I'm after a book of stories that our headmaster read to us

[Bluerose]

One of the stories was about a boy who ate 17 (could have been more) oranges, rind and all, to get himself out of trouble for stealing them.

Another story from this book was about a young man on his death bed who was told he would die once the leaves on the tree that he could see from his bedroom window had all gone. Little did he know that his friend (could have be a relative) had painted a leaf on the tree and that is what kept him alive. Seeing this one leaf left on the tree kept him going.

Please bear in mind this was approx 20 years ago, so part of my descriptions could be slightly 'distorted'! Thanks!

[saxy_jag]

Bill Naughton - The Goalkeeper's Revenge and Other Stories. Our teacher read them to us, too.

Sadly, I think it's out of print now.

[saxy_jag]

Apparently NOT out of print:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140303480/ 202-4818796-9897409?v=glance&n=266239&s=books& v=glance

My fave story was the one about the boy who got killed under a tram during a soap-box race,

[maxi29]

I loved that book when I was a boy: I read it over and over. Thanks for reminding me of it.