Connect with us

Contributors

Boombox, Chewing Tobacco, a Green Chevy and a Father’s Love

Published

on

James Lee Avent and his pickup which he fondly called “The Mean Six.”

My dad, James Lee Avent, chewed Reynold’s Natural Leaf plug tobacco for over 70 years, but I am assuming he started at the age of 18.

I have many memories of my father but one of my favorite memories was when I was 15 years old and had just got my driving license. My dad was not too keen on the idea of me driving, especially his green Chevy pickup truck that he referred to as “The Mean Six.”

One Saturday afternoon after a hard day of my dad working outside, he asked me to go to Big Star and get him some Reynold’s Natural Leaf. I was really surprised and excited by this unexpected trusted task he had asked of me.

Yes, a minor could buy tobacco for their parents with no questions asked back then. The cashier knew it was for my dad.

He handed me a $20 bill and said you can get a drink and a snack, but bring back the change. Back then, $20 was a lot of money. I was hoping to drive the truck “The Mean Six” but he said, “you better take your mom’s car and be very careful.”

I pulled up at Eastgate Shopping Center and the first thing that I saw was a carnival on the far side of Cinema Six where Dollar General is located now. Being a curious 15-year-old, I just had to go look around and see what the carnival was all about.

I came upon a shooting ducks booth and the top prize was a big ole Boom Box that played cassette tapes. Back in the ’80s, every teenager wanted a big ole boom box, and I know I sure did. I just had to try to win it because I know I was a pretty good shot.

I handed the carnival worker the $20 bill and he said,” You’re going to be our big winner today, I can see it in your eyes.”

He kept encouraging me until the $20 was no more. I did win a small prize – a goldfish in a cup.

Disheartened over the boom box, I gave the fish to a friend when I was leaving.

I still remember the long ride home tobacco less, moneyless, prideless and knowing my dad was a no-nonsense, stern man, I had a good idea my day was going to end with a “big boom” and not the kind that plays cassette tapes.

I pulled in the driveway and he was still working outside. I got out of the car and told him everything that happened and how the carnival worker kept encouraging me until the money was gone and that I didn’t win the big ole boom box.

He stood there with his eyes firmly looking into mine. After a few tears and what seemed to be forever, he finally spoke, and said, “Son people can talk you out of anything if you let them. Always have your guard up if you want something the best thing to do is work for it and earn it. You were taught a pretty good lesson today.”

My dad’s serious look turned into a smile and he said, “Hop in ‘The Mean Six’ and I’ll let you drive. We’ll go get that snack and Reynold’s Natural Leaf.”

I still remember that day like it was yesterday and I realize now, I was the big winner on that unexpected day. I saw the love and understanding in my dad’s eyes and that’s a prize that will never fade away.

That Christmas, this then-15-year-old boy finally got a big old boom box.


Mickey Avent is a life-long Oxonian and a Justice Court Judge in Lafayette County.

Advertisement

Ole Miss Men’s Basketball

Mon, Nov 4Long Island University Logovs Long Island University W, 90-60
Fri, Nov 8Grambling Logovs GramblingW, 66-64
Tue, Nov 12South Alabama Logovs South AlabamaW, 64-54
Sat, Nov 16Colorado State Logovs Colorado StateW, 84-69
Thu, Nov 21Oral Roberts Logovs Oral RobertsL, 100-68
Thu, Nov 28BYU Logovs BYUW, 96-85 OT
Fri, Nov 29Purdue Logovs 13 PurdueL, 80-78
Tue, Dec 3Louisville Logo@ LouisvilleW, 86-63
Sat, Dec 7Lindenwood Logovs LindenwoodW, 86-53
Sat, Dec 14Georgia Logovs Southern MissW, 77-46
Tue, Dec 17Southern Logovs SouthernW, 74-61
Sat, Dec 21Queens University Logovs Queens UniversityW, 80-62
Sat, Dec 28Memphis Logo@ MemphisL, 87-70
Sat, Jan 4Georgia Logovs GeorgiaW, 63-51
Wed, Jan 8Arkansas Logo@ 23 ArkansasW, 73-66
Sat, Jan 11LSU Logovs LSUW, 77-65
Tue, Jan 14Alabama Logo@ 5 AlabamaW, 74-64
Sat, Jan 18Mississippi State Logo@ 17 Mississippi StateL, 81-84
Wed, Jan 22Texas A&M State Logovs 13 Texas A&ML, 62-63
Sat, Jan 25Missouri Logo@ MissouriL, 83-75
Wed, Jan 29Texas Logovs TexasW, 72-69
Sat, Feb 1Auburn Logovs 2 AuburnL, 92-82
Tue, Feb 4Kentucky Logovs 10 KentuckyW, 98-84
Sat, Feb 8LSU Logo@ LSU7:30 PM
SECN
Wed, Feb 12South Carolina Logo@ South Carolina6:00 PM
SECN
Sat, Feb 15Mississippi State Logovs 17 Mississippi State5:00 PM
TBA
Sat, Feb 22Auburn Logo@ Vanderbilt2:30 PM
SECN
Wed, Feb 26Auburn Logo@ 2 Auburn6:00 PM
TBA
Sat, Mar 1Oklahoma Logovs 12 Oklahoma1:00 PM
TBA
Wed, Mar 5Tennessee Logovs 1 Tennessee8:00 PM
TBA
Sat, Mar 8Florida Logo@ 6 Florida5:00 PM
SECN

@ COPYRIGHT 2024 BY HT MEDIA LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. HOTTYTODDY.COM IS AN INDEPENT DIGITAL ENTITY NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI.