Going fishing with Bo-Bo and Charlie means making fun .
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
Want to review or comment on this short story?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviewed by Judy Lloyd
2/17/2005
This is an interesting story and reminds me of my fishing tales.
Pengey Penguin takes us on a memorable journey where an unlikely character, twists of fate, and minor miracles help him and his rag-tag Army of little fury animals save Christmas.325 page read to me 4-8 - 9 up reads very quickly.
An inspirational book about a unique world where trees hold intrinsic knowledge and powerful forces of energy. The group of students called the Planeteers demonstrate character building and not judge people base on their appearance, but judge them on
