have most of it - all of it if you want. 'ME VES Y SUFRES. yo!'I get sat by the phone.

This would never happen to Van Damme
This would never happen to Van Damme. you can have this picture.A headwind worries our bikes on the way to school. Mrs Porter's door is closed.''It's fuckin ten after - take it or leave it. I try not to be conscious of my pulse. Only I know. Asshole. for all my classmates. 'Go on now. on account of the Bar-B-Chew Barn hayride.'Her eyebrows scrunch in sympathy. He slaps my back. and tap in the code -6768. fucken duh. It's the face for when life around you travels in fucken dog years. you can tell. Type of song you listen to when you think nobody likes you. Doris. 'I did it for you.

'Ledesma grabs a handful of the tiny bottles from the floor. or to blow his crusty partner's cover. Her knees bend up and she takes in my tongue. wash out the feral genes. Maybe I'd be the kid just hearing about it. A billion reasons she can't be located. maybe twenty-nine words.I badly want to leave her some cream pie. mixed-up kid. 'Mr Garcia Madero states that he only ever met one American youth in his life - a hitch-hiker he met in a bar in northern Mexico. just letting my worldly pressures crackle through my lower tract. boy. with the coffee machine and all. Georgette's cigarettes appear. I toss it. Outrage spews through the room. more folk wander into the market. I twitch off the bench.'They crackle through the bushes into my nest. Suddenly I feel like one of those TV-movie secretaries when some asshole barges into the chairman's office.

I pass some lounge chairs facing the bay. Anyway. In the end. shoot some cans with one of the rifles. Fate clouds. glowing cool and cozy inside. Just to bring her back. What I'm learning is the world laughs through its ass every day. on the first day of his probable lifelong trauma?'Other reporters move toward us down the street.''Bull-shit. 'This proud community takes a decisive step from the shadow of Tuesday's devastation. son?' he calls. I forgot to mention. they want to hang somebody high. right up to the hilt. respecting the swirling ink of trouble. 'Control yourself!'I fill with acid blood. and carefully lay the bike in the gravel beside the house. But I'm in a bind. roll deep and black behind it.

''Had you known him previously?''Uh-huh. alone. she'd probably say 'underpants' or something. Apart from having the thighs and ass of a cow. but how do you say 'Milk and fucken cookies' in Mexican? After a minute. checking out the neat sanitation. like doll's eyes or something. like. 'that's the message from the team behind a new multimedia venture inspired by the struggle of our brave citizens - a venture its founder claims will spread the gospel of human triumph over adversity to every corner of the globe. two weeks after That Day. 'Just tell us. I'm right over here - if you need some company. 'Devastated. And I have my ma to protect. the way it was. you know?''Anal Intruder Channel. The fucken gun gave her the tremors. like a dog deciding where to lay down. revising their age up to where they all have daughters like Taylor. then I better get the hell out of town.

and guess who answered? His blind momma. Bandera Road? About two blocks from here. I crouch low. I'm on fire. I tackle Mom into the corner of the kitchen. I twitch off the bench.'My ole lady hunches off the sofa. wearing a brand-new pair of Timberlands.' says Eileena. 'There he is!' It's Tuesday. Watch out for the fucken washing machine. but just then Moltenbomb steps up to her with his camcorder and his alligator smile. Panic eating. do you prefer Vanessa or Rebecca?'Our heartbeats trail us along rows of warped shacks.' asks Mom. with the people whose role in the aftermath of tragedy is changing; our law-enforcement professionals.' he says. I got the series? fan-tastic!' He raises a thumb to the ladies. Bernie. like the Cuban Ambassador or something.

I have to say. Juicy-Fruit breath. 'so I worried that maybe - you know ??''I'm fine. It brings a shiver. Keeter's Spares & Repairs - just a mess of junk in the dirt. at the morgue? What's he know about Barry's in-surance?''Tuck sells goddam in-surance. I tense until it passes.''No. The shape of the word 'TV!' shines out. hee.The last payphone in town stands next to a corrugated metal fence on Keeter's corner. I didn't know how he'd turn out ??'A no-brand smile grows under the sheriff's moustache. for our own protection - I'm calling the police.I find a dark nook by the edge of town. Lalito - anyway. A promise of rain on dust puffs through the door behind them. fuck! Tell me what you did to those people. the one I forgot to expect. the sheriff's lips tighten. jerky eyes getting slower.

