When Domonic Fischer was crowned West Mesa High School’s homecoming king, his first words were, “I don’t deserve this.”
As the school’s varsity quarterback, he was like a shoo-in for the honor. But Fischer had someone else in mind – someone his classmates were less likely to vote for.
The Real King
Anthony Harris is Fischer’s best friend. He has autism, but that’s never stood in the way of their close friendship.
And while Harris may not be as popular, he’s the real king in Fischer’s eyes:
“He’s that guy who goes through school and really no one knows. He’s the most caring and the most generous – and most giving guy that I’ve ever met before in my life,” Fischer told KOAT Action News.
But on the day the homecoming court was announced, it was Fischer’s turn to be giving. He called Harris up to the stage and bestowed all the royal regalia on his friend.
The Crown Changes Hands
Harris was pretty stoked to be king.
“It’s awesome being king because I love it,” he told the local Albequerque, New Mexico news station.
In fact, he was so excited that he ran off to celebrate.
“After he got the king and the cape on and stuff, we went outside and he was telling everyone ‘I’m the king, I’m the king, I’m the king.’ We couldn’t find him for five, 10 minutes. We were like ‘dude where’d you go?’” Fischer recalled.
Best Buddies
Despite being a special needs student, the fact that Harris has autism has never been an issue in the boys’ friendship.
As far as Fischer is concerned, they have just about everything in common and started hanging out after meeting two years earlier through West Mesa High School’s Best Buddies program.
According to their website, Best Buddies is a non-profit “dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).”
There are chapters all over the world.
The organization has a special program for high school students that helps ensure students with special needs aren’t ignored.
Their friendship programs foster “one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD” in order to help “break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.”
Finding Common Ground
As for Fischer and Harris, the pair first bonded over football right after their first meeting.
“Every question I asked him it was like boom, I like that too, boom, I like that too. My first question was do you like football, cause that’s my thing. He’s like ‘yeah I love football’ and boom ever since then,” Fischer told KOAT.
Sometimes that’s all you need to form a lifelong friendship.
Since Harris was in special ed classes, it’s unclear whether they would have ever met if not for the Best Buddies Friendship Program.
If you’d like to find a chapter in your area, you can click here. There are programs for middle schools, high schools, senior citizens, and those who want a modern-day internet pen pal.
Luckily, someone captured the sweet moment Fischer gave Harris his crown, so be sure to scroll down below to see the touching gesture of true friendship!
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