Bo-Bo Goes Fishing

Bo Bo Goes Fishing

by Paul McCann

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjXnV7iaqEk&t=632s

Bo-Bo who was born an orphan was never lonely .
In his early days he found a home at Boscos boxing club . The other
members and their families had adopted Bo-Bo as their own .
All the local community became Bo-Bo's extended family who were very
fond of him . Bo-Bo paid back their kindness by throwing himself into
running the boxing club and he did this only for the love of it . He
was it I suppose .
The main man . The bus driver , the trainer, the fundraiser , the
cleaner and whatever else needed to be done . Bo-Bo had a few lads who
helped him .
Sketer, Spider, Lefty, Mo and Charlie supported Bo-Bo in and out of the
ring .

The boys at Boscos boxing club trained hard and fought hard . There
wasn't much time to relax during the tournaments and so at the end of
the boxing competitions Bo-Bo loved to go fishing just outside
Ballywalter on his small wooden rowing boat . He enjoyed the peace and
quiet sitting in the little wooden boat about a mile out on the open
sea . It was another world out there . There was no distraction the
emptiness of a lonely cosmos .

He never told anyone where he went which made it even more intriguing
for Charlie who liked to be in Bo-Bo's company most of the time . The
last fight had been fought and won at Boscos and the end of season
party was on again . What a night it was with lots of nice food and
drink . There was raffles and games . Music and dancing and a little
sing song to round the night off .
After the party when everyone went home Bo-Bo and Charlie started to
take down the streamers and pop the balloons . The bold Charlie as
usual was there to help Bo-Bo clear up and put things away . There was
always a lot to do shutting up after the party at the end of the year .
It was always a big job and Charlie always made it even bigger by
asking too many questions and talking far too much for Bo-Bo's liking
.
Charlie was humming away as he worked . The more he hummed the more
B0-B0 thought Charlie was in pain .
Finally the humming stopped . It was silent for about three seconds
when Charlie said in a confident tone of voice ,
"Bo-Bo I've got an idea ."

"That's good Charlie . "
Said Bo-Bo who didn't know what to expect next .

Charlie continued ,
"When we open next year why don't we have a party then .?

Bo-Bo stopped sweeping up and said ,
"What for Charlie .?

" Because we won't have to clean up all this mess at the end of the
year ?"
He said with a smugness in his voice .

Bo-Bo shook his head and replied .
"It won't matter Charlie because we'll still have to clean it up at the
beginning of the season . So we'll gain nothing . "

"Ooh I see . Ah well . Don't worry about that one Bo-Bo . I was gong to
say not to have a party at all but then I changed my mind because I
like the sweets and the soft drink . I also like some of the music
."

Charlie was an innocent big lug of a lad . He started to hum that tune
again .
It went over and over until Bo-Bo couldn't take it anymore .

"Is that you're favourite tune at the moment Charlie ?"

Charlie smiled and said .
"Kind of I think . Do you like it too Bo-Bo ?"

"Do you take request's ?."
Bo-Bo asked .

"Sure what do you want me to sing ."
Charlie said .
Bo-Bo replied .
"How about far far away ?"
"I'd be happy to but I don't know the words, but I can do impressions .
Tell me Bo-Bo look what's this .?
Charlie took off his shoes and squatted down on the floor . Then he
slowly got to his feet and did this pirouette like a ballet dancer
would do and then he jumped in the air with both arms in the air then
as he came down he landed on one foot . Suddenly he let out a loud
squeal which rattled Bo-Bo who flinched and almost threw a right hook
in Charlies direction .
"What the heck's wrong Charlie ?"
Bo-Bo shouted .

"Ouch , I think there's a thumb tack in my big toe ."
Said Charlie .

Bo-Bo went over to Charlie and said ,
"I'll be so glad to get away fishing for a while ."

Suddenly Bo-Bo realised what he had just said .
Charlie almost stopped breathing and said ,
" Did you say fishing?"

Bo-Bo folded his arms and said ,
" Did I ? "

"Yes you did and I'm coming . So where are we going Bo-Bo?"
Charlie replied .

Bo-Bo folded his arms even tighter and said ,
"Its where am I going Charlie ."

" Ok Bo-Bo . Where are you going this year?"
Said Charlie .

"Ballywalter's where I'm going "
Said Bo-Bo .
Where's Ballywalter ?"
Asked Charlie .

No where."
Said Bo-Bo .

"That's great . Can I come there too?"
Replied Charlie .

Bo-Bo turned and quickly glanced into Charlies face and said .
"Don't be silly Charlie you're all ready there . Now give over ."

Charlie put his head down and with a sad tone he said ,.
"Ok then if you say so ."
Bo-Bo could see Charlie was a little hurt and felt sorry for him
.
"Ok then . You can come too all day everyday for a week and a half if
you want . Charlie don't ever ask me why or where are we going ever
again ?"

Charlie looked up and said ,
"Ok so when are we going ?"

Bo-Bo looked at his watch and said .
" God give me patience Charlie you better be ready when I call .
Set your alarm and I'll come and knock your door at six . Lets go
."
They put away the brooms and locked up the equipment cupboards .
Then Bo-Bo closed the door of the gym and they both made their way out
to the landing of the second floor of Boscos . Then turning off the
main switch they slowly walked down the stairs and into the street
.
Bo-Bo locked up the door at the entrance and then they both made their
way through the centre of town and back home to the village .