tidal waves of horror on the back of this beautiful dream.''We have a spare room.'Waiting on the fridge delivery. I sit up. 'We-e-ll. then limp till I can run again. Her eyebrow rides high today. 'Better Man' is the tune. 'the moment you've all been waiting for - the grand prize draw!' Everybody turns towards the tent. When I hang up the phone.' She sits back for a moment." he would say. He's smaller than me. she has a bird that lives sitting on her back.' he says.'No? Where were you?''Mexico. what kinda time d'ya call this?''Heck. Even in winter the Mercury stinks of fried chicken.' says Gurie. but I can't believe today.

like Mom does. And where are those people now?'I try to think where those people are. I pose dramatically. shill my wincer - ya dragged me up fer nothing. courtroom. like - anything could've happened to me. If only my ole lady had let me keep it at home. 'Yeah. and she sees it. A smelly honesty. what're you doing down here?''Uh - looking for work. there must be some highly twisted gangstas out there. I carefully pull down the window behind me. but he's actually holding me back. Okay?' I stretch out of the grass. so you hopped a fucken plane. 'Your mom's stressed today. underwear shopping. I forgot to mention.'Hey.

This would never happen to Van Damme. it's real sweet of you to call ??'She utters the winding-up words. technically. whose classmates are dead. I pass a real-life psycho on the way. and tries to pinpoint Lally's voice. But here's why they'd laugh: not because they couldn't see the knife. you'll be the first to trial the new system - excuse the pun.' he croons. then reaches for the wallet on his bedside table. Victor thinks I could probably stay there for free. . lure the bucks in - these aren't the only cakes in the world. ole Mr Deutschman lives up here. You spend all your time learning the capital of Surinam while these retards carve their initials in your back. They still have a hotline to Nancie Lechuga's.He grabs a cake. turn to study me in greater detail. 'Yeah.''No it ain't.

' says Pam. ignoring Moltenbomb. Like.''You had a bowel movement. please. Pam just molds into the car.'She tries to close back her legs. flying. I'm not calling for anything.'You parents coming?' my officer asks me. 'I went to cash the investment this morning. holding out a helpless hand. Why do movies end happy? Because they imitate life. if it comes to that. I'm tied in a metal tube with two marshals who choose conversations according to how well they contrast with the fucken shit I'm in. this is exciting. He doesn't talk to me at all. I can tell. 'Well. actually.

in my whole fucken life. please. Learning: never try to deal with more than one girl at a time. Typical fucken Crockett's. I see a huge patio laid out with a buffet. wearing overalls and rubber gloves. that ole lady. I mean in the industry where you end up knowing like day is day that something's going to happen for you - you never once hear how to actually fucken do it. Nuckles returns to the class. Crime tape flaps wearily across the Johnson road. It does nothing to erase memories of the shrink. My Nikes hang from it. . They didn't get a shot at him. you're just miffed because the Barn went over the sheriff's head. So much for Taylor Figueroa.''Well Vernon. it comes to my eye as a tear that shoots from my lash like a soggy bullet. In fact. you know - while I'm young.

I glance over the bar. Then. too; an up-and-coming one. Nobody else sent flowers for Max. Judge. shoot some cans with one of the rifles. and looks around the room. I know the routine from here.''But like. It's typical of where things are at with Fate.But I don't think about it at all. and ride around it. They talk in Spanish. fiestas. and other devices.' He pauses to chuckle.See Jesus' dad. American troopers. That means everybody's sighing. ha.

wearing a brand-new pair of Timberlands. for the fucken daggers he stares at me. Nobody yet figured out how to deal with Ella Bouchard. 'The pure charity of this town ??'Mom's eyes pop.'Well golly. They blend right into the piss. Max?''You mightn't want to touch Jesus' candle. That's our Dana. 'How'd you know it said Gutierrez on the card. What she does is eat. Last week's laundry sits in a pile by my bed. I spy an ole birthday card from Mom amongst my chattels. and slam my bedroom door. save for a half box of ammunition. I guess. on top of everything. all the usual smells baked into an aftertaste of saliva on metal.An angel from heaven.'Vern!' she calls. Us Martirio kids are like his personal internet.

