Angels in Stardust

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Best glazed doughnut I ever had

was down the road

in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

That's the truth.

I was just passing through town,

and there it was

in a little

hole-in-the-wall joint.

Sweetest

melt-in-your-mouth

glazed doughnut

in all of creation.

I love glazed doughnuts.

I know.

We got similar tastes.

Funny coming on a prize

doughnut in Muskogee.

Yeah, you don't expect that

in Indian territory.

Not like beads.

Or drums.

Or war bonnets.

Okie ain't so Indian anymore.

Nah.

Not pure.

It's a lot like that nowadays.

Everything's mixed up.

Yeah,

especially around Tardust.

I don't understand folks

around here.

Land's fat with highways,

got three rivers

bleeding into each other,

take a soul almost anywhere.

Everybody sticks here.

Hey, Vallie Sue!

Hey, yourself, Loretta!

Well, come on, girl!

I see you talking

to yourself again.

So?

So? You're

too old for that.

People think that you're loopy.

Uh, why are we

driving backwards?

Thought your dad

let you have the car.

Not entirely.

He gave me 20 miles max,

so I gotta keep the mileage down

so we can go to the

Two Kiss after church.

Shouldn't we be driving

backwards from the church?

Do you want the guys to see me

driving down the drag like this,

like I'm great or vain

or something? Uh-uh.

Brethren, there's one man

who can save your souls

from the flames

of eternal damnation.

What's his name?

Jesus! Jesus.

Jesus.

What's his name?

Jesus.

Jesus.

That's right.

Millie, so glad things

are working out.

Thank you.

Oh, yeah. Heh.

Vallie.

Well, how nice to see you.

Hi.

And you, too, Loretta.

So where are your folks tonight?

Oh, well, mine's

at Cheney's Tavern

getting stinko, probably.

Aha.

And your mother, Vallie?

Uh, well, Reverend,

I heard something

about a two-headed dog,

a fearsome thing

running wild in Tardust,

so of course a bunch of folks and

my mom went out looking for it.

Aha. Well, I see.

Uh, well,

you girls have a nice evening.

Night.

Good night.

Bye-bye.

Why did you say the damn

fool thing about that dog?

It's not a fool thing.

I seen one.

In your dreams.

Uh-uh.

One of Mrs. Stubblefield's

magazines.

Also showed a woman

gave birth to a...

baby with horns.

Ha! I've seen

some boys with those.

Mrs. Stubblefield

showed me a picture of...

An angel of God

lynched from a tree

is in one of them rags.

Oh, it's a bad sign, child,

a bad, bad sign.

Shows the forces of evil

are gaining on us.

Even around Tardust?

Oh, especially here.

We got devils living

all around Tardust.

You gotta be careful

out there, child,

very, very careful.

You see a saucer?

No, just a crop duster.

But they's out there.

Why are you listening to

that old scarecrow anyhow?

It's not like the preacher

could have known

that Mom hasn't been home

most of the weekends.

I suppose.

Mm-hmm.

But still...

A two-headed dog?

Two-headed dog

ain't nothing.

There's all kind

of strange creatures...

squirrels that fly,

people with pink eyes.

I saw a woman with a beard

once at the carnival.

See what I mean?

Probably had hair

on her chest and back.

I don't want

to ruminate on that...

but it shows

that nature is peculiar.

Here. Give me your hand.

So Mom could have been

chasing a two-faced dog, huh?

Most likely has.

Thanks for the ride, honey.

Same to you, darling.

Mm.

Hey, hon.

Hi, Pleasant.

Hi, Ma.

Land sake,

turn that thing down, Pleasant.

What are you, deaf and dumb?

You're too close, too.

Look what I brought you.

Your favorite.

Thanks, Ma.

Mm-hmm.

I see you spying on your

mama out that window, hon.

No, I wasn't.

Well, you should've.

Mighty pretty boy

that dropped me off.

You're old enough

to appreciate that.

Well, I'm gonna take a bath...

I'm so tired...

and go straight to bed.

Night, Ma.

Night.

Hey, bud,

it's time for bed.

Look, Vallie.

Your favorite.

I told you I'd come back.

Hey, Ma?

Mm-hmm?

Mr. Sunday called,

said he'd like you

to come in early tomorrow.

Why?

A big wreck out on 30.

Three were killed.

Great. Was hoping

for a quiet week

at the bone parlor.

So am I gonna meet this one?

Who?

Oh, that boy?

Doubt it.

Why?

Ain't much future

in a 99-cent musician.

You ain't gonna see him again?

Ain't the point.

We need a man who can help us,

not hobble us.

I ain't getting any younger.

You're 31.

Exactly.

Why?

You want to meet him?

Not especially, no.

Well, good thing I didn't ask him in,

then, huh?

I'd say your mama's

got a thing for cowboys.

Looks that way.

I can't say I blame her.

Your daddy was

a cowboy, wasn't he?

That's what Mom says.

Pleasant, too.

Never met neither of 'em.

Well,

she's got a cowpoke persuasion for sure.

You ought to bring her around,

introduce us.

Oh, you got money?

None to speak of

Then forget about it.

Thank you very much.

You should sit down,

Mr. Hogan.

You may still be weak

from the accident.

Oh, thank you, ma'am,

but I should greet the guests.

Do you expect many more?

Not really.

We haven't lived here for long,

don't know many folks.

You and your dearly departed

just bought that big Seminole

Valley spread, didn't you?

Yes, we did.

Well,

if there's anything I can do for you,

you just let me know,

Mr. Hogan,

anything at all.

Well, thank you, ma'am.

Bet you don't have anybody to

help you with that owie do you?

Well...

I knew it. I knew it.

I'm gonna come over to that

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