Jodi Raus
Literary Interpretation Paper
English 1121:70
November 15, 2003
Snatched
“Every truth has two sides; it is well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either”
(Aesop). In Ron Carlson’s, “Bigfoot Stole My Wife” we are introduced to Rick who is devastated
over his missing wife. Rick describes his encounters with cruel, disbelieving people who
question his credibility. However, I believe that Rick is just a regular hard-working guy who has
been faced with an unfortunate rash of bad luck. The evidence supporting this interpretation is
evident throughout the story.
After spending hours analyzing jockey rosters, calculating odds and studying the races, Rick
would stay late into the evening at the track to pay for the home he and his bride, Trudy, shared
with their collie, Buster. Not a wealthy man, Rick would share his program with the poor souls
who could not afford to spend two dollars on their own program (para. 8).
On this particular evening, Rick is forced to go home and tell Trudy that once again he narrowly
missed the Daily Double (para. 6). He would have to tell her that she would have to plant more
vegetables in her garden just so they could eat. Although Rick felt like a failure for not being
able to bring home the bacon, he knew that Trudy actually wouldn’t mind spending more time in
her garden. As a matter of fact, Trudy preferred tending her garden to tidying up the house;
something Rick turned a blind eye to (para. 4).
According to Steve Hyde, the United States Cryptozoological Director, Bigfoot is an
opportunistic forager, spending nearly every waking moment searching for food. Obviously
Bigfoot snatched Trudy suddenly while she was in the midst of cooking up one of her famous
Chinese dishes, which explains why the refrigerator door was left open (para. 4).
Nobody has ever reported seeing Bigfoot’s teeth, leaving the door open to the conclusion that
they have all rotted out due to his fondness for Dr. Pepper and the inability to grasp a
toothbrush to brush his teeth due to his non-opposable thumbs (Hyde). Bigfoot must have
knocked over the can of Dr. Pepper on his way out the door; most likely due to holding Buster’s
leash and carrying a struggling Trudy over his shoulder (para. 4). Rick was left to clean up this
mess as well.
Rick’s nephew Chuck missed the obvious point regarding the missing Celica. Chuck
questioned, “. . . why’d they take the Celica?” (para. 6), implying that they should have left in
Bigfoot’s vehicle. Rick should have informed Chuck that there have been zero reported
sightings of Bigfoot driving. Obviously Bigfoot needed some mode of transportation to take both
Trudy and Buster as well as half of Trudy’s clothes. With the Celica’s 35 inches of headroom
and spacious 43.6 inches of leg room, Bigfoot’s 7 foot tall frame would definitely fit, albeit a tight
squeeze (Toyota). Being a four passenger vehicle, Trudy, Buster and the clothing would have
all fit in the back seat and/or trunk.
Believing credible sources is one thing, considering all of the facts from a source who may not
be credible is another. All of the people who questioned poor Rick’s credibility obviously did not
consider all of the facts. If they only had taken the time to listen to Rick and research the facts,
they may have been able to start searching for Trudy and Buster before Bigfoot got too far
away. Now the very least these naysayers can do is pitch in to help weed the garden. At least
Rick would be able to eat while he continues to analyze jockey rosters, calculates odds and
studies the races.
Works Cited
Hyde, Steve. Bigfoot and the Apes. 2001. International Fortean Research Society.
7 November 2003 <http://forteansociety.tripod.com/gorilla.html>.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. 2003. 9 November 2003
<http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/celica/specs.html>.