About this ebook
Often politically incorrect, these naughty human reflections cover a wide range of subjects and experiences including: the baby's crib jail-break, the younger brother's devious manipulations, joint ventures of disaster and destruction, a totally illegal radio broadcast on a homemade transmitter, which blocked out a major Boston radio station in the town of Brookline, Mass. Featuring awkwardly botched attempts to communicate with girls, also included are a bathtub submarine explosion, several near death automobile experiences, and a wild, high speed, no brakes, bloody ride on a crude, homemade cart.
This story is a charming glimpse into what it was like for a mischievous boy growing up in the 1930's, 40's and 50's and finally moving through the hard transitions of becoming a teacher and some of the successes and failures that he has had as an adult.
From crib to old age, the author has always worn The Black Cloak of Disapproval, bestowed upon him by those who have led more conventional lives.
About the author
Bob Wilkinson's eighty years covers a lot of ground and water. He was born and grew up in the Boston area, earned A.B. and M.A. degrees from Middlebury College in Vermont and served in the U.S. Army as a guided missile repair and calibration specialist. He taught English and Writing for 45 years at the secondary and college levels and wrote LET THEM WRITE, a teacher's manual, published in 1967 by Educators' Publishing Service, Inc. He and Claire, his wife, designed and built a house and barn employing only hand tools, and farmed in Maine for twenty years...living without electricity. Then they designed and built, in Florida, from scratch, CLAIRE MARIE, a 35-foot sailboat. After sailing and racing her for ten years, they embarked on a disastrous trip to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Bob now lives in Bridgton, Maine where he is restoring an old house and barn and writing stories and playing the Blues.
In addition to THE BLACK CLOAK, Bob is nearly finished with another book, THE DEVIL IN THIN WATER: the unique story of how a gross of "rubbers" kept him and his motley crew supplied with food, ice and ice cream while shipwrecked in the Bahamas.
Bob may be reached at: smokingwoodstove@gmail.com
