Chapter 12,
January 30, 2005,
Tomorrow, the people versus Michael Jackson criminal trial begins and I am the only one out of us kids that knows what is going on. Dad had made me promise him that I wouldn't tell Prince, Paris, and Blanket what's going on because he doesn't want to scare them. It's really hard on me keeping such a big secret because underneath my fearless personality; I'm really scared! I do a pretty good job of hiding it though.
We are back in Los Angeles and are staying in a temporary rental house until the trial is over. I went down the hallway and into the living room. I sat down and turned on my Game Boy. Dad came into the room with Prince, Paris, and Blanket following him. I ব্যক্ত "when he আপনি guys doing?" He ব্যক্ত "nothing much" and sat down পরবর্তি to me on the couch. Prince sat down on the other side of me and asked "what are আপনি playing?" I ব্যক্ত "Pokémon Ruby" and turned the power off. Dad asked "are আপনি sure that আপনি don't have anything on your mind AJ?" I ব্যক্ত as I went up to my room "yes dad; for the millionth time I'm fine!" He ব্যক্ত "okay; I just wanted to make sure that you're okay with everything that's going on."
I shut the door and lay down on my bed. I flipped through the TV channels and change the channel to Nickelodeon. I took a deep breath and ব্যক্ত to myself "I can't believe everything that's gone on in this past বছর and it's all because of stupidity!" I opened up my dresser drawer and pulled out a ছবি album of pictures. Most of them taken a few months before Prince was born. As I flipped through the pages; I smiled at pictures of dad and I when I was just a few months away from turning three years old. I could hear Prince talking with Grace on the other side of my door and then I heard dad say "bye children, I'll see আপনি in about four hours!"
He knocked on my door and asked "can I come in and spend the time with আপনি for a while?" I ব্যক্ত "yeah sure." He walked in and sat down on the bed. He dropped a big box in front of me and ব্যক্ত "look what I found!" I looked inside and it was filled to the very শীর্ষ in old VHS tapes. I asked "what do আপনি have all of these for?" He ব্যক্ত "it's a whole bunch of প্রথমপাতা চলচ্চিত্র from when আপনি were little and I thought আপনি and I could watch them together. It might help get your mind off of things!" I was reluctant and he ব্যক্ত "just watch a few at first… I'm telling আপনি that it will make আপনি feel better. Don't try to tell me that আপনি aren't stressed out because I know আপনি are! I always know when আপনি are!" I asked "how did আপনি know?" He ব্যক্ত "I just know when my baby isn't doing well. It's part of being a dad." I rolled my eyes and ব্যক্ত "dad; I'm almost 11 years old, I'm not a baby anymore!" He ব্যক্ত "you may be getting older but you'll always be my baby!"
He put a videotape in the VCR and pressed the play button.
Video one:
Dated at the bottom of the screen: January, 8, 1996
We were in the living room at Neverland ranch and I was sitting on dad's lap. He started গান গাওয়া "champion" দ্বারা Queen. He would sing one lyric and I would sing the next. That went on for about five আরো মিনিট before I got off his lap and started playing with the toy পিয়ানো that was in the room. He zoomed the camera in on my face and ব্যক্ত "you want to be just like just like me when আপনি grow up, don't you?" I ব্যক্ত "yes!"
(Dad paused the video and ব্যক্ত "even back then আপনি knew what আপনি want it to be!" I ব্যক্ত "I still don't see the point in watching this. If anything it's making me আরো depressed! He ব্যক্ত "just give me the benefit of the doubt please! That's all I ask." He switched videotapes and pressed play again as I rolled my eyes.)
Video two:
Dated at the bottom of the screen: February, 2, 1997
We were in a hotel and a woman behind the camera ব্যক্ত "hi AJ!"
(I paused the video and asked dad "who's that holding the camera? I can tell দ্বারা the voice that isn't Grace." He ব্যক্ত "that Debbie. Do আপনি remember her? It's been a long time since you've seen her." I ব্যক্ত "yeah; I remember her. I always wondered why she stopped coming over every few months after Paris was born." He ব্যক্ত "I'm sure that she is very busy but; আপনি will see her again someday!")
