Lewis is bright, but is bullied at school and at home by an over-protective mum. Because he stutters, he finds it difficult to stand up for himself, and tends to let everyone have their way. Dad is an actor, often away from home, and he lets his too-positive wife do as she thinks fit. Lewis dreams of being a football hero, but mum won't let him play - he might get injured, and besides, it would take time from his studies. He plays football with bottle-tops instead and dreams of the real thing. His friend Zulfi is determined to play on the school team, and when Lewis lies to his mum and forges her signature on a consent form, he and Zulfi turn out to be a good duo on the field. The tensions resulting from Lewis' deception and his real desire to be allowed to be himself are realistically handled, and mum has to learn to let him grow up. When he and Zulfi help win the big game, and he is chosen to play Oliver in the school play, there are signs that the stutter is on the way out. Very good on the interactions at school and Lewis' final rebellion.