Stand By: The Story of a Boy's Achievement in Radio

A teenage boy named Lee is sent from his modern hometown to the crumbling hamlet of King’s Cove to look after his aging great‑uncle Gem. The village feels frozen in time—weather‑worn shacks, kerosene lamps, and a handful of locals who view the city‑born visitor with quiet suspicion. Lee’s world of electricity and automobiles feels alien here, and the daily grind of chores and stale meals underscores the stark contrast between his past life and the slow, stubborn rhythm of the cove.

While rummaging through a dusty outbuilding, Lee uncovers a three‑foot glass wheel mounted on brass and wood, a relic his great‑uncle calls a “lightning maker.” The mysterious mechanism, once used by a long‑gone tutor to demonstrate the power of electricity, ignites Lee’s curiosity and awakens a yearning to understand the forgotten science hidden in the old‑world setting. As the wheel spins, the boy begins to imagine how this strange device might bridge the gap between the past’s superstition and the modern marvels he knows, setting the stage for a quiet but determined quest.