Bo Bo And The Street Kid

Bo Bo And The Street Kid  - By Paul McCann

 

Once a year the local church hired Bo Bo and Charlie to help with the spring clean up . Bo Bo always gave then same tasks to Charlie each year while he cleaned the exterior of the building . Charlie liked sweeping the car park . It wasn’t too complicated so he never got confused . 

So on the morning of the clean Bo Bo called to Charlies house . On the way he whistled as he walked . He passed a woman walking the other way .

She smiled and said .  “Nice tune there Bo Bo“

Bo Bo nodded and replied .

“Good morning Mrs Marlow . It’s a bit of quick step . Don’t know where it came from. It just popped into my head .“

She laughed and said ,. ”You’ve got music in you Bo Bo.”

Bo Bo sensed Mrs Marlow was stitching him up to do a  job for her so he got in first . He looked at his watch and said .

“Times getting on , sure I’d love to talk , you know but it’s still bright and early and it could be dark and late before you know it . Things to do at the church today Mrs Marlow .“

Cut to the quick , she mumbled and then said .  . 

“Well you’d better get a move on Bo Bo . ”

Bo Bo gave her a wave of his hand and said .

“Thank you and have a nice day .“

   

Bo Bo picked up the pace and was soon knocking at Charlies front door .

 

Charlie peeped out the door and Bo Bo said .

“Are you ready to go Charlie ?”

 

Charlie replied .

“I think so . Should I bring some food or something to drink ?”

 

No Charlie we’re not going on a picnic . We’re going to get this job out of the way before lunch . Anyway the priest always offers us something to eat .“

 

Charlie and Bo Bo walked briskly to the church with Bo Bo whistling and Charlie copying with a whistle of his own  . When they got to the church Bo Bo picked up the key from the priest and opened up the back door where the cleaning products were kept . He handed Charlie a large broom and said .

“You know what to do Charlie off you go . I’ll start with the windows and doors and that will do us today. “

Charlie took the broom and rode it as if it were a horse over to the far side of the car park . Bo Bo smiled as he watched Charlie’s antics and shook his head . As he walked around checking the windows and doors of the church he saw a young boy sitting on the ground and he was softly crying .

 Bo Bo approached and sat down next to the boy and said .

“ What’s wrong .“ 

 

The boy shouted 

”Everybody tells me what to do . No one listens . “

 

Bo Bo replied .  “I’m listening “

 

The boy looked up and wiped his eyes and said 

“I hate everything and everyone . I arranged to meet a friend here and like always he never came .“

 

Bo Bo said , 

“I’m here and tell you something I’m a friend . What’s your name ?“

 

“ My name is Tom ´. The boy said .

 

Bo Bo replied  . 

“My name is Bo Bo . Do you want to talk about what’s going on Tom? “

 

“ My parents bashed me up and then kicked me out of home .“

He said .

 

“Between you and me Tom you’re better off without them . Thing is we don’t get to choose our parents and me , well I never even knew mine . I was left alone and I grew up in an orphanage but it made me a better person and gave me something to fight for  . I think maybe you’re the same and I can help if you want .’

 

“Are you the priest here ?”  The boy asked .

Bo Bo shook his head and said . 

“No I’m not the priest just someone who helps the priest cleaning up .“

  

At that moment  Charlie came galloping across the car park on his magic broom horse . Urging the phantom horse to go faster before pulling the horse  to a stop , making all the vocal noises that a horse would make .

He looked at Bo Bo and Tom and then placed the broom against the wall . Sitting down on the ground he said .

 

“ Hi Bo Bo its just me .” 

Bo Bo looked at Charlie said .

“I can see that Charlie . So has your horse got a name ?”

 

Charlie replied ,

“He’s called Puppet .“ 

 

“Nice name Charlie . Meet Tom . He’s going through a hard time at the moment so he  will be staying at the gym until things get sorted out . ”

 

Charlie replied .

“Hi Tom . Bo Bo maybe Tom can help me clean up the around the club .” 

 

Bo Bo said ,

“Maybe he could Charlie . Now we better get finished cleaning up here around the church before lunch . ”

 

“That’s just what I was going to say Bo Bo .“ 

They all worked together sweeping and hosing .