I distract myself by watching the driver. And corrected.'Hey. 'Maybe things'd be better if I was - there are just so many wretched lives to care for. then turns to smile at me. A wet patch the size of a dime glistens on her mound. 'Vernon Little. no. They all emulate the prosecutor's lips. the one who nailed himself to a fucken cross before anybody else could do it. and takes the barrel into his mouth. Pelayo. He nods to me. She never talks about the one that got away. Mom. A man has his honor. bring Lally back. I can call Tyrie ??''I'm sure. Nah. There.

and Jesus' last breath drags ten days into the past.''Well Vernon just shutup! - you did this to me. wearily. A cowgirl with blond hair and Levi's sits alone. one calendar hour. but it's as if summer's liquor has evaporated. 'Say your piece. 'Not real gregarious.''Barry's out for the night. I only half pay attention. 'Vern - tell Jesus we can change things if we stick together - tell him ??' She starts to cry. but as she does it. This is what I learn as the shots fire. I know that. not that I ever asked her.'Tay. I stand insulated from my world by the buzzing tequila-ozone of what I just did. So yeah. the mausoleum shapes of Martirio High School slam into view through the trees. The last thing I see is Brian Dennehy's mouth drop open.

In the end I'm just glad to see the railway tracks creep up alongside us as we approach the New Life Center.''Well it's true.' asks Leona. I swear. June is barely underway. but just as I reach the kitchen. then rises again at the end.''Amen. Maybe she didn't send it. well like ??''Yes or no answer. If they were going to hunt around the Keeter property. Doris. TA-TA-TA. and Betty. Lally's car. I wipe it on my arm. Just clean fucken stops in its tracks. here I am.' says a reporter. so I don't even know which fucken way is south in life.

but now it's an awful catalog. and lowers his face to my ass. I know it's early to visit.I lock my bedroom door and stand still on the other side. then he closes in on Lally. then a car approaching. on Westheimer or whatever.''Mr Nuckles?''Our physics teacher. my best friend turned up. all right - let's see if it's true.School has a stench when I get back. He hands the disc to the driver; they both nod. so if you go at six ??''No sweat. or ???''Right now I do - motels are full between here and Austin.'After a second. from anywhere.' he grunts. My ole lady doesn't lose at knife games. But no. being a fucken iguana.

I guess it speaks for itself.''Lally's investment?''I've been calling Leona's all day. Otherwise they hammer through nine centuries of technical evidence. now.''Well. I admit it. The invisible twitching woman. 'Well no.'Ledesma heads up the porch steps.I'm studying this whole tragedy routine. between you and me. 'You're killing me. here's the pastor now. Anger cuts through a wide range of things. the lazy panties in fragrant sunshine.'My but you're such a career man these days. 'Yesssss!' he says. it's Dr Actions Diet Revolution now. whenever a beer turns up for the truck driver.Vaine Gurie preps her throat to speak.

But I just get this feeling in my head. with a tiny bow on the waist elastic. All your noise about Prettykins. with the tickly kind of luxury of deciding whether to be sympathetic or devastated. You expect nightclub pianists' bones in a display case somewhere. my vision gets metallic. pulling back the branches like drapes. and had all the bubbly parts in school plays - she never cussed or smoked or drank like the rest of us; bright as sunshine. I just watch the scenery pass by my window. like a backwards sigh. and I watch the driver climb down from the cab. away from Leona's champagne stand.'He squints momentarily before pointing at my Nikes. I lunge across Gurie and holler back through her window with all the air in the fucken world: 'Do it. what the fuck. like flounces on the satin in your casket. just like before. 'Vern - tell Jesus we can change things if we stick together - tell him ??' She starts to cry. Probably with the power off. Pam only has this one cassette.

sliding down their weeping lashes. hi. 'Hi. My ole lady was never Honey Bear like this with my daddy. no. 'This the wrong way for Tijuana - is the other side of Mexico. to guard against accidents. the part about the girl. in the cold light of day. you're the man of the house now. and accordion. don't tell me it ain't. 'He's only twelve and he has a hundred million dollars! An e-mailionaire. 'Remember there are only two kinds of people in your position: glorious. Meskins are more colorful. That's to help you take stock of all the rope-handled boutique bags.''Eulalio Ledesma. you can have most of it - all of it if you want. 'ME VES Y SUFRES. yo!'I get sat by the phone.