Scatty Boo And The Peashooter

I can hear you now, asking what on earth this post is about? I think it’s about growing up and the naughtiness that can occur, especially when you’re a teenager.

Who Was Scatty Boo

For some reason, I always gave my friends nicknames. Some stuck with them for the rest of their lives, which sort of pleased me, while others sank without trace. Needless to say, Scatty Boo was a name I called my best friend, Mark. It got shortened to Boo over the years and was with him until his untimely passing in his forties. If I ever asked or talked about Mark, no one knew who it was, but mention Boo and everyone knew him.

We Met At School

We had met in our early years at primary school and I was the quiet one while Boo was the leader and dominating force. We were often in trouble, nothing serious, but it was enough for my mother to try and ban me from ‘hanging out’ with Boo. That was never going to happen, there was way too much fun and naughtiness to be had. That’s where the peashooters come into play.

Saturday Matinee

Most people my age will remember the Saturday morning matinee’s at the local picture house (the movies in the U.S.) where the place was usually packed to the rafters with screaming kids of all ages. Boo came up with the idea of purchasing a couple of peashooters. They were only pennies and the ammunition (dried peas) was cheap too. Being protected by darkness in the pictures, we could go on the rampage with these things, blowing them randomly at other kids who were at least half a dozen rows in front of us. The hardest part of the plan was not laughing and giving yourselves away when the innocent victims would let out a shriek and immediately turn around and look for the culprit.

So Much Fun

We had so much fun on those Saturday mornings and never once got caught. The two of us had become quite expert at picking out targets and hitting them with the accuracy of a deadly sniper. After a couple of weeks, the fun started to wear out, probably because there wasn’t much of a challenge left. So, instead of packing the peashooters away with the rest of the junk in our bedrooms, we hatched a plan. What if we could get into the ‘grown-ups’ film shows and start pea shooting adults? Wow!! Now that was going to be fun.

Grown Up Film

The film that we were to make our debut at was ‘The Towering Inferno’ which had a UK rating at the time of A. This was similar to today’s 15 rating which means you have to be accompanied by an adult if you’re under 15. We managed to get into the show, even though we were underage and took our positions. We chose a busy Saturday night, the first showing for the week of the film. Our positions were set up in the back row seats downstairs in the stalls. These were usually used by various amorous lovers who had little time for watching the film. About 10 minutes into the film, out came the peashooters, ammunition loaded and targets chosen.

Arrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Different Audience

Unlike a matinee of screaming kids, most adults watch a film and the only sound you hear is the odd rustle of popcorn or a throat-clearing cough. Imagine our surprise when the first pea landed on the back of the head of our first unsuspecting target about 7 or 8 rows away when he let out an almighty ‘Arrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!’ We thought we had killed him, the scream was that loud. Within seconds, the manager was down with his assistant to see who what the commotion was. There were lots of ‘sushes’ and things settled down. We were quite scared by the ferocity of the initial shouting. So much so that during the interval we moved seats to the other side of the stalls, but still at the back.

More Laughing

Once the shock had worn off, we both laughed really hard, that stupid adolescent giggly laugh. Come the second half and a new target, it was my turn to blow a rock hard pea. I just went random and fired it off into the dark. Again, ‘Arrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!’ only this time the film was stopped and the lights went up. It was so hard not to burst out laughing, but we both knew, even a little snigger would have given the game away. This time the manager and two assistants turned up, checked the victim was ok, made their apologies to everyone else before putting down the lights and continuing the film. My oh my, we laughed! We didn’t fire any more peas that night and left it until the following night.

Keep Going

It was costing most of our pocket money going to the cinema so regularly. Sunday night soon came and so did another target. We only managed one hit as again there was more arrrrrrgggggggghhiing and shouting and this time the manager made an announcement that whoever is responsible will be found out and dealt with. Itching to have another go we knew we daren’t as we would probably be lynched. So we waited until Tuesday night before we went back to have more fun. We paid for our tickets and made our way through the foyer to the entrance to the stalls. We were immediately stopped at the doorway by a couple of burly doormen and the manager.

Times Up

“Sorry lads,” said one of the doormen, “but we need to search your pockets before we let you in.” Uh Oh. The game was up and we had been rumbled. Not only had we lost the bag of peas and the peashooters, but we got a life ban to the cinema and lost the ticket money for that night’s performance. They could have called the police or even taken us home to our parents, but they just let us go telling us never to darken their door again. I often think back to those days and although we were naughty (please don’t try this at home) it was still more of a prank than anything malicious and if I’m honest gave us many hours of self-made laughter.

For information about the film Towering Inferno

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61 Comments
  • SueW
    September 17, 2020

    What a blast from the past! Love your story, so typical of naughty but harmless fun.
    I remember my brother had a pea shooter but I can’t remember what mischief it was used for, if I ever knew.

