“Yes,” Ben said firmly. “I’m willing to do those things.”
“And are you willing not to do the things you shouldn’t do?”
“Yeah, I’m willing not to do those things.”
“Great! We’ll have a lot more fun if I’m not bailing you out all the time.”
Ben laughed. “You know, my dad is always saying stuff like this to me, but coming from you, it makes a lot more sense.”
“I’m glad, Ben. Now, because you’re my friend and I trust you, I want to tell you a couple of things that nobody else knows and that I don’t want anyone else to know until the right time.”
“You’re right, Peter, you can trust me.”
“First of all, you’ve probably already figured out that Stone is my biological father.”
“Well, yeah.”
“And he and my mother are getting married.”
“Great!”
“It’s better if all that doesn’t get around.”
“I understand.”
“Second, it should help motivate you to know that my mother owns about forty percent of Centurion Studios.”
Ben stared at him blankly. “The actual Hollywood studio?”
“That’s right. My stepfather, Vance Calder, was Centurion’s most important star for fifty years, and during that time he bought the studio’s stock every chance he got. A couple of times, he even took payment for acting roles in studio stock.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Yes, it is, but it’s going to be even more amazing for you and me. Get your mind around this: one day I’m going to own all that stock, and it’s going to allow me to make any film I want to make at Centurion, and it’s going to allow you to produce it. And it’s going to allow the two of us to run Centurion Studios.”
Ben sank back in his chair, looking stunned.
“Now, before you get over that idea, I’ve something else to tell you.”
“I’m not sure I can stand it,” Ben said.
“I’m not sure you can, either, but here goes: Ben, I’m only sixteen years old.”
Ben sat bolt upright, looking at Peter’s face for some sign that he was kidding. “I’m going to be eighteen next month; you mean you’re two years younger than I am?”
“You’re good at math, Ben.”
“I can do eighteen minus sixteen.”
“Now, Ben, my age makes me a freak, at least until I’m in my thirties, when it won’t matter. But, if people think I’m eighteen, then I’m not a freak, and life will be so very much easier for me. Can you understand that?”
“Sure, I can. Your secret is safe with me, Peter.”
“Good. And I have a legal birth certificate to prove I’m eighteen. Please remember: life will be easier for both of us if you continue to treat me as if I’m eighteen.”
Ben smiled broadly. “No sweat, pal.”
“That means I’m not going to drink until I’m twenty-one, which means until I’m twenty-three. I’m not suggesting that you should wait that long, but you’ll have a better brain in your head if you do.”