Bo-Bo Found A Life - Chapter 15

Bo-Bo Found A Life 

A Novel

By Paul McCann

hapter 15

 

Gone Fishing  

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 .“

 

 End Chapter 15

 

Bo-Bo Found A Life 

Link to chapter 16

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/bo-bo-found-life-chapter-16

By Paul McCann