Bo-Bo Found A Life - Chapter 11

 Bo-Bo Found A Life 

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 11

 

A Walk To The Swimming Pool  

 

 

Just before summer holidays the teachers of Back Street Boys school were really busy preparing exams for the end of term . It was also a busy time for Bo-Bo who did all the maintenance work at the school . New locker keys had to be cut and the roof was in need of repair . Sometimes it is the case that when you are busy other people come and ask you to do their work .

This is one of those times .

It was a misty kind of morning and Bo-Bo was up on a ladder having a look at  the roof tiles .

Mr Locke walked right around the ladder and called out to Bo-Bo .

“Excuse me Bo-Bo could I speak with you for a moment please .“

Bo-Bo looked down from the top wrung of the ladder and tipped his cap back .

“No problem Mr Lock “

He placed both his feet to the outside of the ladder and as he did he slid down the ladder using his hands as a guide on the outside ladder frame , 

As he landed at the feet of the Vice Principal he looked directly into his eyes and as usual Mr Lock looked away . He was never able to see eye to eye with Bo-Bo .  It was a kind of personality clash . Bo-Bo had one and he didn’t .

Maybe a kind of envy was also part of the problem because Bo-Bo got on well with the students while Locke was not that popular  . 

Before Mr Locke spoke to Bo-Bo he cleared his throat with a gentle cough but just as he did, a small fly flew straight into his mouth .

He grabbed his throat and began to spit and cough in one huge effort to evict  the fly from his mouth . Then he made some angry muffled sounds .

Bo-Bo was curious and concerned and said . “Are you ok .”

“No I’m not . I’m afraid  I’ve just swallowed a fly .“ Bo-Bo tried hard not to laugh .

“That reminds me of an old song Mr Locke .”

Finally after clearing his throat and composing himself he said ,

“Ah yes good morning Bo-Bo .“

Bo-Bo was now even more curious because Mr Locke was not the kind of person to say good morning to anyone . Bo-Bo quizzed him again . 

“Is everything all right ?”

“Well today Bo-Bo I have a little outside job for you . How would like you to bring year 3 on an excursion to the swimming pool ?“

“To the swimming pool ?”

“Yes that’s right “.

“What for ?”

“ I have to check all the exam papers today and I am unable to take my class . So I’ve got everything arranged . There are funds set aside from petty cash to cover bus fares and admission cost to the swimming pool .”

“Well yes . I’d like to bring them to the pool .“ 

Bo-Bo replied .

“Then its settled . Can you make sure you’re back before three .“

“Ok . Not a problem .“

Mr Locke turned quickly and was gone back inside .

Bo-Bo took the ladder and carried it back to the tool shed . On the way he shook his head and murmured to himself .

“Well so much for the roof .“

After he put away the ladder he went outside to make a phone call to his best friend and helper Charlie .

“Hello Charlie .“

The reply came back ,

“Hi Bo-Bo . Shouldn’t you be at work ? ”

”Charlie, I am at work .“

A brief silence and then Charlie said ,

“So what’s going on Bo-Bo ?”

Bo-Bo baited Charlie ,

“Charlie . I have always said what a nice person you are .“

Charlie cut in and said ,

“Sure Bo-Bo and it’s nice of you to call me from work Bo-Bo and tell me that .“

Bo-Bo continued .

“Charlie I want to give you a very special treat today ”.

Now Charlie was intrigued .

“A treat for me Bo-Bo .“

“That’s right Charlie .You and I are going to the swimming pool and I’ll pay .“

Charlie sounded excited and said .

“Bo-Bo that’s great .When do we go after you finish work .“

“I’ll meet you outside the school gate in thirty minutes. “

“Ok Bo-Bo . See you then .“

“Bye Charlie .”

After half an hour Bo-Bo and Charlie met at the school gate .

Bo-Bo spoke first .

“Hi Charlie . Now what I didn’t tell you was a few other people coming along with us to the swimming pool ?”

“Who ?”

Charlie asked .

Bo-Bo waved his hand over to the front office and out the front door of the school marched thirty five year three school boys . With towels and swimmers in their hands . They came over and stood beside Bo-Bo and Charlie .

Bo-Bo pulled Charlie to one side and said quietly ,

“Charlie we are all going to walk to the pool . That way we’ll save on the bus fares . After our swim we can all have some fish and chips in town .“

So we are walking a class of Back Street Boys five mile through town,

over the bridge and across where the Bay Street Boys are probably going to have our guts for garters.”

