My Budddy, the Prince

“I didn’t know he was leaving. What do you think made him do it?” Ben thought the guy was his best friend, but then two days after graduation, he just disappeared without a word to anyone. Ronny turned 18 in March of their senior year so he didn’t need his parents permission to enlist in the Army, but still, why? And, why the hell did he never get in touch?

Nan, his thoughtful sister, answered, “What do you think? He went off to fight a war. The way I see it there’s only two things that would explain it, either he’s nuts or he’s some kind of hero.”

“Or maybe some of both,” Ben countered. “I mean he left. One day he’s here, we’re hanging, talking about college, girls, no mention of Army . . . and then he’s gone. Why would someone do that? I heard he got shipped overseas the day he finished basic training. I’m no expert, but I know a little about the Army. Usually, they send you off to infantry training or radio school or some training program to get you some usable Army type skills. You talk to his sister, don’t you? What’s her name?”

“Her name is Samantha, and don’t call her Sam. I see her at the gym. We’re in some of the same classes. She’s who told me he’s coming home.”

“Is she anything like her brother? Did he tell her anything about him leaving?”

“Well, she’s athletic if that’s what you mean. And, I guess she made good grades, too. I don’t know what she knew about him leaving. She never offered a word and I never thought to ask. Besides, he’s no more likely to share his secrets with his sister than you are to share yours with me. I’m your sister, do you share all of your deepest secrets with me? Don’t answer that! I know why you’re so anxious about this—because, you came in second to Ronny in everything, second in the class behind him, second on the track team.”

Ben laughed, “Yeah, I was second, but it wasn’t like I was way, way behind him in anything. In fact, I know I had higher grades in math and science classes than he did.”

“Maybe, but I think overall it kept you two from being better friends. Admit it, you were a little jealous, weren’t you?”

“No, I was not jealous! Anytime you’re that close to being best at something and you come up just a tiny bit short, it is disappointing. And, we were friends—probably best friends. We certainly had more in common than most of my other so-called friends.”

Nan reached out a hand as to stop him, “There’s Samantha, he’s probably right behind her. Yeah, there he is. What are you gonna say to him?”

“Let’s see what he does. I’m thinking he should be the first one to say something.” Just as he got that out of his mouth, Sam and Ronny headed straight for him. That part of the mall was crowded and loud. There were a couple of dozen people between them, but it was clear they were headed straight to where Ben and Nan were sitting. 

The two sisters were smiling broadly as Samantha and Ronny got closer. Samantha shouted, “Hey girl! How y’all doing?” She wrapped her arms around Nan.

Both girls were smiling, but Ronny had a stern, solemn look on his face. Surprisingly, he stepped forward and put his arms around Ben, “I missed you, Buddy.”

Ben didn’t resist the hug, but he was suddenly overcome with anger. He pushed back and snapped, “Where the hell have you been? Three years and you just walk back in here as if nothing happened?” 

“I’m sorry, Ben. I would’ve told you, but they wouldn’t let me.”

“They? They who?” 

Ronny looked around as though to make sure no one was eavesdropping, “Not here—I can’t tell you anything here. Can we get out of here?”

***

The girls were across the park feeding the ducks. The guys shared a bench in the shade. Ben sat quietly staring off into space. Ronny was just as still, just as quiet, but was staring at his best friend. Ben finally broke the silence, “How can this possibly be? I knew you were adopted—and . . . I know we never talked about it, but it seemed to me that your adopted parents truly cared about you. Did you ever doubt that?”

“No, not for a minute. And this doesn’t change that, I love them, they love me and they’re never going to know this, right?”

“Yeah, of course! I’ll never tell a soul. But what are you gonna do about this?”

“Do? Nothing, what can I do? I told the royal family I’ll have nothing to do with them, I will not be the body double for the Prince. Now I’m thinking I should get some kind of plastic surgery so they can’t use me for a stand-in, ever.”

“Jeez, that’s drastic! You think that’s necessary?”

“Ben, I’m scared, man,” he stood up abruptly, “I can’t just sit around and wait—they could show up at my door any day and force me to go pretend I’m the Prince.”

Ronny stepped closer and put his arm around Ben’s shoulders, “I know you’re scared. I don’t blame you and I don’t know what advice to offer you. You’re a clone—of some African Prince. That family brought you here as an infant and put you up for adoption—and they’ve been watching you every minute of your life waiting for the right time to bring you in on the secret.” Ronny felt helpless for his friend, “So, why was now the right time?”

“Easy, the Prince was sick. They were worried enough that they wanted to get me there, give me the orientation for what it would mean to be Prince. And, I heard something they didn’t want me to hear. Somebody, some cousin or something to the Prince, sent his DNA to one of these ancestors, genealogy places, you know, they analyze your DNA and hook you up with people that might be related. They’re afraid some of their secrets might be exposed.”

“So, what was the motive behind this? Just to have a spare Prince just in case?”

“Yeah, that’s it, but it goes a little deeper. The Prince is the only heir to the throne. If the old man dies and there’s no Prince, then the family is out the door—out the door of a castle. They’re afraid it would end a 400-year reign. So, I’m thinking they use me until I have a son or two and that would offer some promise of continuity.”

“Ok, so it’s a plan, a crazy plan, but a plan. You want to be a part of it or not? And, did you meet the Prince? Was it like looking in a mirror? And, is there some reason he can’t have a couple of sons and leave you out of this?”

“The easy answer is NO, I don’t want to be part of it, and yes, I met him and it was like looking in a mirror. And, another thing I found out is the Prince has a harem. I think he spends a great deal of time, and energy, trying to impregnate one of those girls. If one of them gets pregnant she becomes the bride of the Prince, a Princess, and the baby is the next in line—if it’s a boy.”

Ben laughed, “And, you are certain you don’t want to be part of that?”

Ronny seemed on the verge of tears and didn’t appreciate Ben’s attempt at humor, “Look man, you’re my best friend, the only person I trust with this, can you help? I was thinking maybe your uncle?”

Ben’s uncle was a Section Chief for the FBI and could very well be the answer, “Come on, we’re going right now. He’s probably in his office downtown, I’ll bet he can help.”

***

Special Agent Madison, or Uncle Charley as Ben knew him, didn’t have much to offer, “They’re not breaking any laws at the moment, Ronny is an adult, free to come and go as he pleases and that’s the one thing we can watch for. If the Prince or any of his family comes here and harasses or intimidates you in any way, you let me know. We don’t have any agreement with the family that would give them any special privileges, no diplomatic immunity, or anything like that. If they come here it’ll be on a tourist visa, subject to revocation. I can kinda unofficially spread the word to my offices around the country to keep an eye out,” he was steadily writing notes as he talked, “We might do more, but it would involve you going public with your relationship and I don’t recommend that.”

Ronny responded, “Oh God, NO, I don’t want to do that! I have a job, maybe even a girlfriend here, not to mention my best friend in the whole world,” he gave Ben a friendly nudge, “And, I’d like to be able to settle down and live a quiet, traditional suburban life—for however long I have.”

Ben asked the lingering question, “So, is he truly an heir to the throne? Would his son be a legal heir?”

“Don’t know. There are no laws about clones that would define his legal standing, not in the US anyway. Don’t know about African countries, but I doubt it. There may not be another adult human clone on earth.”