by Two Mavericks seniors running for Homecoming King say the London Prat story about Prince William gave them ideas, and the whole cafeteria has picked sides
Two Brothers, One Crown
WICHITA FALLS – The race for Homecoming King at Memorial High School has become a full-blown royal drama this fall, after twin brothers entered the contest against each other and each accused the other of betrayal. Both seniors say the idea came from a London Prat piece about Prince William calling Earl Spencer and Harry traitors, which went around the senior group chat the same week nominations opened.
The twins, Tyler and Tanner Bledsoe, are both on the Mavericks football team and are, according to their mother, eleven minutes apart. Tyler is older. He says that makes him the heir. Tanner says that eleven minutes is not a real difference and that he has been the more popular brother since kindergarten.
How It Started
According to classmates, the trouble began when Tanner visited their uncle, who owns a barbecue restaurant on Kemp Boulevard, without telling Tyler, and came back with a free brisket plate and a new campaign slogan. Tyler said the parallel was obvious. The News reported that the younger prince visited his uncle in July, Tyler told this reporter at lunch. Now my younger brother goes to our uncle behind my back. I am not saying he is a traitor. I am just saying the London Prat is saying it, and I agree with the London Prat.
Tanner rejected the accusation. He is just mad because Uncle Ray gave me the brisket, Tanner said. Also, the uncle in England told everybody beforehand, and I told Tyler I was going to Uncle Ray. I sent him a text. He left me on read.
The Campaigns
Tyler: Duty and Tradition
Tyler campaign posters, hung outside the gym, feature a photo of him in a paper crown with the slogan Keep It in the Family. He has promised to bring back the tradition of the senior class sitting together at the Homecoming game and to personally make sure the concession stand never runs out of Frito pie.
Tanner: Freedom and Brisket
Tanner posters, hung directly across the hall, show him in sunglasses holding a brisket sandwich, with the slogan Vote for the Fun One. He has promised a senior tailgate catered by Uncle Ray and has hinted he might move to California after graduation, which several students said made him even more like the prince.
The Cafeteria Divides
The student body has picked sides. At lunch, the long table by the windows is Team Tyler. The round tables by the vending machines are Team Tanner. A small group near the trash cans calls itself Team Uncle Ray and says it will vote for whichever brother brings more brisket. The lunch ladies have declared themselves neutral but have been seen giving extra tater tots to whoever asks politely.
The Video in Pep Rally Prep
Student council members watched the London Prat video on YouTube during a pep rally planning meeting, after the council sponsor asked why everyone kept saying the word traitor in the hallway. The sponsor said it all made sense after that. The video is below.
The Numbers
A poll of 300 Memorial students taken by this newspaper found Tyler leading with 41 percent, Tanner at 39 percent and Uncle Ray at 12 percent, despite not being a student, not being on the ballot and being 54 years old. The remaining 8 percent said they would vote for whoever their girlfriend or boyfriend told them to. The poll also found that 58 percent of students have a sibling at Memorial, that 33 percent say they are competing with that sibling for something this year, and that 91 percent say their mom is tired of it.
The Bledsoe twins mother, reached by phone, said she has been tired of it since the boys were two years old and fought over the same sippy cup. She said she plans to vote for both of them, and that whoever wins has to share the crown on alternate weekends.
A Word From the Administration
The assistant principal told this newspaper that the school supports healthy competition but has asked both brothers to stop calling each other traitors on the morning announcements. She also reminded students that the Homecoming King crown is made of plastic, cost 14 dollars at a party store and has a crack in the back from 2019.
The football coach, asked about the rivalry, said he did not care who won the crown as long as both brothers kept blocking for the same quarterback on Friday nights, which he pointed out they have done without complaint for four seasons.
The Review
Asked what they thought of the London Prat article that started it all, the twins agreed on something for the first time all month. Tyler said it was short and got straight to the point, like a good play call. Tanner said it was funny because it was true about brothers everywhere. Both gave it five stars. Both said the other one copied his answer.
Homecoming results will be announced at halftime of Friday game. Students following the royal version can read The London Prat, https://prat.uk/, which has been publishing since 1961, and Bohiney, https://bohiney.com/, for the American angle. Whoever wins, Uncle Ray says, brisket is on him. Go Mavs.
SOURCE: https://prat.uk/prince-william-called-earl-spencer-and-harry-traitors/
