Bo-Bo's Christmas Gift

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Behind the walls of the orphanage Christmas was a lonely time for
most of the children . As an ex-resident Bo-Bo remembered what it was
like to lie in bed and listen to the people passing by on the street .
The Christmas decorations and lights shone through the windows of the
dark dormitories were silence was master of all who were locked up
within .
Because Bo-Bo understood what it was like to be locked up at Christmas
time in an orphanage home he decided to brighten it up a little for all
those other Children .

The first job he did was to ask permission to decorate the halls and
rooms around the orphanage .
A handful of people helped to raise some of the funds that would go
towards making a better Christmas for the children in the home .
There was a general knowledge quiz in which an entry fee was submitted
for each team of four . There was a huge response to this event and
after the questions had been picked the teams went into battle .
On stage the master of ceremonies called out the questions .
Round by round in a knockout competition teams drooped out quickly
.
Bo-Bo's team was made up of Mo, Sketer, Lefty and himself .
Sketer was unbelievable answering the questions and took everyone by
surprise .

"Sketer . You're pretty good at these quiz games ."
Bo-Bo said .

"It's easy when you already have the answers ?"
Replied Sketer .

"What are you talking about ?"
Bo-Bo asked .

"Charlie's watching over proceedings for us Bo-Bo ."
Said Sketer pointing to the ceiling above the stage .
Directly above the MC's head a small hole had been cut into a panel
almost directly above the question cards . Sketer then pointed to a
small set of ear phones that he wore under his cap .

" I want to see you outside. "
Said Bo-Bo .

"There's no time the final set of questions is about to start ."
Sketer said .

" Give me the earphones now Sketer ."
Said Bo-Bo .
Sketer looked puzzled and said .
"Don't be like that Bo-Bo . Your team has just got to win . It will
look good in the papers tomorrow . Come on ."

Bo-Bo pulled the earphones from Sketer's ears and crushed them under
his feet . At the same time the ceiling gave way under Charlie who came
down on stage with a huge thud . In the panic that followed Charlie run
out the door like a scalded cat .
At last the two teams were asked to take centre stage for the final
series of questions . It was close as the two teams went neck and neck
. Finally it all came down to a decider . The first team that would
answer a question wrong
Would be the loser . Charlie timed his entrance perfectly . Just when
the other team had placed their hand up to answer the question Charlie
run in and began dancing on top of the quiz table and singing a song he
had made up on the spot . With all the distraction the opposing team
answered wrong which allowed Bo-Bo-s team to win the competition . As
it turned out most of the other teams had placed helpers in the
audience and some had even mirrors set up on stage . It was all in good
fun and for a good cause so nobody really minded who won or lost
.
Bo-Bo-s team were declared the champions and as Bo-Bo chased Charlie
around the church hall people had to see the funny side of it .
"I was only trying to help you Bo-Bo ."
Said Charlie who was running away from Bo-Bo .
"Wait until I get my hands on you . I've got a few questions of my own
I want you to answer ."

Charlie looked worried and skipped over the tables and chairs with
Bo-Bo at his heels . What a sight it was when plate after plate of
donations came in from the local community . At the end of the evening
there was enough
Money there to purchase some Christmas decorations and lights for the
orphanage .
The fun and games continued the next day when Bo-Bo and some of the
lads arrived to put up the decorations in the orphanage .
A truck arrived with the goods and everyone started to unload box after
box into the conference room at the orphanage .
When everything was unloaded Bo-Bo gave the first job to Mo .
A large silver bell with gold tinsel was to be suspended from the
centre rafter in the conference room . Mo never bothered to tell anyone
he had a fear of heights and as Sketer stood with one hand holding the
ladder Mo's legs were
Shaking like jelly . The higher Mo climbed up the ladder the more it
shook .
Mo stopped half way up the ladder and froze .
Sketer shouted up .

"It needs to go up higher Mo. "

"No that's high enough .":.
Said Mo . Who was white as a ghost .

Sketer laughed and replied .
"Come on just a little higher ."
Some of the other people started to laugh as Mo came back down the
ladder still holding on to the bell . He handed the Christmas bell to
Sketer and said .

"I need to go to the boys room . Could you do put the bell up for me
."

"Sure that's no problem Mo . Maybe you could see Bo-Bo about another
job ."
As Mo left the conference room he was still a bit shaky on his feet .
Trying not to fall in a heap he looked back at Sketer and said .
"Right then I'll just go and see what the others are doing ."
Mo left the conference room and sat at the top of the stairs for a
short time until he had regained his composure . Then he walked down
the stairs to the ground floor and saw Lefty and Spider hanging
decorations on the tree .
Mo said .
"Need help boys?"
"Sure Mo . Tell Charlie we're ready for the fairy lights now ."
Said Lefty .
"Right then ."
Mo rushed off so fast he forgot to ask where Charlie was . After a
while Mo returned with a red face and asked where Charlie was .
Spider almost burst out laughing at first but kept a straight face and
said ,
"Charlie's is in the dining room at the end of the corridor ."
Mo skipped off down the end of the corridor and returned again and said
.
"Which corridor and what floor is the dining room on ?"

"This one Mo ."
Lefty said .

"The dining room is next to the chapel at the other end of this
corridor Mo"
Spider said .

"What was it I had to ask him again ."

"We need the Christmas tree lights Mo ."

"Ok then lads I'll be right back with the lights then "
Said Mo .