I ব্যক্ত "hi; I want to see" while pointing at the camera. She showed me what the camera was filming and then I ran off. The door opened and dad walked inside. He looked at the camera and at Debbie. He asked "you threw away that B – O – T – T – এল-মৃত্যু পত্র – E আপনি found last night, right? I don't want AJ to find it. I'm not ready to go into war all over again!" Debbie ব্যক্ত "yeah; I thought আপনি told me they আপনি through all of those away a long time ago." He ব্যক্ত "I did; I have no idea where she found that one last night! I had to spend 15 মিনিট convincing her to give it to me!"
I came into the room and ব্যক্ত "I want a drink please." He ব্যক্ত "okay; I'll get আপনি one." He went over to the refrigerator and took a রস box out of it. He gave it to me and I threw it on the ground. He ব্যক্ত "you're not getting what I know আপনি want! It's that অথবা nothing; understood?" I got mad and stormed off into the other room and he ব্যক্ত "that's not going to get আপনি anywhere and আপনি know that." Debbie looked at him and asked "is she always this stubborn?" He ব্যক্ত "this is nothing compared to most of her temper tantrums that she throws!" She ব্যক্ত "I really don't know how আপনি deal with that every single day. I wouldn't have the patience for it!" He ব্যক্ত "its way worse when she knows that I want her to do something and she just 100% refuses to do it! That's the oppositional defiance disorder at its worst!
The video ended and dad ব্যক্ত "that video brings back so many memories!" I rolled my eyes and ব্যক্ত "oh gosh; please don't say anything embarrassing! Every time আপনি say that আপনি tell some embarrassing story to me about when I was little!" He ব্যক্ত "right after Debbie was done filming that video…" I ব্যক্ত "dad; if you're going to embarrass me please stop now!" He ব্যক্ত "as I was saying; after she was done filming that video…” I ব্যক্ত "seriously dad; why do আপনি have to be so embarrassing all the time!" He ব্যক্ত "I'm not trying to embarrass আপনি but; I'm just having a hard time accepting that you're growing up." I ব্যক্ত "yeah well; আপনি need to accept it because there's nothing আপনি can do about it! I'm not that two-year-old anymore!" He ব্যক্ত "I think the only thing that needs to be accepted in the fact that you're scared and আপনি don't want to admit it." I ব্যক্ত "I don't know what you're talking about; I'm not scared at all!" He ব্যক্ত "you're scared that at the end of this trial there is a chance that I might not come home. I know you're scared! You're not the only one; Grace is scared and so am I.” I ব্যক্ত "okay dad; can আপনি seriously leave my room now?" He ব্যক্ত "fine but; আপনি can't hide it forever! The longer আপনি keep your feelings inside, the worse it will be in the long run."
February 10, 2005,
I can already tell that this trial is not going to be good on dad's health. He physically drained and all he does is sleep when he gets home. I can honestly say that I've never seen him like this in my entire life. I'm worried that if his trial lasts as long as he thinks it's going to; he is not going to be in the best shape দ্বারা then.
It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon and dad walked through the door dressed in a suit and tie. He sat down on the পালঙ্ক and he just looked so sad. I walked up to him and asked "are আপনি okay dad?" He didn't answer me as tears filled his eyes. I hugged him and ব্যক্ত "it'll be fine! আপনি have to try and stay optimistic about things because that's all আপনি really can do." He ব্যক্ত "I know; I just didn't want it to come to all this!" I ব্যক্ত "I know that this is hard for আপনি and I'm going to do my best to be well-behaved while আপনি are going to all of this! I can't make any promises though because আপনি know how I am!" That made him laugh and he ব্যক্ত "yeah; I have a feeling that won't last very long!"
Grace came into the room and hugged dad. Dad ব্যক্ত "AJ; I promise that I will be the best father that I can possibly be; even with all this going on! Don't worry… I'm not checking out as your father. There is one thing that I would like of আপনি guys though. Grace asked "what's that Michael?" He ব্যক্ত "the সেকেন্ড I walked through that door every day, we make a habit of not talking about the trial. It's easier on me that way! I ব্যক্ত "that's fine with me! I don't like talking about it either, it's depressing." He ব্যক্ত "the only time the three of us will talk about the trial beyond this point is if there is a bad outcome… I doubt and hope that there won't be a bad outcome."
