"This is a coming-of-age, coming-out, come-and-meet-me story that's by turns funny and touching, revelatory and heart-warming." (Gyles Brandreth)

Martin Milnes was born in the wrong era or at least that's how it seemed. As a child, he wore jazz-shoes to his junior school disco, expecting eight-year-olds to Mambo like the dancers in West Side Story.... But his childhood and school days were no Broadway musical. Martin was different: the cat who walked alone. Birthdays, stingingly empty, held a horrific reminder that he possessed no talent for friendship. Yet once Martin emerged on stage, the jeering turned to cheering; the lonely void was filled by Hollywood stars of yesteryear, worshiped from afar. When his world shattered, the stars were there for him; and this time in person. The last surviving veterans of a glamorous era extended their guiding hands. Centenarian swimming partners, D-Day hero drinking chums, and propositions from naughty nonagenarians became every-day normality and the wisdom, understanding, and truths which they passed on completely transformed Martin's life, outlook and spirit.

At last, with their help, the Wild Card learned how to be a friend and realized what a birthday truly represents. Not to mention, along the way, coming to terms with something which perhaps he should have recognized long ago....