"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 >>>
BEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEHello my name is Corie Johnson from USA I want to tell the world about the great and mighty spell caster called Dr Ogudugu my husband was cheating on me and no longer committed to me and our kids when I asked him what the problem was he told me he has fell out of love for me and wanted a divorce I was so heartbroken I cried all day and night but he left home I was looking for something online when I saw an article how the great and powerful Dr Ogudugu have helped so many in a similar situation like mine he email address was there so I sent him an email telling him about my problem he told me he shall return back to me within 48hrs I did everything he asked me to do the nest day to my greatest surprise my husband came back home and was crying and begging for me to forgive and accept him back he can also help you contact greatogudugu@gmail.com WhatsApp/Text [+2348163026536]