February 16, 2005
Today is the start of the weekend so; dad doesn't have court for a few days. I went upstairs to get something out of my room and when I looked at my Jesse McCartney poster on my দেওয়াল there was a mustache drawn on it. I ran downstairs and ব্যক্ত "you're done for Prince!" Dad ব্যক্ত "wait! What are আপনি talking about?" Prince smiled and ran up to his room. I ব্যক্ত "Prince drew all over my Jesse McCartney poster with a sharpie marker! He's really going to regret doing that in a few minutes!" Dad ব্যক্ত "hey, just calm down; besides I'm not going to let আপনি beat him up on my watch! That's not going to get আপনি anywhere and আপনি know that." I ব্যক্ত "oh I see how it is! You're just going to let him get away with drawing on my poster!" He ব্যক্ত "no; I didn't say that at all! I'll make him buy আপনি a new one with money from his own piggy bank." I ব্যক্ত "he deserves worse than that though!" Dad ব্যক্ত "stop saying stuff like that! He's your brother and আপনি need to be nice to him!"
I ran up to my room and dad followed me. I went to slam the door and he stopped it with his foot. I ripped the poster off my দেওয়াল and sat down on the edge of my bed. He sat down পরবর্তি to me and ব্যক্ত "I'm not leaving here until আপনি calm down. Ever since the trial started; আপনি have been having outbursts. I know exactly what's wrong and আপনি do too but; you're in denial about it!" I ব্যক্ত "I'm not in denial about anything!" He ব্যক্ত "yes আপনি are! You're তিক্ত and angry because you're scared! আপনি need to talk about it because the longer আপনি keep your feelings inside the worse it will be when আপনি finally let them out." I ব্যক্ত "I'm not scared of anything! Will আপনি please leave me alone now! He ব্যক্ত "this isn't about the poster at all; আপনি just want to make it seem like it is!"
After about 20 মিনিট of waiting for me to talk to him, dad ব্যক্ত as he threw his hands up in the air feeling defeated "fine if আপনি don't want to talk to me; then don't! I'm here if আপনি need me but; I'm done trying for now." He left my room and I stood in the doorway listening to a conversation between him and Grace from downstairs. Dad ব্যক্ত "I don't know what else to do! I know all Alanna needs to do is cry! I don't know if she's specifically mad at me অথবা mad at this whole situation in the first place. She won't talk to me about anything. I can tell দ্বারা the look in her eyes that she is absolutely terrified of what's going to happen to me at the end of this trial." Grace asked "have আপনি thought about where the children would end up if আপনি went to prison?" He ব্যক্ত "well; Blanket, Paris, and Prince would live with my mother. I haven't talked to her about the situation with AJ because honestly I don't think she can handle Alanna's ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder!" Grace ব্যক্ত "if I can't handle her there's no way your elderly mother is going to be able to! I mean আপনি yourself can barely deal with her!" He ব্যক্ত "look at how red she turned and that was just because Prince colored on her poster! I'm worried that as AJ gets older it's going to get physical one of these times! He ব্যক্ত "you know that I would never hurt her. I don't care if she hurts me but; when she's that angry it's hard to calm her down before the situation escalates!" Grace ব্যক্ত "I just hope that it never reaches that point!"
March 1, 2005,
I was in the রান্নাঘর of our rental প্রথমপাতা in Los Angeles and dad had just put my brothers and sister to bed. I ব্যক্ত as I put dishes in the sink "I wish that the Jesse McCartney tickets were not sold out when আপনি looked at them when আপনি got প্রথমপাতা today! Are আপনি sure all of the tickets are sold out?" He ব্যক্ত "I promise you; ALL the tickets for the Beautiful Soul tour are gone! You're just going to have to wait until he goes on tour when the পরবর্তি CD comes out. I'm sorry; I really did try to get them for you. Since I had to go to court today, I had Grace go online the সেকেন্ড the tickets went on sale but; দ্বারা the time she filled out the shipping address for the tickets they were all sold out." I ব্যক্ত "well; at least আপনি tried! I hope it doesn't take Jesse too long to come out with a new album."
