AND NOW, FOR THE REST OF THE STORY - Part 2
A few more stories cut from the original A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE manuscript:
One day Bobby, Paul Allen Campbell, and other football players decided to play hooky and slipped down to Oscar’s, a hamburger joint a couple of blocks from Central High. Because he could run the fastest, Bobby agreed to serve as lookout, taking his place at the side of the school building, signaling when it was safe to run across the street.
When Bobby gave the all-clear signal, the guys dashed behind hedges until they reached Oscar’s. By the time they sprinted the length of the block, Coach Jake Seaton was waiting for them, engine running.
“Get in the car, boys.”
Coach Seaton had spotted them sneaking out Central’s back door, raced to his car, and was waiting for the red-faced boys at Oscar’s.
Busted—and not even a burger to show for it.
*****
Bill “Goat” Watkins remembers one playful prank well—a prank that cost him a trip to Principal Millsaps’ office and several afternoons of detention.
Standing in the cafeteria line, Bobby pitched Goat a water glass and motioned for him to pitch it back. Goat complied, but when he did, Bobby turned his back, leaving the glass to shatter behind him on the floor.
With everyone in the cafeteria watching, Goat was marched to the office by the cafeteria monitor, who mysteriously failed to see the first pitch by Bobby.
*****
Former Judge Sam Payne also shares memories: “Bobby and I were rowdy kids. We ran all over town together, and whenever we could, we’d hang onto the back of street cars and catch a free ride.”
He also recalls the two of them standing on the Walnut Street Bridge, poised with water-filled balloons to drop on passing cars.
Water balloons were popular weapons for North Chattanooga boys, it seems. Paul Allen Campbell remembers one day when he and Bobby were tossing water balloons at cars as they rolled to a stop at a red light on Riverview Drive.
According to Paul Allen, he and Bobby didn’t mean to splash anyone, but one driver’s side window was open and when he turned his head to look at them, the water balloon splashed square in his face. With lightning speed, he swung open the car door. As he leaped out, sunlight bounced off a small pistol in his hand.
Bobby grabbed Paul Allen by his shoulder, gave him a push, and yelled, “Run!” Then Bobby took off. As Paul Allen was struggling to keep up, the boys heard a shot behind them, giving them added impetus to flee.
“We never threw another water balloon,” Paul Allen says, smiling weakly.
One day Bobby, Paul Allen Campbell, and other football players decided to play hooky and slipped down to Oscar’s, a hamburger joint a couple of blocks from Central High. Because he could run the fastest, Bobby agreed to serve as lookout, taking his place at the side of the school building, signaling when it was safe to run across the street.
When Bobby gave the all-clear signal, the guys dashed behind hedges until they reached Oscar’s. By the time they sprinted the length of the block, Coach Jake Seaton was waiting for them, engine running.
“Get in the car, boys.”
Coach Seaton had spotted them sneaking out Central’s back door, raced to his car, and was waiting for the red-faced boys at Oscar’s.
Busted—and not even a burger to show for it.
*****
Bill “Goat” Watkins remembers one playful prank well—a prank that cost him a trip to Principal Millsaps’ office and several afternoons of detention.
Standing in the cafeteria line, Bobby pitched Goat a water glass and motioned for him to pitch it back. Goat complied, but when he did, Bobby turned his back, leaving the glass to shatter behind him on the floor.
With everyone in the cafeteria watching, Goat was marched to the office by the cafeteria monitor, who mysteriously failed to see the first pitch by Bobby.
*****
Former Judge Sam Payne also shares memories: “Bobby and I were rowdy kids. We ran all over town together, and whenever we could, we’d hang onto the back of street cars and catch a free ride.”
He also recalls the two of them standing on the Walnut Street Bridge, poised with water-filled balloons to drop on passing cars.
Water balloons were popular weapons for North Chattanooga boys, it seems. Paul Allen Campbell remembers one day when he and Bobby were tossing water balloons at cars as they rolled to a stop at a red light on Riverview Drive.
According to Paul Allen, he and Bobby didn’t mean to splash anyone, but one driver’s side window was open and when he turned his head to look at them, the water balloon splashed square in his face. With lightning speed, he swung open the car door. As he leaped out, sunlight bounced off a small pistol in his hand.
Bobby grabbed Paul Allen by his shoulder, gave him a push, and yelled, “Run!” Then Bobby took off. As Paul Allen was struggling to keep up, the boys heard a shot behind them, giving them added impetus to flee.
“We never threw another water balloon,” Paul Allen says, smiling weakly.
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