Manpot's Tales of the Tropics
Page 6
It was time for the big test. Sharon stroked Bongo as Sidney gently slipped the goggles over their buddy’s head. Jennifer carefully adjusted the strap…the bushy feathers on top of his head stopped the strap from slipping forward.
The goggles made Bongo look like one of those pilots in an old open airplane…but would they help him fly again??
Sharon, Sidney and Jennifer carried Bongo back to the beach….from the far end of the bay the fisherman saw them coming and he joined them all at the water’s edge. For a few moments they all stared out to sea…then Sidney held his pelican pal out in front of him, raised him gently into the air…and let go.
Bongo seemed to drop, then flapped his wings and started to climb out above the turquoise waters of Mango Bay. Bongo swooped down, slightly misjudged the distance to the water and just skimmed the surface...he climbed into the sky...swooped down a second time and pulled out of his dive just in time. Bongo could see perfectly again.
On the beach Sharon, Sidney, Jennifer and the fisherman danced round and round in circles cheering…out over the bay Bongo did a wild, triple victory roll before heading right to the beach and then turning round and round in the air above his friends.
With the help of his very special friends Bongo could fly again…and life returned to normal on Mango Bay on the beautiful island of St Kids.
About the Author
Malcolm Boyes broke into journalism in London’s Fleet Street and by the age of twenty-one was news editor for Britain’s prestigious Fleet Street News Agency. When the BBC launched “Radio London”, Boyes was hired as a reporter, filing live and taped reports. One year later, Lord Lew Grade signed Boyes to head the drama publicity department for his ATV Network.
After two years with ATV “The National Enquirer” brought Boyes to America. After working on both coasts for the paper, Boyes struck out alone. With the backing of a top literary agent, Boyes interviewed stars from John Wayne to Cher, Clint Eastwood and President Ford for magazine articles syndicated worldwide.
Next, Boyes took the challenging job of west coast bureau chief and show business columnist for “The Star” before leaving to work as a special correspondent for Time Inc’s “People” magazine.
Within two years Boyes was also working for “Cable News Network” as an on air show business columnist, then as a movie reviewer, celebrity reporter and producer. Boyes next joined “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" as editorial director, co writing and formatting the show and appearing as an on air reporter for five seasons. Boyes coined the show’s catchphrase “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams”.
Looking for a new challenge Boyes joined King World’s “Inside Edition” as deputy bureau chief, reporter and producer.
Boyes left “Inside Edition” to become senior west coast producer and deputy bureau chief for “A Current Affair”, winning a “Genesis” award. Boyes went to “Extra” before joining Paramount TV’s “Hard Copy” as senior segment director. Boyes then joined Paramount’s “REAL TV" as a writer/producer. Boyes helped launch Paramount’s “The Insider” and then worked for “Entertainment Tonight”. Recently he has shot on location for “ The Travel Channel”, “ Discovery”,” The History Channel”, “Spike TV” and many other networks.
Boyes has also been involved in his own projects hosting and co producing interactive CD ROMs and videos for Sigma Designs, Micropolis, Hewlett Packard and other top companies. Boyes has won three “Telly” awards and an “Aegis” award. Boyes and his wife Candace now split their time between Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Sonoma, California.
Malcolm Boyes can be reached by e-mail at malcolmboyes@earthlink.net
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