Mo found the dining room and was amused at what he saw .
In the middle of the floor was Charlie knee deep with a serious set of
fairy lights that had been wrapped into a ball of Christmas confusion .
He pulled this way and that way making the puzzle more complicated
.

Mo coughed and said .
"Spider and Lefty need the lights now Charlie."

Bo-Bo suddenly walked in and saw Charlies predicament .
He went over and said in a kind of firm but reassuring voice
"Charlie all you had to do was unpack the lights out of the box .
What's happened ?"

"I did unpack them but I thought I better try them first and then I
discovered one of them wasn't working and so I tried to fix that one .
Then as I went to get the spare bulbs from the box I got myself in a
tangle with all the wires .
My ankles and feet were tied together in a horrible twist of wires . I
didn't want to break any of the lights and began to very carefully pull
the light bulbs from their sockets but that took ages so I started to
panic because the next thing I knew I couldn't move my legs and tried
to roll around on the floor in an effort to unwind the lights from my
legs and before I knew it Mo was standing at the door telling me Lefty
and Spider needed the lights ."

Bo-Bo winked at Mo and said ,
"Come on Mo grab his legs and I grab his arms. "

"Bo-Bo what are you going to do ?"
Charlie said .

Bo-Bo replied .
"Well Charlie the only solution I can see is for Mo and I to carry you
and the tangle together up to the Christmas tree and plug in the lights
to the nearest socket . At least when we switch on the power there will
be some pretty lights for the children to see ."

"You're kidding aren't you Bo-Bo ."
Said a very worried Charlie .

"He could end the angel at the top of the tree Bo-Bo."
Said Mo .

Bo-Bo smiled and said ,
" Come on Charlie lets see if we can get all those lights untangled
"

At that everyone burst out laughing .

Eventually the lights were up on the tree and all the other decorations
hung .
Even though the orphanage looked bright and happy there was something
else missing . Bo-Bo sat and thought for a while and had an idea
.
He proposed to put together a choir made up of all the orphans who
wanted to sing . The administration of the orphanage agreed to the
choir and Bo-Bo started rehearsals after dinner each night until
Christmas eve .

Bo-Bo picked up the mini-bus early on Christmas Eve and drove
alone through the centre of town as people made their way in and out of
shops . It all looked much the same as any other Christmas Eve .
The buses and cars on the streets were dressed with in coloured lights
.
Santa Clause stood on every corner ringing bells at the passers by
.
Large banners were thrown across the streets with tinsel and trees in
every window .The only difference this year was that a group of orphans
were going to be part of the big scene in town .

All the choir stood in a single line on the pavement as Bo-Bo pulled
the bus up to a halt beside the front gates of the orphanage .
He sat behind the wheel of the mini-bus and watched each one of the
choir as they boarded the bus . There was great sense of pride and
confidence surrounding the Good Orphans Christmas Choir . Off they went
on board the a mini-bus . Across the bridge and on towards the town
clock the mini-bus went . When the choir arrived at the prison Bo-Bo
got everyone off the bus and asked Charlie to get them all into line at
the gates of the prison.
Sketer and the other lads were concerned at being beside the
prison
Singing Silent Night . Spider was very uncomfortable when the gates of
the prison swung open and the warden invited them come inside .
Charlie looked at Bo-Bo and asked .
"How long are we going to stay in here Bo-Bo?"

" Maybe if I ask the warden nicely I'll get you an extended visit ?
"
Said Bo-Bo .

Charlie looked at the warden then said ,

"Excuse me sir ? I have to tell you my Mum has got my dinner on and so
I can't really be staying long ."

Smiling back the warden said ,
"Could we have the pleasure of a performance this evening for the
entire prison . It would be a real treat for us all here ."

Bo-Bo replied ,
"Not a problem . Just point us where we should go ."

The prison canteen was opened up for the performance .While the choir
were singing the warden had arranged with Bo-Bo for a special gift for
the choir .
After the performance the applause rung out from every corner of the
prison and then Santa clause arrived right on cue .
Every child received a Christmas present with many more for the
children who weren't in the choir . Before the children left the prison
they promised to make a return concert for the next Christmas .
Something precious had happened that evening in the prison .
The orphan children realised there were other people in the world who
really understood loneliness and emptiness . They all had a similar
feeling of hurt and rejection and some how on that common ground they
received a spiritual healing . Some of the hard criminals were even
shedding tears .
Many other inmates had promised to turn over a new leaf when they were
released . Indeed it was a very special Christmas Eve .

The children left the prison and got back on the bus . Before bringing
the children back to the home he brought them on a mystery tour .
Down through the town and then on to the coast Road he motored along
.
Eventually he stopped the bus by the beach and brought all the
children
Down to the sand . Up above the stars were shinning bright and
moonbeams shone down and danced on the water .

Left looked at Bo-Bo and said .
"What are we doing here ?"

Bo-Bo replied ,
"Right then who's going for a swim ."

Suddenly party music began to play and coloured lights were switched on
and a loud group shouted ,
"Surprise . Happy Christmas ."

The staff and other residents of the orphanage had planned this
surprise Christmas party on the beach for weeks .

Charlie was so excited that he was doing summersaults along the beach
.
cartwheels and back-flips were the order of the day as one after
another
got into the swing of things .
It was a very happy Christmas and as the sun rose the next morning
Bo-Bo saw a new look on the faces of all the children from the
orphanage .

By Paul McCannÓ

The End