"Lonesome Shorty" from The Book of Guys
As we approach the 25th Anniversary of the publication of Garrison Keillor's short story collection The Book of Guys, we are revisiting a few of the stories from the book with new introductions from Garrison. Here's what Garrison had to say about "Lonesome Shorty":
Written for The New Yorker, this story inspired the radio serial "Lives of the Cowboys" on A Prairie Home Companion, with Dusty and Lefty, Lefty's lost love Evelyn Beebalo, and the villain Big Messer, which takes place in and around Yellow Gulch, Wyoming. It's Samuel Beckett for fourteen-year-olds. The cowboys suffer extreme loneliness, which drives them to visit town, where, in a short time, they are disgusted by society and return to the godforsaken plains, where, in due course, they suffer extreme loneliness and return to Yellow Gulch, only to be disgusted. That's how life seemed to me when I was fourteen.
Excerpt:
The summer before last, I was headed for Billings on my horse Old Dan, driving two hundred head of the ripest-smelling longhorns you ever rode downwind of, when suddenly here come some tumbleweeds tumbling along with a newspaper stuck inside—I had been without news for weeks so I leaned down and snatched it up and read it trotting along, though the front page was missing and all there was was columnists and the Lifestyle section, so bouncing along in a cloud of manure I read an article entitled “43 Fabulous Salads to Freshen Up Your Summertime Table” which made me wonder if my extreme lonesomeness might not be the result of diet. Maybe I’m plumb loco, but a cowboy doesn’t get much fiber and he eats way too much beef.
You herd cattle all day, you come to despise them, and pretty soon, by jingo, you have gone and shot one, and then you must eat it, whilst all those cattle tromping around on the greens takes away your taste for salads, just like when you arrive at a creek and see that cattle have tromped in the water and drunk from it and crapped in it, it seems to turn a man toward whiskey. I thought to myself, Shorty, you’ve got to get out of this cowboy life. I mentioned this to my partner, old Eugene, and he squinted at me and said, “Eeyup.”
“Eugene,” I said, “I’ve been cowboyin for nigh onto two decades now. I know every water hole between Kansas and the Sierra Nevada, but consarn it, I miss the company of my fellow man. Scenery ain’t enough for me, Eugene, nor freedom. I’m sceneried out, pardner, and freedom is vastly overrated as an experience, if you ask me. I got to be with people. I’m a people cowboy, not a cow cowboy.”
Continue Reading Lonesome Shorty >>>
Purchase The Book of Guys >>>
i am super excited this very moment indeed Dr Dominion is truly a good man, i doubted him from the beginning but right now i can trust him with my all because he has put a beautiful smile on my face and change my life from struggle to millionaire, what would i have done without him, just few months ago i was struggling wondering what would my life turn into, now i am here sharing a wonderful testimony of my life, after i explained my whole situation to him he took me as his own daughter and removed my family from shame, he prepared a lottery winning spell for me with true sincerity and gave me a winning number to play and that was how i won that jackpot, Dr Dominion took away my shame, my pain and my worries, what a humble man with a heart of gold, thank you so much i am very grateful for what you have done for me, should you have any interest in giving it a try or going through any difficulties i think he is the right man to talk to and i believe he can help
Email: dominionlottospelltemple@gmail.com
website: dominionlottospell.wixsite.com/dr-dominion
phone: +12059642462
My Real Experience With a Love Spell That Worked Immediately and Brought My partner Back
Am so excited to share my testimony of a real spell caster who brought my husband back to me. My husband and I have been married for about 6yrs now. We were happily married with two kids, 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. I became very worried and I needed help. I did all I could to save my marriage but it fail until a friend of mine told me about the wonderful work of Dr Jakuta I contacted him and he assured me that after 24hrs everything will return back to normal, to my greatest surprise my husband came back home and went on his knees was crying begging me for forgiveness I’m so happy right now. Thank you so much Dr Jakuta because ever since then everything has returned back to normal. One message to him today can change your life too for the better. You can contact him via WhatsApp +2349161779461 or Email : doctorjakutaspellcaster24@gmail. comI’m at a loss for how to express this. My sister welcomed twin daughters in July, and I found myself in a difficult financial and emotional state. I am known as Celta Vallecano, and during my quest to find quick cash, I came across an advertisement claiming that Lord Meduza provides precise numbers to those genuinely selected for freedom from financial struggles through his genuine spell. I felt compelled to take a chance, and ever since reaching out to Lord Meduza, my life has significantly improved.. As I write this, I am now a winner of €375 Million Euros after adhering to all the guidance and utilizing the MEGA MILLIONS numbers provided by Lord Meduza. I want to express my gratitude for the fact that assistance is indeed possible regardless of how difficult your circumstances may seem. I highly recommend him in case you require any assistance. Simply Whats-App +1 8 0 7 9 0 7 2 6 8 7 or Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com and for more inquiring, visit: lordmeduzatemple.com
I have been suffering from Herpes for the past 1 years and 8 months, and ever since then I have been taking series of treatment but there was no improvement until I came across testimonies of Dr. Silver on how he has been curing different people from different diseases all over the world, then I contacted him as well. After our conversation he sent me the medicine which I took according to his instructions. When I was done taking the herbal medicine I went for a medical checkup and to my greatest surprise I was cured from Herpes. My heart is so filled with joy. If you are suffering from Herpes or any other disease you can contact Dr. Silver today on this Email address: drsilverhealingtemple@gmail.com
Are you searching for a real spell caster ?
It is amazing how quickly Dr. Masako brought my husband back to me.
My name is Nate Gift. I married the love of my life Riley on 10/02/15 and we now have two beautiful girls Abby & Erin, who are conjoined twins, that were born 07/24/16. My husband left me and moved to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. I tried to be strong just for the kids but I could not control the pains that tormented my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because I was really in love with my husband. I have tried many options but he did not come back, until I met a friend that directed me to Dr. Masako, a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 24hours. My husband and I are living happily together again, This man is powerful, contact Dr.Masako if you are going through any difficulty in life or having troubles in your marriage or relationship, he is capable of making things right for you. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best spell caster.
Here is his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2349047144277
Or email him at: Doctormasako@gmail.com ,
For more information visit his website: https://doctormasako2.wixsite.com/drmasakospelltemple