Next morning Bo-Bo was standing there just before 6am knocking on
Charlies door . So far no one had opened up . He threw a stone up and
hit the upstairs bedroom window . Charlies opened up the window and
stuck his head out .
He was still in his pyjamas and yawning he said .
"Good morning Bo-Bo".

Bo-Bo stood back and shouted .
" Didn't I tell you be ready at six."

"Don't scream at me . Mum set the alarm . It's all her fault ."
Said Charlie who's Mum now stuck her head out the window .

"What on earth are you doing at this time of the morning Bo-Bo ?"
Charlies Mum shouted down .

Bo-Bo replied .
"I've come to bring Charlie fishing as we had arranged ."

Charlies mother went on.
"Yes I know but Charlie said to set the alarm for 8am not 6am ."

"I never ."
Said Charlie who was busy throwing on some clothes .
He rushed out of the house still in his pyjama pants .

Bo-Bo stood there amazed and said ,
"Charlie haven't you forgotten something ."

"Oh yes thanks Bo-Bo "
Charlie replied .
He rushed back inside the house and brought back his electric griller
.

Bo-Bo stood there curiously and asked
"Charlie , what's that for ?"

Charlie lifted the lid and started to show Bo-Bo all the features of
the griller .
And said ,
"This will cook the fish really nice for us ."

Bo-Bo shook his head and said .
"Why don't you grab the TV while you're at it Charlie and we can watch
some
of those new movies on the sky channel ."

"Ooh good idea . Now you're talking Bo-Bo . "
Said Charlie who ran back inside the house . A few moments later he
returned with his portable colour TV .

Bo-Bo nearly burst out laughing but restrained himself and said ,
" Now Charlie all we need is a power point in my rowing boat ".

Charlie's mouth dropped and his bottom lip nearly started to quiver
.
" Oops, ah I'm sorry Bo-Bo."

"That's ok Charlie . You've never been fishing before have you ."
Bo-Bo said .

"How did you know ?"
Charlie replied .

"Just a lucky guess . Now lets go before the days gone ."

By the time they got to the boat shed at Ballywalter it was locked
.
They checked all the windows and doors but there was no way in .
"Bo-Bo what will we do now . Our whole day is wasted . Two hours on the
train and a six mile walk just to find we can't get to your boat
".
Then it started to rain . Lying outside the boat shed was an upturned
boat that Bo-Bo decided to would borrow .

" Lucky my friend left his boat here for us ."
Said Bo-Bo .

"Gee Bo-Bo you've got some nice friends here. "
Charlie said .

They lifted the boat and carried in to the waters edge .
A set of small oars were strapped to the insides of the boat and soon
they were making there way out from the shore . The rain was getting
heavy afloat and Bo-Bo suggested that they head under the Bangor bridge
.
But Charlie who was feeling a little light headed wanted to head back
to the shore .

Bo-Bo opened up his haversack and threw some bait in to the water
.
Once the fish were around he cast a net into the water and began to
scoop the fish into the boat .
Charlie was getting more and more sea-sick so Bo-Bo began to row back
in .
Once they were on land again Bo-Bo told Charlie it was his job to sort
out the bigger fish from the smaller fish .
Turning the boat upside down again near the boat shed Bo-Bo swung into
action . He threw some of the large fish high into the air and caught
them with
The other open hand . He looked out at people passing by beyond the
steps by the pier and started to make a friendly sound with a yodel and
a yippee yahoo . Then as he had their attention he said with a lilt in
his voice .

" Come and get your fresh fish . Buy one or buy them all . Large and
small .
They're all a bargain at half the price . Just caught for your pleasure
.
Come and have a look . Cleaned and gutted on the spot . Some are and
some not but they are all fresh ."

Charlie stood back in wonder and watched Bo-Bo start to attract custom
.
Bo-Bo turned and said ,
"Quick Charlie do something here they come ."

"What am I to do ?"
Charlie asked .

Hum that song or tell a joke or two . Look like you're a man who knows
what its all about . Here put any money in this bag ."

People crowded around the upturned boat .
Charlie said ,
"That's right folks these are fish all right . Straight from the
Ballywalter waters .
Eat them right now or share them around . The taste is well ,let me
sample one for you ."

Charlie grabbed one of the fish and took a bite . Immediately he spat
it out and stood to the side in a fit of coughing and murmurs .
Some of the customers looked frightened and puzzled but Bo-Bo jumped in
very quickly and said .

"Charlie I've told you a thousand times to clean out the guts first
before you take a bite ."

Everyone started to laugh as if it was part of an act . Bo-Bo threw
Charlie another fish and Charlie threw it back . Bo-Bo then started to
juggle a number of fish over his head and pulling out a small
switchblade knife from his pocket he cleaned out one or two as he
juggled them . The crowd were stunned by the speed of Bo-Bo's hand .
Charlie was humming away a tune and made up some words in the process
,

"Charlie will take five bob for a fish so give me a show of hands until
they're gone ."

The crowd was five deep by now and hands went up by the score .
Some wanted a half dozen cleaned by Bo-Bo . Others wanted the fish as
they were . Charlie took in the cash as Bo-Bo was busy with his
juggling and carving . Some of the customers took photographs of Bo-Bo
and when all the fish were sold Bo-Bo and Charlie said thank you and
closed up business for the day . Then they started to count up all the
money they had made .
There was seventy pounds in total and Bo-Bo smiled and said ,

"That was a decent days takings Charlie . Lets go and get ourselves a
drink ."

 

Original work of Paul McCann

By Paul McCann

 

 

THE END