The Prime Minister’s
Daughter
By
WILLIAM MANCHEE
Top Publications, Ltd. Co.
Dallas, Texas
The Prime Minister’s Daughter
© Copyright 2001, 2013, William Manchee
ISBN 978-1-935722-89-2
No part of this book may be published or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or information storage and retrieval systems without the express written permission of the publisher.
This work is a novel and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. The characters and events in this novel are fictional and created out of the imagination of the author. Certain real locations and institutions are mentioned, but the characters and events depicted are entirely fictitious.
To my son, Jeffrey
Chapter 1
Kevin Wells stared at the blackboard, barely cognizant of his surroundings. His mind was on fast forward, racing over the previous evening’s confrontation with Paula. He liked her. He liked her a lot. She was every high school boy’s wet dream–smart, sexy and sophisticated. And she all but dragged him to her bedroom door. That’s when the argument started. He was tempted, oh was he tempted. But he just couldn’t do it. Paula was popular–too popular. Just in the short time he had known her, she had been in several relationships. Each seemed inviolate, yet each crumbled like a doublewide in the path of a tornado. He wondered how he would face his friends at lunch. They wouldn’t understand. Nobody understood. They would ridicule him.
The lunch bell rang and everyone left the classroom. Kevin stepped into the flow of traffic heading for the door and plunged into the hot August afternoon. He cringed at the Texas heat as he walked briskly toward the Plano High School Cafeteria. He paused a moment before going in, reluctant to face the humiliation that surely awaited him. Finally he slipped inside, hesitating again, watching his friends from a distance. Oh shit. I can’t do this. I’m gonna just skip lunch today. . . . No, that won’t help. Eventually I’ll have to face them in debate class. Damn it! I might as well get it over with.
Taking a deep breath, he walked toward their table. When they saw him approaching, they quit talking.
He sat down avoiding eye contact. Finally he looked up at Brent. “I’m going to miss school tomorrow.”
Brent raised his eyebrows. “How come?"
"My mom is having surgery.”
"Oh. I hope it’s not serious."
Kevin shrugged. “They’re going to remove her gall bladder. It’s supposed to be pretty routine.”
Brent shook his head. “When it comes to surgery, nothing is routine. My uncle had routine ear surgery that turned into a nightmare. Somehow they nicked his brain and he didn’t know his own name when he woke up.”
“Shit!”
“Well, he’s better now, but it was pretty scary.”
“My mother’s surgeon is supposed to be very good.”
“Good. Then she’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
"I hope so.”
“At least you get to miss French class.”
"True, but it’ll be a pain catching up. You know what a bitch it is if you miss one frickin’ day in that class."
“So, what are you going to do?”
Kevin smiled. “I’ll borrow Paula’s notes.”
Brent laughed. “Oh, really. After last night I doubt she’d call 911 if you were bleeding to death.”
Brent’s comments stung Kevin. It was apparent he was not the only one with a fixation on the events of the previous night.
“What? That was nothing. Just a little difference in philosophy.”
Brent snickered, “A difference in philosophy? Oh, I see–like communism vs. capitalism?”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “No, it’s a matter of staying in control of your life and not letting circumstances swallow you up.”
Brent frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Kevin looked away. I can’t win this debate. Give it up. He stood up and said, "Man, I'm starving. I hope they're having something decent today."
“That would be a first,” Brent replied.
Kevin walked across the room to the snack bar. Glancing back he noticed Paula and Alice were joining Brent and the others. He was sure they were talking about him and wished he were a fly on the wall so he could overhear the conversation. He grabbed a sandwich, some chips and a soft drink and headed back to the group. They were laughing as he approached the table.
“Speak of the devil,” Brent whispered. “Here he comes.” They all quit talking.
Kevin looked anxiously at Paula. Her eyes were as cold as a Montana blizzard. She shook her head and looked away.
“Here comes the Virgin Harry,” Alice said.
They all laughed.
Kevin gave them a quick artificial smile. “Thanks guys. I really appreciate the ridicule.”
“Sorry,” Alice said. “I couldn’t resist.”
"Right,” Kevin said shaking his head. “Hey, are we going to have practice tonight after school?"
"No. Tomorrow night," Brent noted.
"Good. I've got a paper due Friday. I'm going to be up all night."
"What's it on?" Paula asked evenly.
"Desert Warfare, from Rommel to Schwarzkopf," he responded.
"Oh, how fun," Paula said dryly.
Relief flooded over Kevin. Paula didn’t seem half as pissed as he had expected. He smiled. "It's fascinating actually."
“I bet. So I suppose you’ll be in the library tonight?"
“I’m afraid so. . . . Are you going to be there?”
“I don’t know.”
"Hmm. . . . So, did your mother have a cow last night when she came home and saw the mess?" Kevin asked.
"No. I cleaned it up before she got home. Luckily, she didn't saunter in until after two. "
"Where was she?"
"She's got a new boyfriend. He's kind of cool. He works for EDS, some kind of computer genius or something. I think they went to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth."
"Well at least he'll keep your mother busy so she won't be bugging you all the time," Alice interjected.
“That’s true,” Paula said.
“My parents are always on my case,” Alice said. “I really envy you.”
Kevin listened intently to Paula and Alice’s conversation but didn’t jump in.
I have good parents. What happened wasn’t their fault.
“What about your parents, Kevin?” Alice said looking him in the eye. “Do they give you a lot of shit?”
"No,” he laughed. “Not really.”
