NEEDLE-SHARP AIR
Spikes my lungs.
Breathe, damn it.
This means nothing.
I crawl down the hall,
into my room. Dig
in my backpack.
Locate my inhaler.
One big pull. Capillary
expansion. Holy crow.
I hear Dad slam
through the front door.
He and Kortni must
be arguing. They’ve
done a lot of that
lately. I should tell
him about the message.
But he’ll find out
soon enough. Instead
I’ll go ahead and call
Kyle. Maybe he’ll
know what to do.
Associated Press
Miss Nevada, twenty-three-year-old Devon Shepherd, found herself embroiled in yet more controversy after she arrived in an inebriated state for a performance of The Nutcracker at the Pioneer Center in Reno.
“It was the anniversary of her sister’s death,” explained Shepherd’s mother and manager, Angela. “Devon and LaTreya were very close. She has had a difficult time coping.”
Casino showroom dancer LaTreya Shepherd was killed two years ago, when her fiancé, Robert Cole, shot her in a jealous rage. Shepherd’s father, Brad, was later convicted of attempted murder after paying a prison inmate to poison Cole, who survived.
Devon Shepherd previously served as Miss Teen Nevada, as did LaTreya, two years prior. Angela Shepherd has been accused of being the “classic overbearing stage mother,” something she strongly denies. “I supported my daughters and their dreams,” she said. “And I will continue to support Devon now.”
This is not the first time Miss Shepherd’s character has been questioned. Only three weeks after winning her Miss Nevada title, she publicly remarked, “This is a major stepping-stone to a career in film. Hopefully not pornography.”
She later said, “Obviously, I have poor taste in jokes.”
Hunter