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The Hitter
Date: 8/23/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: gilrenard, Rating: , Source: LushStories
The memory brought a smile to my face. My mom’s words had stayed with me. Every time I told her I wanted to be heavy weight champion of the world, just like John L. Sullivan. And, every time, she would remind me that he had died with only fifteen dollars to his name. “Who’s next?” a voiced boomed out of the alley. I made my way through the crowd to take a look at who was in the circle waiting for an opponent. He was a big man. Six foot-six, full beard, bald, thick muscular arms, thick around the waist and a neck as thick as a brahma bull’s. “How much?” I called out to the barker. The crowd became silent and all eyes turned to me. The barker pointed at me and announced, “Half of the bets against you, and I’ll match what you put up. If, you can beat the reigning cham-peen, Mountain Jack!” The crowd broke out in laughter and jeered me, “Go home grandpa! You’re too old! He’ll kill you!” I had turned forty years old a few months back. I took the last six dollars out of my pocket and made my way to the barker, “Six dollars. Count it.” He waved the money over his head and announced with a chuckle, “Six whole dollars! I’ll give seven to one odds on the elderly gentleman to win!” The crowd cheered and continued to laugh at me. The mountain in the middle of the circle grunted and beat his chest. A beautiful, young redhead bumped in to me on her way to place a bet. I tapped her shoulder and smiled at her when she turned around, “Don’t bet against me, you’ll lose your money.” She ...