"You’re lucky. If my real dad was home that would be great, but he lives in Tulsa. I don't see him unless he happens to be driving through Dallas. My stepfather is an asshole. He takes great pleasure in humiliating me whenever possible."
"I guess I am lucky. My parents are pretty cool."
"You’re damn lucky," Paula said. "I guess that's where you got your strong moral conscience."
Kevin shook his head. Oh, Jesus. It’s never going to end. "Hey, I'm not saying my philosophy is necessarily better than yours. It's just what I want for me, okay? I just hope you all can respect that."
"Hey, it's a free country," Brent said. "If you want to die a virgin, that’s your business. Personally, I’m going to hop as many chicks as I can while I’m young and robust. Life is too short to be wasting a lot of time chasing a fantasy."
“A fantasy?” Kevin said.
“Yeah, Kevin. I hate to break the news to you, old bud, but there aren’t any virgins out there. At least none that I’d be caught dead with.”
Kevi
n stared at Brent not knowing how to reply. Paula raised her eyebrows and started to laugh. Luckily the bell rang, giving everyone an excuse to end the awkward encounter.
After school, Kevin went to the library to work on his paper. As he was passing the periodical section of the library, he noticed a Dallas Morning News headline about the Prime Minister of Trinidad-Tobago coming to Dallas. He picked up the paper and began to read the article.
PRIME MINISTER TO REMAIN IN DALLAS
FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Prime Minister Ahmad Shah of Trinidad-Tobago who was the keynote speaker at last week’s Caribbean Trade Conference will be staying in Dallas for at least another week to undergo surgery at Medical City Hospital. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the surgery was planned and is not an emergency.
Although the trade conference did not produce a free trade agreement this year, progress was made according to Commerce Secretary William T. Sawyer who hosted the meeting this year on behalf of the United States. Sawyer says he expects an agreement to be reached at next year’s conference.
The need for a free trade agreement was made apparent when OPEC, at their last semi-annual meeting, agreed on reduced production quotas sending gasoline prices sharply upward. The American Automobile Association predicts prices this summer will reach three dollars a gallon in some parts of the country.
Last fall’s discovery of vast oil reserves near Trinidad-Tobago, spurred the US to propose a Caribbean Free Trade Association. Experts say the Cocos Bay reserves, as it has been named, contain more than five billion barrels of oil.
Kevin put down the paper. He was about to leave when a pretty young girl stopped him. He didn't know her personally, but he did recognize her as a cheerleader.
"You're Kevin, right?"
"Yes."
"Hi, I'm Stacy Cox."
"Oh. . . . Hi."
"How's your paper coming?" Stacy asked.
"Slow, it's going to be a long night, I’m afraid.” He frowned. “So, how did you know I was working on a paper?"
"Well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? You've been pouring through books and taking lots of notes all evening."
Kevin nodded. "Right."
She flashed a smile. Her eyes sparkled. "You're on the swim team, aren't you?"
Adrenalin flooded Kevin’s body. Stacy was a knockout and he was about to get KO’d. "Uh huh, and you're a cheerleader."
"How did you know that?"
"I've seen you perform,” Kevin said brimming. “You'd be a hard person to forget."
"If that's a compliment, thank you."
"Just an observation. . . . Hey, didn't I see you at the last swim meet?"
"Yes, I watched you dive. You're very good."
"Thanks."
"Listen, Kevin. I heard through the grapevine that you were a virgin."
Kevin’s heart plummeted. "What?"
"I just wanted you to know, it’s okay. I'm a virgin too."
Kevin looked around suspiciously and smiled. Give me a break. Shaking his head, he said, "Okay, who told you I was a virgin?"
"It doesn't matter. We've found each other. The only two virgins in North Texas."
Kevin started to laugh, "Okay, is someone videotaping this?"
"I'm serious," Stacy said. "I was told you honestly believe in chastity before marriage."
"I do, but I think, . . . well actually, I know you're pulling my leg."
"Why is that?” she said indignantly, “You think you're the only moral human being at this school?"
"No, of course not, but–"
"Let's get to know each other, okay? Maybe something might happen between us. You know? The soul-mate thingy."
Kevin could barely contain his disgust, "Right, . . . sure."
Just then, there was laughter from the corner of the library. Kevin looked over and saw Brent, Alice and Paula laughing hysterically. He shook his head and looked back at Stacy who now too was laughing.
"You guys won't let up, will you?" Kevin said. "I don't have time for games tonight, okay? I've got a damn paper to do. Nice meeting you, Stacy. You'll make a fine actress someday."
Kevin gathered his stuff and left to a chorus of laughter. He didn’t look back. Kevin felt a knot in his stomach. He stopped a moment to ponder its cause. Then it hit him. He was worried about what Brent had said. What if he couldn't find his soul mate? What if she didn’t exist? . . . Was his search a futile endeavor? Was he crazy to even dream that in this day and age there could be a relationship built on love instead of sex, where a man and woman could be intoxicated with each other’s company without the need for booze or marijuana?
When Kevin reached his car, he opened the door and dropped into the driver’s seat. Taking a deep breath, he let his head fall back against the headrest. He thought about his mother’s surgery and began to worry about what Brent had said. “There’s no such thing as a routine surgery.” What if something went wrong? After a minute he dismissed the thought and started the car. But all the way home he kept thinking of Brent’s uncle who woke up from surgery and didn’t even know his name!
The Prime Minister's Daughter Page 1