Boy Goes Long Way To Meet King

Friday, October 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BANGOR, Maine (AP) â€” A 14-year-old from Dallas skipped school to fly to Bangor to meet author Stephen King at a rare appearance in his home town. His mom wasn't worried about him, though. She came along.

``I think I am the biggest King fan,'' aspiring writer Michael Altemeier said Wednesday. ``I'd never seen him live, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.''

His mother ran the video camera as Altemeier, shaking with excitement, talked to King. King's comment: ``You can't be from around here, since you act like I'm incredibly important.''

The author obliged those who asked for photos during the two-hour event but declined to sign a pregnant women's belly. He was persuaded to initial her T-shirt, however, which read ``Stephen King fan under construction.''

He also signed the arm of a man who said he was going to have the signature turned into a tattoo.