    Today they are probably on the banned toy list for reasons of health and safety etc.

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Thank you, Sue. They probably are banned today. I felt a little naughty about doing it, but the memories are so funny to look back on. ????

  • jenanita01
    September 17, 2020

    I had the feeling you were a naughty boy really!

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Lol, I was easily led. ???? Thank you.

  • Yetismith
    September 17, 2020

    Yes, nicknames and naughtiness. Pea shooters maybe not as bad as water bombs. My brother did those though I don’t know if he ever got anyone and it was easy to get caught throwing those. I, of course, was always such a good girl, though I did get shouted at a couple of times for making noise in a hotel. I went there with my friend looking for bad people. Who knows why? It seems long ago. I like your story.

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Thank you, Yeti. Oooh, I like the sound of water bombs. You should blog your hotel story, I want to know more. ????

      • Yetismith
        September 17, 2020

        it’s actually there, somewhere. It was in my Cambodia stories some time ago.

        • Yetismith
          September 17, 2020

          It’s in the post Wild Child

  • Peter's pondering
    September 17, 2020

    Marvellous! How about water bombs from the top of Blackpool Tower? I heard (from a friend) they are quite effective and, possibly, extremely dangerous!

    • Trev
      September 18, 2020

      Ha, that sounds a little too dangerous, Peter. 🙂

  • anotherdaywithjulie
    September 17, 2020

    I can tell this is not the only story you could tell of your days with Scatty Boo. Made me laugh quite a lot!

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Thank you, Julie. You’re right, but some stories I would possibly be arrested for. 😉

  • Herb
    September 17, 2020

    I was laughing all the while. The jig was up for you guys! Nowadays you’d probably get it for assault, no questions asked.

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      You’re probably right, Herb. Even attempted murder these days. Thank you. 🙂

      • Herb
        September 17, 2020

        Lol, yes. People are a little more thin-skinned nowadays. When I was a kid we took the pen part out of a Bic pen and made a spitwad shooter. chew up a small scrap of paper and blow it at someone or stick them to the blackboard.

  • June Lorraine Roberts
    September 17, 2020

    Boo is the name I use some times for my youngest son

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Well, I like it, the name always takes me back to happy days. 🙂 Thank you, June.

  • Melanie B Cee
    September 17, 2020

    I was a little angel, but my brothers? Hooo boy. Those antics are straight from their playbook at a similar age. Pea shooters were not heard of in my day (thank God), but throwing things at unsuspecting other people was still very popular. The water balloon featured large.

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Haha, I do love the sound of the water balloon. What a mess that would make. Thank you, Melanie. 🙂

  • Windwhistle
    September 17, 2020

    I had to come see what that title was about. Haven’t heard pea shooters mentioned in decades. I got quite a chuckle out of this story. (If I’d tried to take a pea shooter anywhere, my mom would have confiscated it and scolded, “You’ll put somebody’s eye out with that thing!”)

    • Trev
      September 17, 2020

      Thank you, my mother used to say exactly the same thing. 🙂

  • susiesopinions
    September 18, 2020

    I can imagine by hubby doing that. He tells me that one boy would pay, then open the side door for everyone else to come in

    • Trev
      September 18, 2020

      Haha, yes, I’ve been guilty of that too. ????Thank you, Susie. ????

  • gulfcoastpoet@gmail.com
    September 18, 2020

    Trev, your story brought back memories. Our father was a minister and he wasn’t too happy when my brother and I shot a peashooter from the church balcony down over the congregation! Hopefully, our behavior has improved! <3

    • Trev
      September 18, 2020

      Oh, I bet he was angry with you, Cheryl. It was all in good fun though. ????Thank you, Cheryl. ????

  • Going Batty in Wales
    September 18, 2020

    Those were the days! You could try it again – they would never suspect you.

    • Trev
      September 18, 2020

      Lol, now there’s an idea!! ???? Thank you.

  • Jacob
    September 18, 2020

    You scamp. Very funny! When I was at school, ‘peashooters’ were just biro tubes firing rolled up bits of paper, sometimes covered in spit. Lovely memories, as you can imagine.

    My granddad seemed to be a bit of a nickname magnet. His name was Charles, and I don’t think I ever heard anyone address him by that name. And his sisters just called him John for some reason.

    • Trev
      September 18, 2020

      Yes, we had the real things. 🙂 It is strange how some people grow up with completely different names than they were given at birth. I think Paul McCartney is one, whose Christian name was James. Thank you, Jacob. ????

  • bushboy
    September 19, 2020

    That was a story that made me laugh. I had a mate who I was banned from hanging out with but we still did. Never did anything as brazen as that but did get a bit of a talking to by adults every now and then 🙂

  • jazzyoutoo
    September 19, 2020

    😀 Peashooters!!!??? Were they legal? Super heavy weaponry if compared to ball pen tubes and bits of paper covered in spit!

    have a great Saturday!
    jose

    • Trev
      September 19, 2020

      Thank you, Jose. Yes, they were and are still legal. Enjoy your weekend ????

