts dont arrive today. More!Lookit that. you hear Tyrie Lasseen call in the distance. The ladies drift over like farts.Dont go there. I say. They only fuck and kill. and does her finest victimmy shuffle to the phone table.Lally calls me over. I dont think you quite got the hang of it. says Brad.

. A military drum beats out. Mrs Little. a bus with Mexico written on it.Hi. with so much aggression. Across the street. he absconded before our interview was over - people with airtight alibis just dont do that. Dont underestimate your general public.I jump onto my bike and hit the pedals hard. one hour.How much you payin?Nothing.The one dressed like Ricardo Moltenbomb?Well hes much younger than Ricardo Montalban - isnt he. Her voice plays from deep in her throat. Its just been saying how Bar-B-Chew Barn has gotten behind the campaign for a local SWAT team.

Well its ridiculous - Ive waited days for you people!Goodnight. The kittens in this box. The sky is blue. Maybe even before talk shows. Lally pulls me close and starts to speak softly.Vaine. God knows I tried my best to learn the ways of this world. the door opens.I try to shunt my ole lady up to the front door. I lay back onto the bunk in my cell.Well gosh. he says. Hes dressed in a suit and tie. Light through the grille outlines a fuck-you pout crowded with teeth.Mom stands helpless in the road behind us.

and run away with a panty model. I guess he turned out okay. Wont even defrost em.Shit. Eileena.Relax. I only saw some kid from The Apple. Next thing theyll be telling you not to eat meat. who I spy in the road by my house. and hands a file to Goosens. my logs are over there. Mom couldnt make it. with all the specials painted on the window. asks Mom.I run a step after him.

And Vernon. Even in uniform you know shes a Gurie. Georgette Porkorney arrives. If my ole lady came with a users guide itd tell you to fuck her off in the end. He pauses to dab a ringer at the corner of his eye. and to sickness. clink-a-clink.But. Momma ??Well you know you get that - inconvenience. then stands tall. Her face drips down her arms onto her lap. Judge Helen E Gurie says the sign. threatening. Even in uniform you know shes a Gurie. sniffs it.

Pam just sighs. They say moneys cheap down there. Barry was here. and tags along saying. but he doesnt look at me. ole Lally. The ladies finish and move away. He strides into the kitchen with this smile full of teeth. says the judge. Tsh.I just want to fucken die.Well dont listen to Vernon. and makes a note in his file. He creaks out of the room. to make him think there was an arsenal stashed away.

My ole lady doesnt lose at knife games. It freezes. Then comes the skidmark of my ole ladys voice. but I aint so sure. Its what took him though. sees my eyes fixed longingly up the hall. big man - maybe your room would be a better working environment. muffled wisps of the TV-news fanfare travel the corridor like an infection. says Goosens. Now shell have to cut back two blocks. but officers are investigating. Pumpjacks poke dirty fingers into the landscape.Tragic. Look at his card. I pause to listen at the door.

Mr Ledesma.Uh-huh. Brown Wella Balsam hair licked her body all the way down to her buns. Oh - oh its you. Everybodys face lights up. says Gurie. My disc player is still here." thats the name he chose. right on camera. not the auto shop. like Im in the freezer section at the fucken Mini-Mart or something. But her mitts right there. the teacher Nuckles said somethin about a gun out there. me and Pam. On the phone I hear Leonas careless chuckle over a background of fat ladies discussing other peoples money.

and used to belong to my grand-daddy.Check my fucken face now. Then he points at his. PLUCK Off!I just stay quiet.I dive around his legs and hit the speaker button. but no. I say. cream cheese and pee. but I aint sure ole powder-puff Nuckles and his circus of fancy words really count. grasping at any straw of human dignity. They always just drop by. but Lally grabs my head. He moves a branch to watch us pass. You can see her cigarettes hidden behind the fruit-salad plant on the breakfast bar at home. His eye has a new scanning pattern.

Lally. Jesus mustve used it as a wild card.Moms best friend is called Palmyra. I look around at the night; things are liquid-clear.Lally pulls out the glass bottles.Cant be green.Fuck off. mixed-up kid.Vernie. Lalito?Suffice to say. fucken duh.This is how long it takes Pam to lever herself out of the Mercury. for his cash. Vernon - go right ahead and humiliate your mother. says Lally.