“No Charlie we are just going for a swim The Bay Baths.  “

“You’re mad Bo-Bo we’ll be all killed .”

“You’re right on the ball Charlie . Now what I need you to do is to keep up the pace with me at the rear guard while I lead the way up front . The first sign of trouble and we’ll make a dash for it into the Bay . How does that sound ?”

“You are crazy Bo-Bo . I can’t even swim ?”

“Charlie don’t be such a worry wart . The Bay Street Boys are all at school . By the time they get out we will be back home .“

“Are you sure Bo-Bo ?”

“Sure Charlie . Just keep your eyes on the traffic as we go . “

Bo-Bo called the boys over .

They gathered around in small groups as Bo-Bo gave a brief talk on road safety and good behaviour .

“Right them lets go .“

Said Bo-Bo .

Charlie fell to the back as they all marched off two by two down the road .

As the town was in view some of the boys were laughing at Charlie who was

Doing some kind of tribal dance .

Some of the boys were laughing and began to copy what Charlie was doing . This also attracted the attention of passers by .

“What are you up to Charlie .“

Bo-Bo shouted from the front .

“I’m trying not to walk on any cracked slabs on the pavement .

“ Charlie if you don’t stop that now you will have more to worry about than  avoiding cracks in the pavement  .Ok ?”

“Sorry Bo-Bo . I was just trying to enjoy the walk .“

Everyone started to laugh . Soon they were in town walking past the shop with their tall windows . Charlie was making strange faces at himself in some of the shop windows . As he was looking at his reflection in another window  a boy in the group called Milko decided to have some fun .

He dropped to the ground as if he was dead .

Everyone continued to walk over him until Charlie approached him . He knelt over Milko who was motionless on the ground  .

Now really worried Charlie shouted into his ear ,

“Get up on your feet Milko and stop clowning around .“

Milko never answered or budged an inch .

Charlie was getting worried ,

“Hello Milko . Can you hear me . Are you ok Milko “?

As Charlie was starting to panic Milko winked at some the boys in the class and said .

“Charlie give me the kiss of life . Only then will I be ok “ .”

He jumped to his feet and everyone laughed .

Bo-Bo Charlie and the boys continued their walk along the sidewalk through town . There were lots of distraction like toy shop windows and lots of sales and advertisements . One sign on particular stood out among all the others . The very large and colourful sign displayed a notice all about the travelling carnival with lots of amusement rides . It was all too much for Macker and another two lads who decided to make their escape for the carnival that was shrewdly placed in a car park in the centre of town .

Another one of the boys called Topper saw what had happened and called  Charlie .

“Hey Charlie, I just saw Macker Cleaky and Stitcher head off down towards the amusement arcade”

Charlie immediately rushed up front to tell Bo-Bo and all the boys rushed off to find the missing lads and pull them back into line .

 Bo-Bo looked a little angry when he saw Macker ,Cleaky and Stitcher on the dodgems cars . Bo-Bo waited there until the three escapees had finished their ride . Meanwhile Charlie was standing there innocently in line waiting for a ride on the slippery slide .

Bo-Bo gave Charlie a hard mean look and Charlie looked innocently back and said ,

“Well it will only take a moment . Honest Bo-Bo. “

Topper bunked past Charlie and continued to make his way through the queue asking people if he could get the front of the line .

Bo-Bo gave then a nod of approval and agreed to wait for a few moments .

After their ride on the slide Bo-Bo and all the lads were once again on their way towards the bridge .

It was getting late so Bo-Bo picked up the pace and the class all started to jog except for Charlie who was unable to keep up .

The rest of the class had to slow down and wait for Charlie who was out of breath and a little upset .

Bo-Bo told Charlie to walk ahead of him . Suddenly the rain began to fall .

“All right boys lets go .“

Said Bo-Bo who picked the pace that ended up in a jog across the bridge and a final sprint into the Bay Baths .

The boys all walked over to Bo-Bo who said

“ Well we’re here . Charlie pick up a dozen towels from the laundry and meet us in the change rooms. ”Bo-Bo pointed Charlie towards the laundry hire section in the baths and then headed into the men’s change room . The boys were all getting changed when they heard Charlie’s scream for help . Bo-Bo rushed out and there was poor Charlie pinned against the wall . This big woma had Charlie around the throat . He was elevated some inches off the ground and the woman was furiously screaming aloud .