Dad got up from his chair and walked over to hug me. I ব্যক্ত "I'm going to go listen to my Jesse McCartney CD before I lie down and watch TV until I fall asleep." He ব্যক্ত as I walked up the stairs "I'm sorry AJ… I know how bad আপনি wanted those tickets!" I ব্যক্ত as I shut my bedroom door "it's fine dad; I'm not mad at you. The পরবর্তি tour will definitely be worth the wait!" When dad had told me that he wasn’t able to get any tickets I was crushed inside! I knew it wasn't his fault and that I couldn't act upset because I didn't want to make him feel bad. I guess I'll just have to settle for listening to the CD and staring at my poster for a while.
March 9, 2005,
Dad walked through the door, after another দিন in court and ended up right in the center of an argument between Grace and me. I shouted "I didn't do it so; I shouldn't be on punishment for it!" Grace ব্যক্ত "yes আপনি did do it; I saw you." Dad asked confused "what's going on?" Grace ব্যক্ত "she was hiding video games in her room so Prince couldn't play them. When I caught her taking them out of her dresser, she ব্যক্ত that the games weren't even in the cases and when I looked in them every single game was in its case. Not only did she hide the games from Prince; but she also lied right to my face!" Dad looked at me and ব্যক্ত "you know that one of the things that I just can't tolerate in this house is lying! Go up to your room. No Xbox for a week starting today."
I ran up the stairs and slammed my door. I opened the door back up and yelled down the stairs "you guys are ridiculous! All I did was lie and I can't use the Xbox for a whole week!” Dad walked up to my room and shut the door. He asked with a serious look on his face "do আপনি want to make it two weeks with no Xbox?" I ব্যক্ত "I don't really care at this point!" He ব্যক্ত "alright; then I'll change it to a মাস if আপনি don't care." I ব্যক্ত while in shock "I didn't agree to a whole month; I agreed to two weeks without it!" He ব্যক্ত "that's not how it works! আপনি don't get to pick and choose your punishment. আপনি better stop talking back to me because I'll punish আপনি from using the computer and watching TV!"
I didn't say a word as he left the room and he ব্যক্ত "lose the attitude; neither Grace nor I deserve to hear that!" He shut the door and I turned my TV on. I whispered to myself "they both overreact way too much!" Even though deep down I knew I deserved to be in trouble!" Nine times out of ten I deserve it; whether অথবা not I want to believe it!
March 15, 2005,
Today is my 11th birthday and dad is still at the courthouse but; ব্যক্ত he would be প্রথমপাতা in about 20 minutes. I was downstairs doing my schoolwork and was about to walk down the hallway when Grace ব্যক্ত "no; আপনি can go down there until your dad gets home." I looked at her confused and went back to the রান্নাঘর to sit at the table.
Dad opened the door and up ran to me. He gave me a hug and ব্যক্ত "happy birthday!" I ব্যক্ত "thank you" and I put my বই away on the bookshelf. He ব্যক্ত "come on; let's all watch a movie together in the living room!" The two of us walked into the living room and he shielded my eyes. I asked "why are আপনি covering my eyes?" He moved his hands out of the way and I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing in front of me was a life-size cardboard cutout of Jesse McCartney. I shrieked and ব্যক্ত "oh my gosh; for a সেকেন্ড I thought that was really him; not a cardboard cutout!" Everyone started laughing and dad ব্যক্ত "sit down; I have something else for you!" I sat down on the couch; leaving a মহাকাশ পরবর্তি to me for dad to sit down. He passed me a big box and ব্যক্ত "go ahead and open it!" Whatever was in the box weighed a lot! There must have been a whole roll of tape used on that box. I asked while they all laughed at me struggling to open the box "did আপনি really have to use this much tape on it dad!"
