The votes have not been counted, the crowns not yet placed on heads.

Yet Free State High senior Taylor Stuart already has proved that he is worthy of a title like “king.”

Tonight is Homecoming at FSHS, a time when students and faculty, past and present, gather to celebrate what being a Firebird is all about.

Stuart will do that, too. In the process, he’ll do his part to define what being a good friend is all about, as well.

As a starting tight end and linebacker on the Free State football team, as well as one of the candidates for Homecoming King, tonight figures to be a night Stuart won’t soon forget.

But it’s small potatoes compared to the joy Stuart’s thoughtfulness has created for a fellow FSHS student and his family.

Free State senior Brett Stanclift was born with cerebral palsy. He and Stuart became friends when they met in fourth grade at Deerfield Elementary.

Tonight, while Stuart’s busy in the locker room listening to his coach, his buddy Brett will stand in for him as the Homecoming Court is introduced.

“Friday night’s for football, so I’m not really worried about the coronation and all that,” Stuart said. “But not being able to see Brett out on the field in his tux is kind of hard for me. I’ll miss that.”

Brett’s case of cerebral palsy impairs his speech, but not his comprehension. He uses a walker because the disability limits his muscle coordination. It has no effect on his zest for life, his upbeat attitude, his ability to fit in.

Through the love and compassion of his family, as well as a few close friends, Brett has lived as normal a life as possible. He goes to sporting events, plays Nintendo Wii – bowling and golf are his favorites – and hangs out with friends nonstop.

That will continue tonight, when Brett will be an important part of Homecoming, complete with a sharp tuxedo, tons of snapshots and a few nerves, which stem from another nice surprise. FSHS senior Maggie Hull asked Brett to escort her during the ceremony.

“He kind of has a little crush on Mag,” said Brett’s mom, Pam Pine, Hull’s softball coach. “He’s pretty excited about that part, too.”

Through the years, Stuart has included Brett in all of his games and attended all of Brett’s birthday parties.

“Brett’s a great kid,” Stuart said. “His disability doesn’t have anything to do with who he is. I base people on their personalities, and he’s a great friend.”

In Stuart, Brett has a great friend, too.

“I think it’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen a high school kid do,” Free State football coach Bob Lisher said. “That’s the kind of kid (Stuart) is. He’s a great young man, and I can’t say that with enough emphasis.”

Stuart doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. The way he sees it, this is just the kind of thing friends do for friends. No one even knows that he nominated his neighbor, another Free State student living with cerebral palsy, for Homecoming Queen.

“I just thought it was pretty important to have someone special, who’s a good friend of mine, stand in for me,” he said. “The word’s spreading pretty fast, but it’s not one of those things that people should be thanking me for.”

Sorry, Stuey.