Faye Lane: Green Bean Queen - The Moth

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Moth - "Faye Lane: Green Bean Queen"

Episode Details:

Title: Green Bean Queen
Speaker: Faye Lane
Release Date: October 6, 2008
Recorded At: The Moth Story Slam

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of The Moth podcast, titled "Green Bean Queen," Faye Lane takes listeners on an emotional journey through her childhood experiences growing up in Texas. Hosted by Dan Kennedy, the episode showcases Faye's compelling story of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of community support.

Faye Lane's Story: From Teasing to Triumph

A Childhood in the Beauty Shop ([02:01] - [06:42])

Faye begins by reminiscing about her early years spent in her mother’s beauty shop in Texas. She paints a vivid picture of the "old a frame house with big mirrors and swivel chairs" where she grew up surrounded by the hum of hairstyling and the scent of shampoo. Despite the nurturing environment of the beauty shop, Faye faced relentless teasing about her weight during her childhood.

“When I was in the third grade, I heard that song just about every single day and it almost broke my heart. Because what I wanted more than anything in the whole world was to be a beauty queen.” ([02:15])

Her aspiration to become a beauty queen was constantly undermined by the cruel remarks of her peers. However, the beauty shop ladies provided a sanctuary, offering comfort and support whenever the teasing became too much to bear.

“But no matter how bad the teasing got, the beauty shop ladies could always make me feel better.” ([02:45])

Imagining a Better Self

To cope with the teasing, Faye immersed herself in the fantasy of being a beauty queen. After school, she would don a "glittered up Burger King crown" and practice her "beauty queen acceptance feed" on the porch, dreaming of the day she would be celebrated rather than mocked.

“Sometimes I would practice my beauty queen acceptance feed. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much.” ([03:30])

Her resilience is evident as she reflects on her ability to turn hurtful comments into motivation for self-improvement.

The School Musical: A Pivotal Moment ([04:00] - [05:50])

Faye’s turning point came when she was cast in her third-grade spring production of "Peter Rabbit the Musical," playing the role of the green bean—a part that left her feeling humiliated due to its focus on her weight.

“I stood in shock and horror when it was announced that I had been cast in the pivotal role of the green bean. I said, Mrs. Gandy, I cannot do this. I cannot wear this. A fat green bean. They're going to make fun of me.” ([04:15])

Despite her fears, Faye’s teacher, Mrs. Gandy, encouraged her to embrace the role, emphasizing the importance of pouring her heart into her performance.

“Don’t you let those children tell you who you are. You show them who you are.” ([04:45])

Determined to excel, Faye meticulously altered her costume to hide her figure, attaching a glittered Burger King crown to the pea pod hat. However, faced with stage fright backstage, she found solace and strength in the presence of her supportive mother and the beauty shop ladies who had always believed in her.

“And I saw my mom still in her uniform from the beauty shop, looking really nervous. And then I saw the beauty shop ladies. They were all there. And they came to see me. And you know why? Because they loved me no matter what.” ([05:15])

The Performance: Embracing Her Identity

With newfound courage, Faye delivered a memorable performance, singing a song she crafted that encapsulated her journey from insecurity to self-acceptance. Her song became an anthem for her life, symbolizing her embrace of her true self.

”I'm a tiny weeny bean living in the garden grain... Y'all have surely never seen a bean so keen and lean and mean. I'm a green bean queen. Thank you.” ([05:50])

This pivotal moment not only transformed her perception of herself but also laid the foundation for her future endeavors in performance and writing.

Key Themes and Insights

Self-Acceptance and Resilience: Faye’s story underscores the importance of accepting oneself despite external judgments. Her determination to excel in a role that initially made her feel uncomfortable highlights her resilience.
Community Support: The unwavering support from the beauty shop ladies and her mother played a crucial role in Faye’s ability to overcome her fears. This illustrates the profound impact that a supportive community can have on an individual's self-esteem and confidence.
Transformation Through Adversity: Faye’s journey from being teased to becoming the "Green Bean Queen" exemplifies how adversity can be a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.
Embracing One’s Identity: By taking ownership of her role and turning a negative experience into a positive affirmation, Faye demonstrates the power of embracing one’s identity and using it as a source of strength.

Conclusion

"Green Bean Queen" is a poignant narrative that delves deep into themes of self-worth, community, and personal growth. Faye Lane’s eloquent storytelling not only captivates the audience but also imparts valuable lessons on overcoming adversity and embracing one’s true self. Her story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to turn pain into purpose, inspiring listeners to find their own sources of strength and acceptance.

