Short Story about two friends who did a good deed and were rewarded for their efforts
Bo Bo And The Roses
By Paul McCann
It was early one August morning as Bo Bo climbed up the ladder to wash the windows around Bosco’s boxing club. Charlie was standing at the foot of the ladder keeping it steady to prevent it from slipping. Mrs Doherty was on her way to the bakery shop and noticed Bo Bo and Charlie working away and crossed over the road.
“Good morning Bo Bo , hello Charlie . When you finish you can do mine if you’ve time ‘
Bo Bo replied .
“I’ll pay you for your trouble .“
Said Mrs Doherty .
“The thing is we’ll be a while for a while .“
Said Bo Bo and Charlie added .
“It shouldn’t be a problem . We’ll get to it in an hour or two .”
Bo Bo looked hard at Charlie at the foot of the ladder and if looks could kill Charlie would be dead and buried .
Mrs Doherty smiled and said
“OK lads I’ll see you in an hour then “
And away she went .
Charlie started singing ,
“Were in the money , we’re in the money .“
Bo Bo didn’t look impressed and said
“Well that’s just great Charlie . Thanks for that . Is there anything else you want to organize for me do on my weekend off ?”
“What is it Bo Bo , aren’t you happy . We’re getting some spondulicks for pulling out Mrs Doherty’s weeds ?”
Bo Bo said ,
“Charlie I had planned to watch the football match over by the Loney but now you’ve lined me up this weeding job . “
Charlie replied ,
“Sorry Bo Bo , How was I to know . “
Bo Bo
“Well the thing is Charlie , it was going to be a surprise for you . I was handed these two tickets last night as a gift for washing these windows we’re doing now .“
“Bo Bo , I know I’ll put a note on Mrs Doherty’s window sill . I tell her the ladder broke and we can’t do the windows .“
Bo Bo climbed down the ladder and shook his head
“Charlie , the roses aren’t growing on her roof .“
“I don’t get you Bo Bo “
Said Charlie who scratched his head with a confused look on his face .
Bo Bo , looked up the ladder and to0k a deep breath then said .
“Let me just remind you Charlie , we’re not just washing Mrs Doherty’s windows we’re also taking out the weeds around her roses “
“Ok Bo Bo I’ll tell her you fell off the ladder and I had to rush you to the hospital .“
“Charlie , I’ve learnt one thing in life and that is you’re as good as your word . If you say you’re going to do something , you better do it or if you tell someone I’ll see you in an hour , you better be there in an hour .“
Charlie was deep in thought and then he spoke .
“Bo Bo you’re right , we have to stick to our word . So what time is the kick off ?”
Bo Bo replied ,
“In about an hour and it should be a cracker of a game .“
Charlie asked
“Who’s playing ?”
Bo Bo replied ,
“Well it really doesn’t matter now as we can’t go . “
Charlie looked away then he said .
“ Bo Bo , I know maybe we could pull the weeds out dead fast in like 15 minutes and still have time to get to the match .”
Bo Bo replied ,
“Well lets go and make a start and see how we go ‘“
Bo Bo put the ladder over his shoulder and Charlie picked up the buckets and chamois and they both made their way to Mrs Doherty’s . When they got there ,
Mrs Doherty was already there , standing at the front door .
“Have you time for a drop of tea lads before you start ?”
Charlie immediately replied ,
“No Mrs Doherty , we better get straight into it . . “
Bo Bo gave Charlie a fierce look and said ,
“Don’t listen to him , Mrs Doherty, of course we’d love a drop of tea . “
As she went inside the house Charlie said ,
“Bo Bo we don’t have time for drinking tea we have a match to get to .”
Bo Bo put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder and said ,
“Charlie you never ever refuse a cup of tea . Mrs Doherty will spread the word that you hadn’t time to have a cup of tea with her . Next thing people will talk about you saying how rude you are . You’re better off taking the cup of tea . It’ll take you twenty seconds to swallow it and you’ll not end up with a bad reputation .”
”OK , Bo Bo , we’ll drink her tea then and then do her windows and then her weeding and gthen we can go to the match ‘“
Mrs Doherty returned with a tray and two cups of tea and two freshly made scones with jam and butter . The lads finished those and went to work . They had the windows done in less than ten minutes and they started weeding around the roses .
Mrs Doherty was watching every move from her window . Just as most of the weeds were done Mrs Doherty opened up the window as shouted ,.
”Could you give the roses a prune while you’re there ?”
Bo Bo responded
“Ok will do . ‘ and under his breath he said
“You must be kidding . As if I’ve nothing better to do . Are you happy now Charlie “
Mr’s Doherty brought over two sets of garden clippers and a bin for the cuttings and then she said . .
“I just remembered that its August and time to prune back the roses , I’m so glad you’re here this morning . “
Bo Bo and Charlie started to prune the roses with Mrs Doherty watching from the upstairs window .
As they were almost finished Mrs Doherty opened the window and shouted ,
“While you’re there , could you dig out those roses by the gate and replant them in the garden bed underneath parlour window .“
Bo Bo replied
“Ok , will do “
and under his breath he said .
“I don’t believe this . It was just a weeding job and now it’s turned into a home renovation job . Hope you’re satisfied now Charlie ?”
Mrs Doherty came over with a garden spade and a trowel and said .
“I’m thinking those roses would do much better in that garden bed , More sunlight and shelter there . Thanks lads “
Bo Bo and Charlie took the tools and went to work .
Just as they had almost finished replanting the roses Mrs Doherty opened up the parlour window and said ,
“ While you’re there could you extend that garden bed to about twice the size . I’m thinking I might get some new roses for that bed now .“
“Ok will do “
Said Bo Bo and under his breath he said ,
“While I’m here I might just dig a big hole and put you in it .”
Charlie started laughing and Bo Bo couldn’t control himself as he also started to laugh . Mrs Doherty opened up the window and said
“Its so good to see you both enjoying the gardening . Better than all those young louts at the football game this morning .’
Bo Bo and Charlie stopped laughing . Bo Bo was interested and asked ,.
“What happened at the game Mrs Doherty “?
“Well I was just talking to Mrs Donaghy on the phone . Isn’t it shocking . A big crowd was there and a fight broke out when a goal was disallowed . The crowd went mad and spilt onto the field and the game was abandoned . Ambulances had to take away hundreds of injured people to the hospital . The police came and made some arrests . All over a silly football game . “
Bo Bo looked at Charlie and Charlie looked back with a sense of relief and Bo Bo looked at Mrs Doherty and said
“Well , we’re just about finished now is that all you w
“That’s about everything lads . I’ll just go and get you some money .“
She returned and handed the boys an envelope and thanked them for the great work they had done .
Bo Bo and Charlie said thanks and goodbye and walked away down the street a.
“The thing is Charlie you never know what could have been or what you missed when you weren’t there .”
“You’re right there all right Bo Bo “
Said Charlie and Bo Bo replied
“Oh thanks for lining up that little job today Charlie. “
“Oh that’s no problem Bo Bo . Anytime ‘“ said Charlie
Bo Bo opened up the envelope and counted out the money and split it evenly between them both .
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