The Tin Boy
Tale of a Scottish Football Misfit
by
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Ah remember the explosion; the suddenness ay it anyway. How could ah no? It had terrorized me oan n aff fir months since that warm day in Hell, like ma alarm clock goin’ aff, awakenin’ me fae ma nightmare, only tae realize the nightmare wisnae fiction. Ma dreams were rarely the same though, varyin’ fae wan end ay the spectrum tae the other. There wis wan common theme; they aw started aff like there wis nothin’ wrang wi me, two perfect legs, playin’ fitba, runnin’ doon streets wavin’ happily at folk, rock climbin’ in the Cairngorms, or some other kind ay athletic pursuit wi a massive smile oan ma mug.
Then the dark clouds wid roll in, takin’ away ma sunshine. … Wi the rock climbin’ ah’d suddenly find masel hangin’ fae a slim ledge, searchin’ fir a foot hold ah could no longer achieve, fingers gradually slippin’ as the panic set in, fine dirt particles diggin’ in under ma desperate fingernails, finally losin’ ma grasp, feelin’ the sensation ay plummetin’ tae a messy end fir nae mair than half a second afore boltin’ upright in ma bed, drenched in sweat fae heid tae stump, debatin’ whether it wis good tae be alive or better if it had been reality n ah’d hit the bottom ay the rocky canyon.
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About the Book
Scotsman Billy Ferguson is a fanatical Glasgow Blue Crew supporter and a promising prospect on the football field. Just as he’s set to become a sports star, however, he’s called up for active duty in Afghanistan. There, everything changes for Billy when a hidden explosive injures him and results in the loss of his leg. Back home, Billy has trouble returning to normal life. With the loss of his leg also comes the loss of dreams on the field—but he refuses to give up. Billy endures an ambitious physical therapy routine with the help of a talented therapist named Isabel. He wears a prosthetic leg, and as his condition improves he even earns himself a nickname with football fans—the Tin Boy. As Billy strives to return to the sport he loves, he develops feelings for Isabel. She has become a strength and support in his life, and despite their professional relationship he can’t help but feel a romantic attachment. Now, despite all odds, Billy is ready to take his shot at the goal: on the football field and on the playground of love.
About the Author
Brandon Wilkinson was born and raised in Scotland. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Glasgow in 1995, moved to the United States in 2001, and now resides in Michigan with his wife and two sons. Visit him online at www.brandonwilkinson.net.