Introduction

The Very Interesting Life of Willie Winchester

Scholars and historians speak of Sir William Winchester with awed voices. They tell of his purchase of a small Latin schoolbook in which was inscribed the formula for a popular soft drink. Sir William, they say, made a lot of money from that $3.32 book purchase. Soft drink companies, as everyone knows, do not want to share their secret formulas! But Sir William already had made a success of himself when he vowed to keep that secret.

Historians recount Sir William’s trek around the globe. He stepped out his front door with nothing but a few pence in his pocket and an extra pair of boxers stuffed into a pair of socks he had fashioned into a carrying bag. He returned 40 months later, with more pence in the bank than one man can spend and a bevy of tuxedos in his matching, 20-piece monogrammed crocodile luggage.

In short, historians say that Sir William Winchester lived a very interesting life. They talk of his adventures at age 24 in Africa, his marriage to the fascinatingly brilliant and highly sought-after Wilma Willington at the age of 31, his receipt of knighthood at 42. And many more exciting and very interesting adventures.

But those historians never write about the first time William became interesting. None tell the tale of the moment that occurred four days after Sir William Winchester turned ten. Because no historian ever heard of this event.

Until now.

You may, of course, enlighten them as you see fit.

to be continued...