The Jelly-Bean by F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Jelly-bean is the name throughout the undissolved Confederacy for one who spends his life conjugating the verb to idle in the first person singular - I am idling, I have idled, I will idle.
Jim returned home from the war at age 21 and lived above Tilley's Garage. He felt most comfortable hanging out in the garage. He was pretty much a loner and didn't like parties. He couldn't dance and he couldn't get the courage up to ask a girl any way. However, his friend, Clark invited him to one and promised he wouldn't leave him in a corner, sitting by himself the entire time.
Despite the prohibition, Clark smuggled in a bottle of Corn moonshine. They sneaked outside to have some and then Jim got left hiding the bottle on him. That's when Nancy Lamar showed up with gum on her shoe. Jim siphoned gas out of a car to get the gum off. He was entranced by her beauty and also knew that she got herself in trouble when she drank the corn. However, he shared it with her, non the less.
After the dance, a group stayed and played craps including Jim and Nancy. Read the story, here to see what happend next.
It took me a couple of pages to get into The Jelly Bean. Mostly that is because it took until then for Fitzerald to explain why Jim was a Jelly Bean. Then the story really took off. This story reminded me why I adored The Great Gatsby so much back in high school. I really hope to read it again someday.
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...got herself in trouble when she drank the corn. However, he shared it with her, nonetheless.
Tongue in cheek?
John Mutford said... June 13, 2011 at 8:50 PM
Your post reminds me how much I enjoyed this story! It's definitely time to pull down the collection and read another.
JoAnn said... June 14, 2011 at 4:39 AM
So many authors I haven't read and really should, F. Scott Fitzgerald being one of them. For some reason, the classics are intimidating to me, especially when it comes to short stories.
Anonymous said... June 14, 2011 at 8:00 AM
I have yet to read Fitzgerald. I didn't even know he had written short stories...
Em said... June 14, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Hm John, I can see why you would think I meant it tongue in cheek but I didn't really.
Teddy Rose said... June 14, 2011 at 10:51 PM
JoAnn, I want to read more too. I just saw the new Woody Allen movie, Midnight in Paris, today. It made me long even more for more Fitzgerald among other writers.
Teddy Rose said... June 14, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Carol, I think F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the more accessible classic authors for those who are a bit intimidated. Did you read many classics in high school and were there any you liked? Perhaps start with those authors. Also, remember, since you are not in high school any longer, you don't have to diagram plot and analyze deep meaning. You can just read for the pure joy of it.
Teddy Rose said... June 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Em, now you know. LOL! Not everyone likes Fitzgerald but I certainly do.
Teddy Rose said... June 14, 2011 at 10:59 PM
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