Second Chance - Terry Green

This is the story of an English village which like so many villages is losing its identity, and all the component parts which make it up as a whole are suffering. The younger residents are leaving, due to their inability to afford local houses as prices rise steeply due to the influx of ‘southerners’ buying second homes. Due to the dwindling population the local public house may not survive. A local farmer is facing hardship and the village police officer’s career has stalled, due to no fault of his own. The central character in this story is Jack, a thirteen year old boy who is basically a good person but this could change if he falls in with the wrong company. Jack and his parents have recently moved to the village, but are considered to be ‘outsiders’. In an attempt to fit in Jack befriends a local ‘tearaway’ Rob who has no respect for people or property. Jack’s very future is threatened due to his developing bad behaviour. Then, on a rainy evening, a mysterious stranger makes an appearance at the public house. Could things change for the better? Only time will tell.