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 ."
By Paul McCannÓ
THE END
By Paul McCann
Originally Posted On Site: 2007-10-20 07:32:37
Last Login: 05.24.12
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