I finally got the box open and the first thing I saw was two rolled up pieces of paper. I took them out and unraveled them. One of them was a new copy of the poster that Prince had drawn on and the other one was a different one of Jesse McCartney that was exactly the same size as the blue one. I ব্যক্ত "thank you" and dad ব্যক্ত "keep going; there's a whole bunch of stuff in there for you!" The পরবর্তি thing I took out was 11 teen magazines like Tiger Beat and Bop. Dad ব্যক্ত "one magazine for each বছর you've been alive! I've been collecting them for about five months now.” One of the bodyguards named Will ব্যক্ত "I've been the one to go buy those magazines and I can't even begin to tell আপনি about some of those awkward looks I get being a grown man buying boy band magazines. It actually makes the cashiers laugh!" We all laughed and I started pulling out something else from the box. I grabbed two Jesse McCartney T-shirts and ব্যক্ত "I'm going to wear these all the time!" One of the shirts ব্যক্ত "Jesse McCartney: beautiful soul tour 2005." Dad ব্যক্ত "since I couldn't get আপনি the tickets; I figured I should buy আপনি the tour T-shirt to try and make up for it!" I ব্যক্ত "at least I can pretend that I got to go to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান when I wear this."
I hugged everyone and thanked them for the gifts. Dad ব্যক্ত "I was so bummed when I couldn't buy আপনি the regular tickets to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because they sold-out so fast!" I ব্যক্ত "that's all right; I know আপনি tried." Dad ব্যক্ত "I wasn't able to get আপনি the tickets আপনি wanted but; I hope what's inside this envelope will at least make waiting for the পরবর্তি tour a little easier." I looked at him confused as he passed me the envelope. I looked inside and there was a folded piece of paper. I took it out and opened it up and dad ব্যক্ত "read the part that I highlighted." I read it out loud "Jesse McCartney VIP experience package." I didn't understand what it was and ব্যক্ত "oh that's cool; আপনি got me another package of Jesse McCartney stuff that's coming in mail." Dad laughed and asked "you don't know what that is?" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; it says right here that it's another Jesse McCartney package." He laughed even harder as he looked at Grace and ব্যক্ত "she really doesn't know what it is!" I ব্যক্ত "alright; what's going on? What's so funny? What is this piece of paper?" Grace ব্যক্ত while gasping for air because she was laughing so hard "its tickets to a Jesse McCartney concert!" My mouth dropped and dad ব্যক্ত "the seats are in the front row!" I was speechless and then he ব্যক্ত "there's one আরো tiny detail that I forgot to mention." I asked "what else could there possibly be?" Blanket, Prince, Paris, and Grace covered their ears. Dad ব্যক্ত "guess what!" I ব্যক্ত "what?" He ব্যক্ত "you're going to meet Jesse McCartney at the concert!!!"
I think the entire family was expecting me to let out an ear piercing scream but; what I did পরবর্তি shocked everyone including me. I started crying uncontrollably and shaking. Once dad realized that I was crying; not screaming, he asked "what's wrong? Why are আপনি crying?" I ব্যক্ত "I'm so happy! I never thought I'd actually get to meet Jesse!" He smiled and hugged me. He looked like he was about to cry because he had never seen me so happy in my life!" Grace removed her hands from her ears and ব্যক্ত "I didn't see that reaction coming at all! আপনি made your tough tomboy cry tears of joy Michael!" Dad ব্যক্ত "I'm glad আপনি like the tickets that much! Are they better in the regular tickets that আপনি originally wanted?" I ব্যক্ত in between sobs "so much better! Thank আপনি so much dad!" He ব্যক্ত as his voice broke from trying to hold back tears "you're welcome! You've got to stop crying though because you're going to make me cry! I knew আপনি wanted the normal tickets badly but; never in 1 million years would I have thought that আপনি would cry because আপনি are so happy!"
