Oofy, Freddie and the Beef Trust

"Oofy, Freddie and the Beef Trust"
Author P. G. Wodehouse
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series Drones Club
Genre(s) Comedy
Publisher Pocket Books
Media type Print
Publication date September 1949

"Oofy, Freddie and the Beef Trust" is a short story by British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse and part of the Drones Club canon. First published in the US in the 1949 omnibus The Best of Wodehouse under the title "Freddie, Oofy and the Beef Trust", the story was later included in the 1959 short story collection A Few Quick Ones.[1]

In the story, a man named Jas Waterbury convinces Drones Club members Oofy Prosser and Freddie Widgeon to become involved in a scheme to make money off wrestling.

Plot

Oofy Prosser makes it clear to other members at the Drones Club that he hates wrestlers. A Crumpet tells the following story about how Jas Waterbury, a "greasy bird" (a greasy-headed person), caused trouble for Oofy involving wrestlers.

Reading from left to right, the pair consisted of an obese bounder who looked like a gorilla which has been doing itself too well on the bananas and a second obese bounder who would have made a hippopotamus seem streamlined.

— Oofy meets the wrestlers, Porky and Plug[2]

Jas Waterbury proposes an investment opportunity to club member Freddie Widgeon that requires a couple hundred pounds. Freddie says he does not have that kind of money, unlike Drones Club member Oofy Prosser. Jas agrees to pay Freddie a commission in exchange for being introduced to Oofy. The next morning, Oofy tells the Crumpet that Freddie introduced him to Waterbury, who wants Oofy to invest two hundred pounds so they can put on wrestling matches. Oofy meets Jas's two large and intimidating all-in wrestlers, Porky Jupp and Plug Bosher. They go into training for a couple of weeks at a cottage.

The wrestlers become uncooperative because of poor quality meals. Oofy suggests bringing in a new cook, and Jas recommends one of his nieces, Myrtle Cootes. She cooks well for them, and the two wrestlers become friends again. To avoid paying Freddie his commission, Oofy convinces Freddie that reconciliation between the wrestlers has proved impossible, and gives him ten pounds as a consolation. Another problem arises: Porky and Plug are now rivals for the affection of Myrtle. Jas persuades Oofy to pretend to court Myrtle so that Porky and Plug will unite against him, and tells Oofy to kiss Myrtle. When Oofy kisses her, Porky and Plug threaten to harm Oofy for playing with her feelings. Jas tells Porky and Plug that Oofy is honorably engaged to Myrtle, and Oofy confirms this in order to save himself.

Heartbroken, Plug and Porky decide to give up wrestling and go to Africa. Jas says that at least Myrtle will be happy being married to Oofy. Oofy does not want to marry her, but Jas threatens a breach of promise case and violence from the wrestlers. Oofy is forced to pay Jas two thousand pounds. About a week later at the Drones Club, Jas Waterbury shows up and tells Freddie he wants to become a member. However, when Oofy sees Jas, he attacks him, and after being pulled back by Freddie, walks off angrily. Freddie, trusting and naive as ever, is tricked by Jas into giving him ten pounds.

Background

The story's title may be derived from the burlesque act consisting of large-sized female entertainers known as the "Beef Trust".

Publication history

The story was first printed in The Best of Wodehouse, a collection of short stories published on 12 September 1949 by Pocket Books. Titled "Freddie, Oofy and the Beef Trust", the story was the last story in the collection, and the only new story included.[3]

Retitled "Oofy, Freddie and the Beef Trust", the story was included in the 1959 short story collection A Few Quick Ones, and in the 1982 short story collection, Tales from the Drones Club.[4]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ McIlvaine (1990), p. 94, A82b, and p. 118, B8a.
  2. ↑ Wodehouse (1993) [1959], chapter 10, p. 184.
  3. ↑ McIlvaine (1990), p. 118, B8a.
  4. ↑ McIlvaine (1990), p. 94, A82b, and p. 126, B25.
Bibliography
  • McIlvaine, Eileen; Sherby, Louise S.; Heineman, James H. (1990). P. G. Wodehouse: A Comprehensive Bibliography and Checklist. New York: James H. Heineman Inc. ISBN 978-0-87008-125-5.
  • Wodehouse, P. G. (1993) [1959]. A Few Quick Ones (Reprinted ed.). London: The Guernsey Press Co. Ltd. ISBN 0099819503.
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