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Sep 29, 2009 9:24 pm US/Central
Storybook Ending For Montevideo Homecoming King
(WCCO)
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"He's probably the most popular guy in our school," said senior Taylor Brendmoen.
CBS
Whoever said Homecoming Court is just a big popularity contest must have gone to Montevideo High School. That's because the 400 students there have learned kids like Marcus Jerve are in the cool crowd.
"He's probably the most popular guy in our school," said senior Taylor Brendmoen.
Marcus was born 18 years ago with his umbilical cord wrapped so tightly around his neck, he couldn't breathe. Although the doctor quickly cut the cord and resuscitated him, some brain damage was already done. Don't tell Marcus that. Not much stops the kid who is so full of happiness and energy.
He stops to talk to everyone he sees. Lots of times they get a hug from Marcus too. His parents say he knows more people than they do combined. At school, at the bowling alley, at the pharmacy, he's happy wherever he is.
"He'll say hi to everybody," said Dave Jerve, Marcus' dad. "He doesn't care."
Two weeks ago, Marcus' mom, Chris, got a call from the school that Marcus was voted onto homecoming court. At first, she couldn't even tell her husband because she was crying so hard.
"I said, 'is he hurt?' No. I said, 'good or bad?' Good," said Dave.
She wasn't sure exactly what to think.
"You just don't expect that. To have a special needs child, you're always looking out," she said.
She called her daughter, who reminded her that these kids have always looked out for Marcus. That was quite clear during the homecoming coronation when they treated him as their long-time friend.
"It's not a joke at all. Everybody loves him. Everybody gets along with him ever since we were little. It's always been like that," said senior Abbie Haugen.
Chris and Dave know Marcus loves the recognition and understand it probably won't happen again. They say he's already won by simply standing on that stage with his friends.
"Indescribable of how we feel about them -- such appreciation. We're as proud of the student body as we are of Marcus," said Chris.
She said that before she knew that each of the other four boys up for the crown had used their one and only vote for Marcus to win. He did and become Montevideo Homecoming King 2009.
"He deserved it more than I did. He's just the coolest guy," said senior Tate Clark.
Funny thing is, Chris said, Marcus would be clapping just as hard for whoever won -- even if it wasn't him.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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