The Sting. Kimberley Chambers

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       PROLOGUE

      New Year’s Eve 1972

      ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

      And never brought to mind.

      Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

      And auld lang syne.

      For auld lang syne, my jo,

      For auld land syne,

      We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

      For auld lang syne.’

       I’m in the middle of the circle holding hands with my sisters Hazel and Linda. My mum, dad and Nanny Noreen are all singing at the top of their voices. My mum looks happy, even though she still has the remainder of a black eye that my dad gave her on Christmas Eve.

       ‘Open the front door, Tommy,’ orders my dad. He calls New Year’s Eve Hogmanay after an oatcake.

       I do as I’m told. Old Mr Cleaver across the road is banging two dustbin lids together. I feel something brush past my leg and then I scream when I realize what it is. It’s a black cat and it’s obviously been run over. It collapses in the hallway right in front of me.

       Nanny Noreen goes ballistic and blames me. She’s very religious and believes in Scottish folklore. ‘You stupid boy,’ she bellows. ‘You know the first to step through the door after midnight affects the fortunes of everyone who lives in the house. I’ve told you that enough times, so what do you invite in, a dying black cat. Now we’re going to have bad luck all year. You wait and see.’

       I stare at the cat as it takes its last breath. Little did I know at that point Nanny Noreen was speaking the truth.

       In a few days’ time, my life as I’d known it would no longer be. Everything was about to change for the worse.

       My name is Tommy Boyle and this is my story …