  • Invisibly Me
    September 20, 2020

    Hahahah it’s no wonder your mother wanted to ban you from hanging with Boo, the two of you together were quite the unstoppable force of naughtiness ???? Do you remember any of the films you were there to watch during your peashooting escapades? You had a good run of it, even if it became a pricey way to hone your skills having to buy so many cinema tickets. I bet your antics would stand you in good stead for becoming a professional sniper. x

    • Trev
      September 20, 2020

      Thank you, Caz. The Saturday morning matinees were always kids films but mainly Disney stuff. The grown up film was Towering Inferno before we got banned. I hope you’re feeling a little better, Caz. ????????

      • Invisibly Me
        September 20, 2020

        But do you remember anything about what happened in the films while you were staking out your victims & giggling? ????Just imagine if they’d called the police and you got a record for peashooting! That’s priceless. I’m glad you’ve got these memories, sometimes the naughty stuff is the best stuff to reminisce about.xx

        • Trev
          September 20, 2020

          We were too busy concentrating on not laughing our heads off. I don’t think we saw any of the films!!! I’m pleased too that I have naughty memories that make me laugh now. Thank you, Caz ????

  • lorriebowden
    September 20, 2020

    Love your ramble down memory lane 🙂 I have a big smile on my face wondering what else you and Boo got up to! Something tells me you have MANY stories to share 🙂
    Be well!

    • Trev
      September 20, 2020

      Thank you, Lorrie, I think you may be right. I will have to rack the old memories and see what I can find. ????

  • Crystal Byers
    September 21, 2020

    This story reminds me of my husband. Instead of the picture house, the scene was the Pizza Hut. Instead of peas, the ammunition was crushed ice. No adults were ever wounded.

    • Trev
      September 21, 2020

      Lol. No under cover firing then? ????Thank you, Crystal. ????

  • YBP
    September 21, 2020

    Adorably boyish. Lovable. Ahh life … LOVE! ❤️❤️❤️

    • Trev
      September 21, 2020

      Thank you. 🙂

  • asthaisha
    September 22, 2020

    Amazing ????????????????????????

    • Trev
      September 22, 2020

      Thank you, Asthaisha. ????

  • Gibberish
    September 22, 2020

    These naughty pranks when young become a source of laughter later on in life ☺️

    • Trev
      September 22, 2020

      They certainly do. Thank you. ????

  • philosophy through photography
    September 22, 2020

    Oh! Those were the days!!
    Enjoyed reading the narration my friend.

    Always wonder as kids why sometimes we become cruel.I am sure everyone of us did mischief of some kind or other as kids.
    A nice read my friend

    • Trev
      September 22, 2020

      Thank you, ????

  • JessicaMarieBaumgartner
    September 23, 2020

    The title alone is awesome haha

    • Trev
      September 23, 2020

      Thank you, Jessica. 🙂

  • Mr. Ohh's Sideways View
    September 24, 2020

    This is great Trev I love the remembrances of the old days. The Saturday movies no longer exist and I often wished I could herd my kids into them. Good Stuff

    Remember to Laugh

    • Trev
      September 24, 2020

      Thank you, Mr Ohh. Yes, it’s a shame the kids don’t have the Saturday morning movies anymore. 🙂

  • Anonymous
    September 24, 2020

    We are the boys and girls all known as
    Minors of the A-B-C
    And every Saturday all line up
    To see the films we love and shout aloud with glee.
    We like to laugh and have a sing-song
    Such a happy crowd are we.
    We’re all pals together,
    We’re minors of the A-B-C

    Ooh yes. I remember those days!

    • Trev
      September 24, 2020

      Thank you, Colin. 🙂

  • colinmcqueen
    September 24, 2020

    Ah, sorry. I got over-excited. Didn’t mean to be anonymous. I hope this works…

    • Trev
      September 24, 2020

      It worked fine, thank you for your comments, Colin. 🙂

  • Lou Carreras
    October 2, 2020

    Hmmm. There was a movie a number of years ago ( by Simon Pegg?) where a group of men were going to finish an incredible pub crawl they had started years before, but were frustrated when they walked into several to find that their leader was still recognized all those years later – “banned for Life!” So I could imagine you walking into the movies, and being stopped and reminded that you had been banned for life.

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Ha, I couldn’t go back to the cinema now as it’s been demolished and is now a supermarket. 🙂

  • vhealing
    October 12, 2020

    Ah, those good old days! We should all have a ‘Boo’ in our lives.
    I hope you are still friends?

    • Trev
      October 12, 2020

      I agree with you. Unfortunately, he left this world a few years ago. Thank you, Victoria ????