PHOTO BY Daryl Peveto / MPW.59 PHOTO BY DARYL PEVETO / MPW.59
  • Tough Love
  • By Daryl Peveto, ZUMA Press
  • The 59th Missouri Photo Workshop / Chillicothe, Mo.
  • At first glance many would be tempted to write Troy Mantzey off. An ex-con, tattooed, often shirtless, he looks tough and menacing. But looks can be deceiving. About five weeks ago, Troy married his girlfriend of three years, Wendy Gaunt. This new family includes her two children from a previous marriage, Lane and Haylea, ages 11 and 6, respectively.

    Though never married, he has settled into being a father - cleaning the house, spending time with the kids, and preparing dinner. He says, “I am the cook of the house.” Watching TV he will flip between Jerry Springer and America’s Funniest Home Videos, often stopping on the Food Channel to see what Rachel Ray is cooking. Tuesdays are dart league; Saturdays are the nights out.

    During an after-hours dart match, Troy reacts to his partner scoring three bull’s eyes in a row, completely oblivious to the women dancing on the bar behind him. He and Wendy play in the dart league every Tuesday. Troy has won the after hours match for the last three weeks.

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