Update:
I let this grow to about 2 feet and it really bushed out. The trunk grew out a bit from the first picture. I was kind of disappointed with it because it did bot seem to backbud very well and the branches were spindly.
As fate would have it, it fell off my bench about a month ago and I lost a few branches on one side. I was watering it a week later and noticed a ton of new growth close to the trunk. I cut all the branches back and it has really come back strong!
I know it is a very unorthodox bonsai but here in the desert you take what you get. Actually going to put some wire on it. ?