About Faye Lane

Faye Lane is a solo performer and writer, currently working on her memoir titled "Wonders, Never Cease to Wonder." She resides in the Chelsea Hotel and continues to create works that reflect her unique blend of humor, vulnerability, and resilience.

Supporting The Moth

The Moth is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of storytelling. Listeners can support the organization by visiting themoth.org or becoming a member. The Moth also hosts live events, including the annual Mothball in New York City, featuring notable personalities like John Turturro and Garrison Keillor.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

[02:15] “When I was in the third grade, I heard that song just about every single day and it almost broke my heart. Because what I wanted more than anything in the whole world was to be a beauty queen.”
[02:45] “But no matter how bad the teasing got, the beauty shop ladies could always make me feel better.”
[03:30] “Sometimes I would practice my beauty queen acceptance feed. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much.”
[04:15] “I cannot wear this. A fat green bean. They're going to make fun of me.”
[04:45] “Don’t you let those children tell you who you are. You show them who you are.”
[05:15] “Because they loved me no matter what. Exactly the way I was.”
[05:50] “I'm a tiny weeny bean living in the garden grain... Y'all have surely never seen a bean so keen and lean and mean. I'm a green bean queen. Thank you.”

This episode of The Moth beautifully encapsulates the journey of turning self-doubt into self-empowerment, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and a deeper understanding of personal resilience.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (1:21)

Welcome to the Moth Podcast, Dan I'm Dan Kennedy. The Moth features true stories told live without notes. All stories on the Moth Podcast are taken from our ongoing storytelling series in New York and Los Angeles and from our tour shows across the country. Visit themoth.org this week's story by Faye Lane was recorded live at the Moth Story Slam, our weekly storytelling competition which offers five minute slots to anyone with a story to tell.

C (2:01)

Fatty Fatty 2 by 4 couldn't get through the bathroom door. When I was in the third grade, I heard that song just about every single day and it almost broke my heart. Because what I wanted more than anything in the whole world was to be a beauty queen. See, I grew up in my mother's beauty shop in Texas. This old a frame house with big mirrors and swivel chairs in the front room and shampoo bowls in the old back bedroom. But no matter how bad the teasing got, the beauty shop ladies could always make me feel better. Well, I like teasing. Your mama's teasing my hair right now. In fact, if it wasn't for teasing, my hair would be just as flat. Flat as a pancake, baby. Don't you listen to those horrible children. They're just jealous. You're not one bit fat, you're just voluptuous. And you can sing like a little bird. Can they sing? I bet they can't sing. Sometimes after school I would sit on the porch in this glittered up Burger King crown, pretending like I was a beauty queen sitting up in a convertible in a parade. And sometimes I would practice my beauty queen acceptance feed. Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much. You know, when I was just a little fat child, y'all made fun of me. But I forgive you. For in the words of Jesus Christ, to who I dedicate this crown, y'all knew not what y'all did. I just knew in my heart that one day my life would change. So you can imagine my excitement when I learned that Mrs. Gandy's third grade spring production would be Peter Rabbit the Musical. I stood in shock and horror when it was announced that I had been cast in the pivotal role of the green bean. I said, Mrs. Gandy, I cannot do this. I cannot wear this. A fat green bean. They're going to make fun of me. And I can sing. Mrs. Gandy, my talent is wasted on that bean. She said, well, I tell you what, child, I will give you a solo. But you better get up there and pour your heart out on that stage. And don't you let those children tell you who you are. You show them who you are. I decided in that moment that I would be the best damn green bean ever to grace the stage. I strategically re safety pinned my crepe paper pea pods to hide my figure flaws. And I attached my glittered up Burger King crown to the hideous pea pod hat. I looked in the mirror and I felt so beautiful. Until I got backstage where I stood with a stone in my throat, unable to move, unable to breathe. I couldn't even open my eyes. I heard the curtain open and I heard my music cue. And I just stood there. Finally, I peeked into the audience and I saw my mom still in her uniform from the beauty shop, looking really nervous. And then I saw the beauty shop ladies. They were all there. And they came to see me. And you know why? Because they loved me no matter what. Exactly the way I was. And I couldn't let them down. So I took a deep breath and I started to sing. And the song I sang that night is still really close to my heart because it's sort of become a theme for my whole life. I'm a tiny weeny bean living in the garden grain I love to bask in the sun all day All I do is sleep and play from my smallest veiny Jane to my teeny weeny spleen I am healthy through and through Eat me, I'll be good for you From Dallas clear to Abilene and all of Texas in between Y'all have surely never seen a bean so keen and lean and mean. I'm a green bean queen. Thank you.