After I composed myself; I asked "who's going to take me to the concert?" Grace ব্যক্ত "I will be if your dad has court that দিন but; if he doesn't he is going to take you." Dad ব্যক্ত "now that you've stopped crying I have to tell আপনি this. আপনি better be on your best behavior between now and the দিন of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because if আপনি really do something that I don't like… I'm going to sell those tickets faster than আপনি can say Jesse McCartney! Do আপনি understand that I'm not messing around when I say that? I'm hundred percent serious too! I guarantee আপনি that there is another girl out there that would প্রণয় to meet Jesse also!" I ব্যক্ত "I promise you; I'll be a whole different kid until after the concert! I don't want to lose the tickets! আপনি saw how much they mean to me!" He hugged me and I ব্যক্ত "I'm going to go upstairs and put my two big posters on the walls in my room! Then I'm going to take all the posters out of the magazines আপনি got me and put those ones up also!" As I headed for the stairs; dad ব্যক্ত "don't forget to bring your Jesse cardboard cutout and other stuff upstairs with you." I walked over and grabbed the cutout. I ব্যক্ত "you're going to have to help me carry the T-shirts and magazines to my room because my hands are kind of full!" Dad tossed the two T-shirts, two big posters, and 11 magazines on my বিছানা with a brand-new roll of tape and a pair of scissors. He shut the door behind him as he left and I pressed play on my "Jesse McCartney: beautiful soul" CD that was in my CD player. The first track "beautiful soul" started and I moved my cardboard cutout to a corner of my bedroom. Out of all the posters I got there was a total of 23 Jesse McCartney posters that I now have up on the walls of my bedroom! I think it's so funny when dad walks দ্বারা my room and he gets startled দ্বারা my cardboard cutout of Jesse because it really looks like he's standing in my room! This is দ্বারা far the best birthday I've never had… It's going to be hard for dad to শীর্ষ this one!
May 14, 2005,
I was chasing Prince around the house and dad walked through the door. Dad ব্যক্ত "AJ; I need আপনি to empty the dishwasher please." I ব্যক্ত "I don't want to." He ব্যক্ত "I wasn't asking you; I'm telling আপনি to please empty the dishwasher for me." I grabbed the Xbox controller from Prince and dad ব্যক্ত "I know আপনি heard me AJ." I jumped over the back of the পালঙ্ক and switched the batteries out of the controller. Dad looked at me and ব্যক্ত "remember what I ব্যক্ত about the Jesse McCartney tickets! আপনি better do what I told আপনি to do অথবা I'm going to take them away from you!" I got a worried look on my face as I ran over to the dishwasher and started taking dishes out of it. He ব্যক্ত "that's what I thought!!"
After I was done unloading the dishwasher, dad ব্যক্ত "thank you; আপনি need to go outside and take your bicycle and সরানো it out of the way because it's laying in the driveway and I don't want to have to buy আপনি a new one. Someone could easily run it over!" I was about to say something when he raised his eyebrows and ব্যক্ত "don't forget about the Jesse McCartney concert." I immediately ran outside and moved my bicycle out of the way. I came back inside and Grace ব্যক্ত "I think that's the first time that AJ has done something without putting up a fight!"
I went upstairs to my room and about 20 মিনিট later dad came in. He ব্যক্ত as he sat down on the edge of my বিছানা "I just wanted to let আপনি know that on June 15, the jury in my court case will decide whether they think I'm innocent অথবা guilty." I ব্যক্ত "I hope they come to their senses; it's obvious that Gavin is lying and I will be really mad if আপনি get sent to jail because of him!" He ব্যক্ত "I know; আপনি just have to think as positively as possible and hope for the best." I ব্যক্ত "alright; I প্রণয় আপনি dad, I'm going to go to বিছানা now." He ব্যক্ত "I প্রণয় আপনি আরো and I'll see আপনি tomorrow afternoon when I get home." He kissed my forehead and shut off the light as he passed me the remote to my TV.
June 15, 2005,
Today's the দিন that we find out if dad is going to prison অথবা not. Grace put a ডিজনি movie on in Blanket's bedroom to occupy my siblings. Grace and I went into the living room and put it on the channel that will be announcing the verdict on dad's case. It seemed like it took forever to get to the point where the jury had come to their decision. Finally; a woman walked outside the courthouse and ব্যক্ত "we the jury in the above entitled case find the defendant, Michael Joseph Jackson…" I whispered to myself "come on; lady hurry up!" The woman ব্যক্ত "not guilty on all accounts!" Grace hugged me and I ব্যক্ত "he's coming home!"
