"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 >>>
My husband changed dramatically towards me, doesn’t communicate anymore. He disrespects me and accuses me falsely of infidelity because of wicked gossip …but I’m simpHow To Get Your Ex Lover/Partner/Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Wife Or Husband Back Contact Dr David awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp/Call Him +2347051149457
l AMAZED at the results of PRIEST AWESOME (AWESOME SPELL TEMPLE) who did a reunioI truly believe in the effectiveness of spells, and I want to share how Psychic Doctor David helped me during a very challenging time in my marriage. My husband and I were facing serious misunderstandings that nearly led to divorce. In my moments of despair, I found myself crying and searching for love quotes online when I stumbled upon glowing reviews of Doctor David work. Feeling hopeful, I contacted him and shared my situation. He confidently told me that my husband would return within 24 hours. I followed his advice, and to my absolute surprise, my husband came back the very next day, sincerely asking for my forgiveness and wanting to rebuild our relationship. If you’re going through similar struggles in your marriage, I encourage you to reach out to him. He truly can make a difference!
awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com love spell for me. Everything is going so well and EXACTLY how he said it would be. Even though it took 3 days to fully progress, it was so worth it because things are just about at perfection! How he took my situation and completely turned it around to give me exactly what I wanted is beyond me, but something I will never question and just be completely grateful for. God Bless Dr. DAVID for turning sorrow into happiness. You can also contact PRIEST AWESOME : give you 100% guarantee that he will help you.. https://web.facebook.com/Awesomelovepelltemple Email him: awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +2347051149457
Website: https://63e1caad0959a.site123.me/
The #1 Global Monetization Platform | MonetizationPlatform.com
Looking to make money online? Welcome to MonetizationPlatform.com — the first and best monetization platform worldwide! 🚀
Our platform helps creators, influencers, website owners, and businesses earn more through powerful affiliate marketing tools, traffic monetization, ad revenue optimization, and automated earning systems.
✅ Fast & secure payments
✅ Global user base
✅ High conversion rates
✅ 24/7 support
Join millions who trust MonetizationPlatform.com — where innovation meets income.
Start earning smarter today! WEBSITE : https://monitizationplatform.com/
monetization platform, best monetization website, earn money online, affiliate marketing, ad revenue platform, traffic monetization, online income, passive income, website monetization, influencer earnings, global monetization tools.form | MonetizationPlatform.com
Looking to make money online? Welcome to MonetizationPlatform.com — the first and best monetization platform worldwide! 🚀
Our platform helps creators, influencers, website owners, and businesses earn more through powerful affiliate marketing tools, traffic monetization, ad revenue optimization, and automated earning systems.
✅ Fast & secure payments
✅ Global user base
✅ High conversion rates
✅ 24/7 support
Join millions who trust MonetizationPlatform.com — where innovation meets income.
Start earning smarter today! WEBSITE : https://monitizationplatform.com/
monetization platform, best monetization website, earn money online, affiliate marketing, ad revenue platform, traffic monetization, online income, passive income, website monetization, influencer earnings, global monetization tool
The #1 Global Monetization Platform | MonetizationPlatform.com
Looking to make money online? Welcome to MonetizationPlatform.com — the first and best monetization platform worldwide! 🚀
Our platform helps creators, influencers, website owners, and businesses earn more through powerful affiliate marketing tools, traffic monetization, ad revenue optimization, and automated earning systems.
✅ Fast & secure payments
✅ Global user base
✅ High conversion rates
✅ 24/7 support
Join millions who trust MonetizationPlatform.com — where innovation meets income.
Start earning smarter today! WEBSITE : https://monitizationplatform.com/
monetization platform, best monetization website, earn money online, affiliate marketing, ad revenue platform, traffic monetization, online income, passive income, website monetization, influencer earnings, global monetization tools.form | MonetizationPlatform.com
Looking to make money online? Welcome to MonetizationPlatform.com — the first and best monetization platform worldwide! 🚀
Our platform helps creators, influencers, website owners, and businesses earn more through powerful affiliate marketing tools, traffic monetization, ad revenue optimization, and automated earning systems.
✅ Fast & secure payments
✅ Global user base
✅ High conversion rates
✅ 24/7 support
Join millions who trust MonetizationPlatform.com — where innovation meets income.
Start earning smarter today! WEBSITE : https://monitizationplatform.com/
monetization platform, best monetization website, earn money online, affiliate marketing, ad revenue platform, traffic monetization, online income, passive income, website monetization, influencer earnings, global monetization tool
My husband changed dramatically towards me, doesn’t communicate anymore. He disrespects me and accuses me falsely of infidelity because of wicked gossip …but I’m simpHow To Get Your Ex Lover/Partner/Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Wife Or Husband Back Contact Dr David awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp/Call Him +2347051149457
l AMAZED at the results of PRIEST AWESOME (AWESOME SPELL TEMPLE) who did a reunioI truly believe in the effectiveness of spells, and I want to share how Psychic Doctor David helped me during a very challenging time in my marriage. My husband and I were facing serious misunderstandings that nearly led to divorce. In my moments of despair, I found myself crying and searching for love quotes online when I stumbled upon glowing reviews of Doctor David work. Feeling hopeful, I contacted him and shared my situation. He confidently told me that my husband would return within 24 hours. I followed his advice, and to my absolute surprise, my husband came back the very next day, sincerely asking for my forgiveness and wanting to rebuild our relationship. If you’re going through similar struggles in your marriage, I encourage you to reach out to him. He truly can make a difference!
awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com love spell for me. Everything is going so well and EXACTLY how he said it would be. Even though it took 3 days to fully progress, it was so worth it because things are just about at perfection! How he took my situation and completely turned it around to give me exactly what I wanted is beyond me, but something I will never question and just be completely grateful for. God Bless Dr. DAVID for turning sorrow into happiness. You can also contact PRIEST AWESOME : give you 100% guarantee that he will help you.. https://web.facebook.com/Awesomelovepelltemple Email him: awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +2347051149457
Website: https://63e1caad0959a.site123.me/
My husband changed dramatically towards me, doesn’t communicate anymore. He disrespects me and accuses me falsely of infidelity because of wicked gossip …but I’m simpHow To Get Your Ex Lover/Partner/Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Wife Or Husband Back Contact Dr David awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp/Call Him +2347051149457
l AMAZED at the results of PRIEST AWESOME (AWESOME SPELL TEMPLE) who did a reunioI truly believe in the effectiveness of spells, and I want to share how Psychic Doctor David helped me during a very challenging time in my marriage. My husband and I were facing serious misunderstandings that nearly led to divorce. In my moments of despair, I found myself crying and searching for love quotes online when I stumbled upon glowing reviews of Doctor David work. Feeling hopeful, I contacted him and shared my situation. He confidently told me that my husband would return within 24 hours. I followed his advice, and to my absolute surprise, my husband came back the very next day, sincerely asking for my forgiveness and wanting to rebuild our relationship. If you’re going through similar struggles in your marriage, I encourage you to reach out to him. He truly can make a difference!
awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com love spell for me. Everything is going so well and EXACTLY how he said it would be. Even though it took 3 days to fully progress, it was so worth it because things are just about at perfection! How he took my situation and completely turned it around to give me exactly what I wanted is beyond me, but something I will never question and just be completely grateful for. God Bless Dr. DAVID for turning sorrow into happiness. You can also contact PRIEST AWESOME : give you 100% guarantee that he will help you.. https://web.facebook.com/Awesomelovepelltemple Email him: awesomenesspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +2347051149457
Website: https://63e1caad0959a.site123.me/