Elsie takes deep breaths, br and strains to count the times br she's crossed her heart and br sworn to flee this blighted city. br br br In the frying pan, br two eggs are smoldering. br Smoke chokes the kitchen. br br br In the basement, br Walter's baritone horn makes br its usual farting noises. br br br Walter disappeared three years ago. br He left Elsie with zero dollars br and a pair ofdemonically possessed twins. br br br In Elsie's mind, Joe Bob and br Jim Bob are eighty feet tall. br In reality, they paint each other br with cat turds and cigarette ashes, br and scream and squall like banshees br on the brink of death. br br br Their cacophony consists of br two-fifths public rage, br three-fifths private terror. br br br Fur brushes agains br Elsie's legs. She glares down at br the gimpy old calico, then repeats br the curses which have replaced br her prayers. br br br Clyde, the mange-ridden furball br too stupid to die. br The ghost of Walter, hideously br off-key on his perverted baritone. br The twin drooling monsters br spat from her groin four years ago. br By morning, all must be but dust br on the windowsill. br br br Clyde chokes and retches. br This always happens when br he tries to purr. br Elsie slowly scrapes br the charred eggs into br Clyde's dish. br br br Elsie suddenly starts to squeal. br Squeals two-fifths resignation, br three-fifths disgust.