 

Later in the afternoon Bo Bo , Charlie and Tom finished the work in the church grounds . The priest paid them with some food and drink and then the three of them left the church and made their way to the boxing club .  Bo Bo opened up the door to the club and said to Tom .

 

“This will be your home for as long as you want to stay “

Tom replied , 

“Thanks for letting me stay here Bo Bo .”

They all walked inside the club and Bo Bo placed a judo mat on the ground and made a small area in the corner for Tom . ‘

 Looking at Tom Bo Bo said 

“ You know I think you might have what it takes to be a good boxer Tom .“

 

Tom laughed and replied ,

“I’m not a boxer Bo Bo .“

 

Bo Bo continued ,

“Tom I know from experience that some people in life have got something to fight for and I think you’re one of those .“

 

Tom replied ,

“You seem to have some sort of inspired thinking there Bo Bo . Where does ecause wcome from ?”

 

Charlie joined the conversation ,

“ Bo Bo was a born fighter Tom . He learned to live the same way because what he learnt in the ring he applied in all of the things that he had to deal with in everyday situations . He adapted and adjusted . He rolled with the punches and if he got knocked down , he would get up again . If he was on the ropes he would always find a way out . When things got tough he was tougher . That’s how he knows Tom . He found  hardship early on in  life . It was  something he got to know and whenever he see’s someone facing similar things he steps in to help . “

 

Tom was speechless . Deep in thought . Then he broke the silence saying 

“That’s like the coolest thing I’ve ever heard .“

Bo Bo patted Charlie on the back and said .

“Thanks Charlie . Where did all that come from ?”“

 

Charlie pushed back his shoulders and pushed out his chest and said ,

“ My Mammy told me one day . Always remember son , the truth always comes out in the end . See Bo Bo , that’s where it came from . Everything I  said is true . I’ve known you all my life .“

 

 Tom walked over and looked into Bo Bo’s eyes and said , 

“ I’m willing to give it a go Bo Bo . Show me how to be a boxer .“ 

 

Bo Bo replied .

“You’ve got an edge Tom . If you want something ask yourself how bad do I want it . If you’re cutting it thin , then cut it thinner . If you’re hungry to win starve yourself until the only thing you can taste is success . Tomorrow morning you are going to start throwing some punches . I’ll show you the ropes Tom and when you’re ready you’ll be stepping into the ring because you are going to make a name for yourself . I can see it in your eyes .”

 

Tom replied ,

“Thanks for believing in me Bo Bo . You’ve given me something to fight for .“  

 

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear Tom . Come on Charlie , Tom needs some quiet time before night comes . “

 

They both left the boxing club leaving Tom to rest . After Charlie went home Bo Bo returned to the boxing club to check if he had locked up properly . When he got there he looked in the window and saw Tom working on one of the punching bags . Bo Bo watched as Tom exploded with a fury Bo Bo had never seen before . Three left jabs then a right cross , followed by succession of left cross right cross , left cross then an uppercut the combination became quicker with three right jabs , a left hook and a flurry of well directed punches  one after the other . Bo Bo smiled , because he knew Tom had real potential . His gut instinct was correct . Tom was a natural . 

Next morning Bo Bo arrived early to the club and began to show Tom the ropes with instruction on how to keep his guard up and how to use his body and his footwork to avoid getting hit . Tom ducked and weaved without being shown  . As the months went by Bo Bo trained Tom hard because he wanted him to be the best . 

Bo Bo knew it was time to introduce Tom to the fight game so he invited the city boxing clubs in a gala fight event with some big names making an appearance . Bo Bo intentionally staged a large event because he wanted to show off his new talent . He entered Tom in the first fight with an up and coming champion boxer who was undefeated in all of his seven fights .

Because Bo Bo had a reputation around town those in the know were intrigued with the opening fight .

On the big night the big clubs came with sponsors and attracted a few of the sports media people .

 

Tom entered the ring an unknown and within 15 seconds he knocked out the  up and coming champion . Then suddenly Tom was the talk of the town .

Everyone wanted to know , who he was and where he came from .

That evening with Bo Bo’s guidance Tom signed a major contract with a huge promoter and his future was looking good . Bo Bo knew he was headed for stardom and was happy just to sit back and watch that happen .

 

The End