“What is the matter with you . Sneaking into the ladies changing room .”

Bo-Bo interrupted .

“I’m sorry Mrs but I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm. You see Charlie gets mixed up with his directs sometimes .”

The woman released her grip on Charlie and replied ,

“Can’t he read . It says Ladies on the sign? “

“I’m afraid he can’t read .“

Bo-Bo said as he helped Charlie to his feet . Some of the boys who seen the funny side of it began to giggle away from outside men’s change room .

Charlie tried to apologise but the big woman wasn’t quick in letting him go .

She sounded a little calmer and said ,

“Well off you go and next time make sure where you are going ”

Charlie picked up the towels and ran over to the men’s change room .

When everybody was changed into their swimmers they rushed out top the pool. Charlie was one of the first there and jumped straight in .

He seemed to go straight to the bottom and never surfaced .

Bo-Bo dived in a after a few moments pulled out a coughing and spluttering Charlie from the deep end of the pool . Bo-Bo waited until Charlie had settled and asked ,

“What’s going on Charlie ?”

“Nothing Bo-Bo I just wanted to go for a swim but nobody told me our bodies don’t float . .“

“Charlie you swim ?”

“No ”  Charlie replied .

“Then go down to the shallow end of the pool and have a splash with the rest of the lads .“

Bo-Bo did a few laps and spent some time giving basic swimming instructions to the lads in the class who couldn’t swim .

They had a great time in the pool and after an hour they left the pool and had showers . Then they changed back into their school clothes .

Bo-Bo paid for the towels and an hour in the pool .

After they left the Bay Bathes Bo-Bo checked how much ready funds they had.  There was still plenty left for lunch in town . Outside on the road it was soaking wet . There were pools and puddles of water everywhere .It must have poured down while they were all in the pool .

Bo-Bo led the group to the Bay Bridge Café and told the boys to sit down a the tables while he ordered fish and chips and a soft drink for everyone there .

 Charlie whispered into Bo-Bo’s ear .

“We could always make a dash for it .“

“A dash for what Charlie .“

Charlie said ,

“I mean we could leave without paying  the bill and run like lightening ”

Bo-Bo looked at Charlie and almost burst out laughing .

“Charlie you couldn’t run like lightening even if I plugged you into to a live socket and why don’t you think we should pay the bill ? “

“Well they don’t like us in this part of town . “

“That doesn’t make it right Charlie . Now I’m going to give you all the money and you’re going to walk up to the counter and pay the entire bill .“

Bo-Bo handed over all the money to Charlie to walked very slowly to the front reception where the cash register sat .

Charlie paid for the lunch and Bo-Bo checked the time .The day was getting on and it was now time to get the class back to school .

It started to rain on the way . When they finally returned to the school some of the boys parents were just arriving to pick up their children from school . Then Bo-Bo remembered the damaged roof tiles over the library.

He went to have a look and was shocked to see that the carpet in the library was soaked with rain .

He contacted Mr Locke who had to help Bo-Bo to clean up the mess .

The carpet was ruined and the walls and ceiling had been affected by the heavy rain .

Mr Locke felt bad about asking taking Bo-Bo away from his duties and even offered all his time in hard labour to make it up to Bo-Bo

There was one thing Mr Locke and Bo-Bo shared in common and that was it was no use complaining when things went wrong . The only way ahead was to fix up the problem .

Mr Locke rang the insurance company and they said they would

send out a claims inspector right away . True to their word he came within the hour and after a quick inspection he gave the go ahead for the work to be done in the school library .

That evening Bo-Bo and Mr Locke rolled up their sleeves and began to knuckle down to some hard work .After removing the bookshelves and books they pulled up all the carpet and opened up all the windows in the library hoping to get rid of the damp smell . It was a big effort . The following few weeks saw a great change in attitude between Mr Locke and Bo-Bo . With all the work they had been doing together in the library . They actually became good friends .. With fresh new carpet down a two coats of paint on the walls the library looked brand new .  A new consignment of books were purchased and placed in the shelves in the school library .The new and very modern look of the school library brought parents into admire it .New roof tiles were laid to replace the broken and missing ones from the roof . The kids at the school were promised more visits to the pool and lessons for anyone in the school who wanted them .

   All in all it was a good result all round .

 

End Chapter 11

 

 

 Bo-Bo Found A Life 

Link to chapter 12

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/bo-bo-found-life-chapter-12

 

By Paul McCann