NewsBiscuit

In 1978, seven year old Timothy Johnson asked his classmate for a KP Ranchero with the promise ‘Go on, be your best friend.’ Thirty years on, computer salesman Mike Harrison is now desperate to release his old school mate from what he says was a meaningless playground promise. ‘Three decades later he still rings me up every day, suggesting we go for a pint or go on holiday together. We have nothing in common whatsoever – it’s just what seven years old say…’

Tim Johnson, 37, admits that the two share very few interests but maintains that he made a promise and he cannot go back on his word; ‘I really, really wanted just one of those little bacon flavoured crisps, and so it seemed a reasonable deal at the time. But I can’t deny it has been an effort to keep the friendship going all these years. Ironically, I actually had a packet of crisps in my school bag, and if I hadn’t forgotten about them, I probably would never have uttered those fateful six words ‘Go on, be your best friend!’ and my life would have been completely different.

When Mike moved to a Germany for a year, Tim felt he couldn’t let his best friend live out there on his own and so got a job in the same Bavarian town. On Mike’s wedding day he gave a long speech recounting their years of friendship, even though he hadn’t actually been invited to the reception and was eventually thrown out by the hotel security staff. Tim even admits his own marriage has suffered as a result of his devotion to his ‘best friend’ Mike.

‘No the marriage has suffered’ explained Mike, ‘because he only promised to marry Sharon Cooper in 1977 if she showed him her knickers behind the bike shed. Frankly it’s no basis for a long term relationship.’

NewsBiscuit

Posted: May 6th, 2008 by NewsBiscuit