Daryl Peveto

STORIES: Tough Love

At first glance many would 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. Every other night is home with the family or having friends and family over for dinner. They shop together and pay bills together.

In a time when more families are breaking up with greater ease, Troy’s ordinary family life feels extraordinary. Despite the odds stacked up against them – past abusive relationships, youthful drug use and the difficulties of life in a poor rural community - they are building a loving, nurturing family. The difficulties they face are tough, but their love for each other is tougher.

Completely oblivious to the women dancing on the bar behind him, Troy Mantzey reacts to his partner scoring three wise men - three single bull's eyes in a row - during an after-hours dart tournament at Saales Tavern. Mantzey plays in a league every Tuesday with his wife. After the league play, there is an after hours tournament, with a five dollar buy in. Mantzey and his partner have won for the last three weeks. He says, "When I am with my partner here we are unstoppable."
   
Professing his love in front all of his friends, Troy Mantzey kisses his wife Wendy in the back bar at Saales Tavern during their regular Tuesday night dart league.
  
After a weekend of partying, Troy Mantzey cleans the house while his wife works. He says, "We pretty much split all of the housework, though I do most of the cooking."
     
  
At home from school due to illness, stepson Lane Gaunt, 11, sits in his bed with a bowl of chicken soup that his stepfather, Troy Mantzey prepared for him. Lane, who was the man of the family before Troy married his mom last month, is going through a defiant phase often challenging his mother and Troy. Troy has stepped into the role of disciplinarian, and the two sometimes butt heads. 

   
Troy and Wendy compare prices for chicken at the Super Wal-Mart for tonight’s dinner. Their funds limited, Troy says, “we have to count every penny we spend.”
   
Wendy prepares fried chicken for the family and some of her friends, from left, cousin, Tonya Anderson, with her son Terrance, 6 months, and Abby Cooley, with son Levi, 11 months. They have friends over often. Wendy says, “Our friends are always around, we love being there for one another.”
     
  
Troy hugs his wife while she does the dishes before dinner. He is usually the one who cooks, so he felt a little out of place not being in the kitchen.
   
Troy jokes with Haylea and her friend on the front porch just before dinner.
  
Eleven-year-old Lane Gaunt looks through his reorganized rookie football cards in his bedroom. He has been collecting the cards for the last year and a half. He says he has more cards than notebooks, so when he rearranges them, he has to take his old arrangement out and pile it back on the floor. Though the family has little, they are happy with what they do have. Troy says, “I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family.”
     
  
In a moment of humor, Troy Mantzey and his stepdaughter, Haylea Gaunt, 6, compare bellies. Pushing hers out she says, "My belly is big like yours." This is a challenge for Troy as he is very proud of his gut.
   
Lane does dishes as punishment for getting a bad grade, while Troy makes dinner for the family. Troy often watches food channel for cooking ideas.
   
Exhausted after a long day of work and of being a father, Troy Mantzey falls asleep on the couch, while his stepson, Lane, kisses him goodnight, and his boxer, Bella watches stepdaughter, Haylea, run around the couch to hug him.