Batman and Robin Have an Altercation

[sanam]

I had some difficulty understanding this part of the story, can anyone help me out?

Show Spoiler

"Green beans or coleslaw?"
Pop snorts. "You kidding? All those beans were dead. You couldn't sell costume jewelry that year, let alone the real stuff."

What does "green beans" refer to? Is it some sort of military slang or has it got something to do with jewelry?
Thanks

[Shoe]

Would have to reread to refresh my memory. But I think King could just have been trying to illustrate the manner/degree in which Pop's illness had progressed. Perhaps in Pop's earlier days he was a farmer and "Green beans" triggered a word association memory to a time of bad crops as well as a bad sellers market. That is the thing about Alzheimer's, the brain degrades to such state that all filters are removed and you never know if the things said are in some way associated with reality or fantasy.

[OldDarth]

I loved this story. King shows his ability to embue characters with depth even in short pieces.

[Bev Vincent]

Stephen King’s “Batman and Robin Have an Altercation,” published by Harper’s Magazine, won the National Magazine Award for Fiction.

http://www.magazine.org/about-asme/p...ners-announced

[bryantburnette]

Stephen King’s “Batman and Robin Have an Altercation,” published by Harper’s Magazine, won the National Magazine Award for Fiction.

http://www.magazine.org/about-asme/p...ners-announced

I loved that story, so it seems like an award well deserved.

[Walter Oobleck]

I wonder what is the 1st story to have won this award? "Batman and Robin Have an Altercation" is the second, the article says.

[Bev Vincent]

"Rest Stop"