New York Tales (5): Somebody or Nobody

来源: renqiulan 2024-08-16 19:19:42 [] [博客] [旧帖] [给我悄悄话] 本文已被阅读: 次 (2880 bytes)

 

A self-important, ultra-liberal New Yorker found himself living his worst nightmare: he woke up in the reddest part of Red State Texas. In no time, he transformed into an underemployed rural Texan, living hand-to-mouth. Life wasn't fair, and he had no choice but to get used to it.

 

 

 

 

They called him "Tex Q," a nickname as jarring as a rattlesnake on a yoga mat.

Rivaling the original Ah Q, Tex Q found solace in self-deception: every defeat was a moral victory. Losing at poker? He was conserving energy for a bigger pot. Getting fired? He was preparing for a higher calling. Thanks to his mental gymnastics, he kept himself from drowning in self-pity.

One day, a documentary crew arrived, eager to explore the psyche of rednecks. Tex Q was a godsend to them. They filmed him fishing, which he described as a "meditative battle against aquatic foes." They captured him fixing his truck, likening it to performing open-heart surgery on a metal beast. And they recorded his reflections on life, where he colorfully explained why being broke was a sign of deep spiritual wealth.

The documentary made Tex Q a viral sensation. People were fascinated by his absurd optimism and unwavering belief in a universe seemingly determined to prove him wrong. He was invited on talk shows, offered book deals, and even considered for a reality show on a popular streaming platform.

But Tex Q, true to form, turned it all down. He returned to his trailer, cracked open a beer, and looked at the sky. "Another day, another dollar," he muttered. "After all, a man's gotta have standards."


As night fell, he took to social media, rallying his fans to support his presidential candidate. Yes, he always enjoyed preaching to the choir. Meanwhile, his canine buddy brought home a rabbit for dinner.


Author: renqiulan

 

 

 

 

 

所有跟帖: 

What if a Wall Street bull rider turned into a trailer park -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:34:22

redneck? From "hero" to "zero" in a heartbeat. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:39:20

So another Friday, another story, another character. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:47:37

Hi, renqiulan! -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:47:56

I'm so glad to have you check out my little Friday story. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:53:54

Thank you, Blue Soul! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 19:54:22

The pleasure is mine. Is Tex Q the "legendary" Ah Q? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:00:16

You decide. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:06:35

OK. But let me ask a couple of questions. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:09:34

Please feel free to do so. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:13:06

I can't help but notice that Tex Q, the "redneck," was kind -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:19:25

of a reincarnation of a Wall Street type. Right? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:20:23

Right. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:23:05

So, is Tex Q better than his former self, one of the"bluest" -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:25:31

New Yorkers? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:26:06

Again, you decide. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:28:47

Fair enough. BTW, I got the impression that Tex Q fully -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:33:07

embraced his Texan identity. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:33:53

Perhaps Tex Q had once fully embraced his former Wall Street -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:38:14

identity. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:39:01

Two lives, two identities. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:42:34

I can live with that, no pun intended. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:47:00

Just don't be another Pygmalion. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:48:31

Oh, the poor sculptor from Ovid's "Metamorphoses." -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:53:12

Haha! Pygmalion fell in love with a statue he had carved. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 20:59:15

Actually, you reminded me of George Bernard Shaw's eponymous -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:06:45

play. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:07:03

I haven't gotten a chance to read this play. My guess is -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:13:59

that it must be interesting, to say the least. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:14:27

"We all have private imaginations, but when it comes to -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:36:14

brutal life-business, one needs to distinguish between -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:37:15

reality and dreams." This quote addresses the play's theme. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:37:43

canine buddy=猪队友:)An Entertaining story!TexQ is a caricature -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:30:32

of one of modern New Yorkers. Quite a character! -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:35:52

Hi, 暖冬cool夏! Thank you for stopping by! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:39:18

As for "canine buddy=猪队友," well, that might be true -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:41:28

in the Chinese-speaking world.Mark Twain must beg to differ: -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:44:35

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:45:37

he will not bite you. This is the principal difference -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:46:22

between a dog and a man." -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:47:10

Shaw's Pygmalion must be full of quotable lines. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:51:00

I, myself, prefer to read between the lines, quotable or -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:53:55

otherwise. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:54:14

Your approach makes more sense than mine. I am learning to -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:57:52

be a more serious reader. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 21:58:56

Don't we all need to be more serious readers? -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:00:57

Could you tell me more about Shaw's Pygmalion? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:04:17

Certainly. His Pygmalion is truly ahead of its time. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:07:20

Please go on. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:09:15

Shaw's ability to blend social commentary with wit is -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:11:08

unparalleled. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:11:32

How so? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:12:29

Shaw masterfully deconstructs the rigid social hierarchy of -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:14:29

Edwardian England (1901-1914). -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:15:53

And the language? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:17:40

Yes, let’s not forget the linguistic aspect. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:19:17

I'm listening. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:20:46

Shaw's Pygmalion is a treasure trove for language -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:22:35

enthusiasts. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:23:00

Tell me more about it. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:24:20

Shaw's use of phonetics and his exploration of the -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:26:22

relationship between language and social class is -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:26:53

groundbreaking. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:27:13

That reminds me of "Downton Abbey." -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:29:11

Right on. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:30:40

Thank you. Let's get back to your story. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:32:07

So you're not done yet. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:33:21

Of course not. What inspired you to create this Tex Q -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:34:37

character? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:34:59

Tex Q was born out of my fascination with extremes— -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:36:33

both geographical and ideological. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:36:59

Which means...? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:38:32

That means I wanted to explore what happens when someone -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:40:10

who is entrenched in a certain worldview is suddenly -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:40:44

uprooted and thrown into an environment that -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:41:30

contradicts everything they know. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:41:56

It sounds to me like you're putting human nature to the test -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:43:37

You are an astute reader. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:45:51

Thanks. But can you elaborate more on your point? -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:47:26

Absolutely. Through Tex Q, I also aimed to poke fun at the -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:49:27

ways we rationalize our situations, no matter -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:50:30

how absurd they may be. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:50:57

So you let Tex Q face a double whammy. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:52:10

Indeed, my piece is less about a specific message and -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:53:39

more about an exploration of character under duress. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:54:05

Not just duress, I would say, but also temptation. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:56:08

True. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:57:05

Frankly, you didn't run short of drama. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:58:09

Tex Q is a walking drama, if you will. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 22:59:11

And nearly a walking disaster. -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:00:40

He made the right decision to turn down the book -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:02:41

deals and streaming stardom. Good for him. He passed -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:03:29

the temptation test. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:03:57

Nicely put. Good night! -蓝灵- 给 蓝灵 发送悄悄话 蓝灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:05:16

Goodnight! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/16/2024 postreply 23:06:19

we need to be like Tex Q sometimes. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/17/2024 postreply 15:30:57

Haha, the last sentence adds more drama. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/17/2024 postreply 15:31:41

Did anything surprise you about the character's journey? -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/17/2024 postreply 17:32:29

I am not surprised. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/19/2024 postreply 18:08:08

This character might exist in reality more or less. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/19/2024 postreply 18:11:35

That means my piece makes sense. Thank you. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/20/2024 postreply 16:59:51

Thank you,天边一片白云! I'm thrilled you connected with the story. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/17/2024 postreply 17:30:41

very nice to read. I am learning some Buddhism. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/19/2024 postreply 18:15:13

there are some connection. -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/19/2024 postreply 18:16:03

Buddism! I must admit that I know next to nothing about it. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/20/2024 postreply 17:01:38

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