Daytona Beach, FL, Campbell Street

It was early 1956 when the Ponder Family, Capus (57), Elnora (41) and their children Jeff (15), Betty & Bobby (14), Wilbert (13), Grady (12), Jimmie (10), Mary (6) and Dave (3), arrived in Daytona Beach joining Catherine, their oldest daughter, her husband Albert, Sr. (Sugar Babe) and their children Christeen (4), Gene (2) and Albert, Jr. in Daytona Beach, FL. It was a time of hope and challenge; a fresh start in a new direction. At least it was for Elnora, a talented Seamstress; she was able to consistently find suitable employment.

For Capus the experience was different; he was finding the allure of meaningful employment to have rung hollow. He did not have the success that Elnora found so readily; his work was sporadic at best. I wish that I could tell you that things got better from there but they did not; as a matter of fact things got progressively worse. The strain placed on the family with Capus being mostly out of work and very melancholic about the situation became over-whelming.

Their remaining children at home continued their march toward growing up, leaving the nest. While growing up they spent plenty of time together enjoying each other’s company. Romping and rollicking around; memories from this time includes Wilbert being hit by a car while running across Campbell St. This resulted in joint and muscle damage that made one of his legs appear shorter than the other when walking.

Then there’s the time that the Ponder siblings had so much fun pushing around Elnora’s baby boy on an old dresser, usually stored on the front porch. The dresser had wheels and rolled easy enough; they did not failed to note that there was a hole in the front porch they just accepted the challenge of avoiding it. Needless to say that eventually they pushed the dresser into the hole on the porch and the sudden stop threw the baby from the dresser, pass the porch onto the ground. Betty led the race to get to the baby to ensure that he was okay. “Thank God;” the baby appeared to be okay, no visible sign of injury and he didn’t cry too much. They rushed to get D.L. cleaned up before Mom got home from work. Elnora arrived home from work to find D. L. running around playing as usual; except when she attempted to pick up her baby boy by his arms, he screamed like a banshee. She immediately got him medical attention; finding that the fall had broken his collar (clavicle) bone. You can be sure that Elnora made it plain to her young’uns why they would not be rolling the baby on the dresser again.

Meanwhile, the divide that now existed between Capus and Elnora, in the same space where they once held so much love for each other, was growing into a chasm. The problems between them magnified; like the 16 year age difference which was their prevailing problem. Capus, 57 and in sexual decline, Elnora 41 and at her sexual peak. I remember asking my mom about this time in her life; “what happen to you and dad?” As she contemplated her response it appeared as if the memories were flowing through her mind; she said sadly, “after he had you that was all he could do (sexually).” He also resented that she was away from home most of the day. He developed deep trust issues relative to Elnora and her working all the time. He started to show up on her job, unannounced, often time causing a scene. Frequently accusing her of being unfaithful.

In 1958 Capus left Daytona Beach, Elnora and his children and moved to Miami, FL under the guise of searching for work. I think that it was more to hide his broken heart. This effectively ended their 20 year relationship as Elnora did not follow him there, (at least not right away) nor did she await his return.

The first 3 Parts of the Great Divide focused on the Knights early treatment of their daughter Elnora; Part 4 of the Great Divide will focus on the division created by the Knights treatment of Elnora’s Children. In the midst of it all Elnora and Capus divide. And, the Ponder Family’s journey continues….

2019 © Dave Ponder