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Friday Night Fights at the Davenport's

A

Arkie John

Active member
The Friday Nights were as regular as clockwork growin' up where we did. Daddy and Momma would got to Hamp Prichard's house most of the time, where I was the only kid. That was neat, bein' all of five or six, I liked gettin' all the attention I could.

I remember that Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and Gilette Blue Blades and Burma Shave were regular sponsors. But I liked the attention I got since Linda was just a couple of years old I STILL thought of my little ole self an an only child sometimes. I was probably 7 or so.

There were certain times that the folks would go much nearer than Hamp's house down on Edison. They'd opt for James and Ethel Davenport's house, about a quarter mile away. Now that was OK with me but they had an "only" child, a rather obnoxious son, Ronnie, that was my age. We got along much of the time but we tended to get on each other's nerves and into little spats when we would tire of each other's selfish attitudes. He was the spoiled one you know.

Those little spats would elevate into out-and-out fist fights all too often. When that happened, I found that I was usually on the losin' end of those deals and I'd come runnin' to Daddy or Momma and we'd go home with me just bawlin'--without Daddy being able to finish the sho-nuff Friday night fights. I was no fun after bein' whuped up on, you see, and I let everybody know it.

Well, one night after such an incident, Papa took me into my room after we got home, away from Mother and gave me a stern talkin' to about fightin'--man to man. I straightened up and marked what he had to say, down in my memory, and went promptly to bed, probably still snubbin' every so often until I drifted off.

It wasn't too long--maybe three or four weeks later, we were, once again, down at the Davenport's house watching the fights. Mother and Ethel were in the kitchen talkin' about what women talk about and Daddy and James had their noses in the B&W fuzzy grained TV, sittin' on the edge of their seats.

Ronnie and I just did out own thing, playing outside. The kid had some really neat, shiny toys. I got to likin' this one steam shovel and began playin' with it until Ronnie decided that HE wanted it. Well, you can imagine what happened next. I pounced on that boy like a duck on a june bug and the fight was on--fists justa flyin'.

From Daddy's point of view, tellin' a friend a while later (at the barber shop) he said, "We all heard the damnest commotion out in the yard. It was too dark to make anything out but it sounded like some blood curdlin' screams of somebody gettin' the livin' h3ll beat out of 'em. We all four dropped everything and RAN outside to see Johnny sittin' astraddle of James and Ethel's boy, just beatin' the whey out of him. Thump, thump thump came his fists off the other boy's noggin. The kid was screamin' bloody MURDER! I immediately jerked Johnny off him and scolded him sternly in front of James and Ethel and his Momma.

'Boy, I thought I taught you better than that. You KNOW you are supposed to act better than that whenever we are guests at someone else's house.'"

Well, this really DID upset me when Daddy had me by the arms and givin me what for in front of God and everybody. I was cryin' and squawlin' and in and amongst my sobs I blurted out, in the presence of all four adults, "Well Daddy you TOLD me that if I EVER let that Davenport boy beat me up again that you were gonna give me ANOTHER whuppin' when we got home. So I just made SURE that he got his tonight."

Ooooo. Pin drop city. I imagine that it got pretty quiet. I'll bet Daddy's and Momma's red faces were enough to illuminate our way as they hastily escorted me to the car and then home. Can you imagine the tap dancin' Daddy had to do on that one?

Hey! That's ONE Friday night fight that I won with a TKO! I think it was the last one. Even though we all remained friends until us kids graduated high school, I really don't remember us being invited down for the fights after that, for some reason.

But I'll tell you what. I never had to worry about that kid ever thumpin' me again. Even though I embarrassed the folks, I just KNOW Daddy was proud of me down deep. I bet Momma was snickerin' a little to herself after everything settled down.

Man, life was just grand growin' up in Saline County, and I really loved it!

Hope you enjoyed the story. Thanks for comin' along. <><


AJ
 
And great job on emabarassing your folks. :) And just how long after that was it that you could sit down!!!! :) :) :)

good one Arkie

Sunny skies

M
 
..other than the initial scolding at the Davenport's house.

It wasn't funny then...but it is NOW! Thanks for postin' Mike.

aj
 
thought he was a spoiled azz little wuss, and I can remember him always trying to get me on the top bunk! This was years later when they moved down town. Later on in High School, they one tthing I remember about him was that his voice never changed! He was a true weirdo in my book! I remember his parents well, though and used to hid under Ethel's dining room table and listen to mother and her talk! Amazing how easy daddy and James could get them in an up roar! Heard several tales in those days!!!! :lol:
 
Out of the mouth of babes ! All in all though, I'd have to think the embarrassment was worth it.:lol: Another fun read John that was well worth the time to read. Much thanks,

Rob
 
...up pops another story from the ole' memory banks.

Yup, Daddy was always grinnin' when he told and retold that story.

Thanks for postin'. :)

aj
 
It seems we never got crossways unless we were on HIS turf. Bein' the shy, cute little boy I was, I didn't press the issues so much 'cause I didn't want to get in trouble.

But once I got the "green light" from Daddy, well...he sure did scream loud from that bloody nose I gave him. :lol:

love you,
Johnboy
 
Funny story John. My father was a boxing fan and before we got a tv we would go to one of his friends house every Friday night to watch the "Gillette Friday Night Fights". That was from 1953 when James Higginbottom bought the first tv in the community until we got one in 1957.

Your dad having the talk with you that led to you whupping up on Ronnie reminds me of a similar situation involving my oldest daughter Belinda (we've always called her "Bebe"). She has a cousin, Danny, that's a few months older than she is and he was very much like Ronnie from the about the age of three until they were a little over five. If he wanted something she was playing with and she wouldn't let him have it he would grab her hair with both hands and literally jerk a handful out. His parents never really punished him for it, they would just tell him not to do it again, and since they came to visit often it was a regular occurence. After one visit in which he did it twice I told her the next time he grabbed her hair to hit him in the nose with her fist. I made her a punching bag, drew a face with a nose on it and gave her a couple of lessons in how to do it. I repeatedly told her to not hit him unless he pulled her hair but she jumped the gun. The next time they came to visit she was playing on the carport, Danny stayed out with her and his parents came inside. No sooner had the door closed when we heard Danny yell and start crying. We went out and his nose was bleeding all over his clothes, Bebe had clobbered him a good one right off. I couldn't help but smile, and never said a word to her about it. It worked like a charm, Danny never pulled her hair again.
 
What a great funny story! I remember my dad giving me that same speech almost word for word!He had to scold you at the time but I bet he was beaming with pride on the inside!
 
of whoop-butt tucked away somewhere! :lol:

Good tale!

Dave
 
poor misused brothers. I can not imagine John or Tom ever being mean to you but you sure have a mean streak!! I dun seen it when you got drunk on that home made wine! Threatened to kick my butt you did.

I bet you do the same thing with Poor old Scott. Wreck his fourwheeler and make him spend his hard earned money to buy you another one. What a mean girl. :D
 
You great story brought back some good memories...those fights were just part of growing up. I think the biggest problem that I ever had was that if pushed hard enough, I would not back away...caused me to get my butt kicked many times.

I would have loved to have seen the look on everyone's face when you told your father that you were just doing what he told you to do. :rofl: Arkie John, thanks for sharing this story, I really enjoyed it. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas) :)
 
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