10 মিনিট later, I heard the front door open and dad walked through it. I turned around, jumped over the back of the couch, and literally jumped into his arms. The both of us just started crying and he didn't even care that he was carrying me. I must've been heavy for him but; he didn't even notice. I ব্যক্ত "don't ever scare me like that again!" All the emotions that I had been holding back for the entire trial just poured out right then and there! He wiped the tears off of my face and put me down on the counter top. He ব্যক্ত "trust me; I'm not going to let anything like that happen again!" Blanket, Prince, and Paris came out into the living room to see what was going on. Dad hugged all three of them and blanket asked "why were আপনি guys crying?" Dad ব্যক্ত "never mind that; let's go watch a movie!"
While I was getting ready for bed; dad walked into my room and ব্যক্ত "you must be excited for this weekend!" I looked at him confused and asked "why? What's this weekend?" He ব্যক্ত "you forgot… It's the Jesse McCartney concert!" I ব্যক্ত "oh yeah; so আপনি have your disguise that you're going to wear when আপনি take me to the concert?" He ব্যক্ত "I'm just going to wear a really dark সোয়েটার and big sunglasses with a pair of faded jeans… No one will suspect that I would wear something like that!"
June 17, 2005,
I rushed to put on one of my Jesse McCartney shirts and dad and I ran out to the car. I had spiked my short blonde hair were some gel and dad sat in the drivers আসন of the Rolls-Royce. This was one of the few times that my dad had driven us himself, instead of bringing a bodyguard along to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because he didn't want to blow his disguise. I could barely contain my excitement as we pulled up to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান arena. Dad passed me a VIP lanyard and I put it around my neck. He put his on and we got out of the car.
"
We gave one of the staff members our tickets and he ব্যক্ত "all VIP concertgoers need to line up over there. There is a guide that will take আপনি where আপনি need to be." We walked over and I was surprised that there was only a small group of অনুরাগী that would also be meeting Jesse. Then the guy brought us to a big room and we waited for Jesse to প্রদর্শনী up.
Jesse walked into the room about 40 feet away from the crowd of fans. I placed myself at the end of the line. When he finally got to me he whispered "hi Michael; it's nice to see আপনি again!" Jesse looked down at me and ব্যক্ত "you must be AJ!" I stuttered and ব্যক্ত "hi Jesse, I প্রণয় you!" Jessie ব্যক্ত "your dad told me that আপনি have a bunch posters of me in your room!" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; every time I see a magazine with আপনি on the cover I buy it! I প্রণয় watching আপনি on "summerland" that's my পছন্দ show." He passed me a poster he signed and ব্যক্ত "that's for you!" I ব্যক্ত "thanks; I প্রণয় it!" He ব্যক্ত "of course; anything for my number one fan. The security guards are telling me that I have to go get ready for the প্রদর্শনী now; I hope আপনি enjoy it!" Dad ব্যক্ত "wait one second; I've got to take a picture of the two together before আপনি leave!" Jessie ব্যক্ত "you can hug me if আপনি want to!" I hugged him and ব্যক্ত goodbye after dad the picture.
Dad and I made it to our front row seats just as they started rolling the introduction video. The Jumbotron read "get ready… 10, 9, scream, 8, 7, I can't hear you, 6, 5, it's time for, 4, 3, 2, 1… Jesse McCartney!" Jesse came on the stage and sang each song from his album. Then Jesse brought a girl that was in a wheelchair on stage and sang "take your sweet time" to her. That was dad's পছন্দ part of the concert, just knowing that there is still a lot of যশস্বী out there that care about helping those in need as much is he does. My পছন্দ part of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান was definitely getting to meet Jesse. This is the best দিন of my life so far. I will never forget this day! Thank আপনি so much dad only
January 30, 2005,
Tomorrow, the people versus Michael Jackson criminal trial begins and I am the only one out of us kids that knows what is going on. Dad had made me promise him that I wouldn't tell Prince, Paris, and Blanket what's going on because he doesn't want to scare them. It's really hard on me keeping such a big secret because underneath my fearless personality; I'm really scared! I do a pretty good job of hiding it though.
We are back in Los Angeles and are staying in a temporary rental house until the trial is over. I went down the hallway and into the living room. I sat down and turned on my Game Boy. Dad came into the room with Prince, Paris, and Blanket following him. I ব্যক্ত "when he আপনি guys doing?" He ব্যক্ত "nothing much" and sat down পরবর্তি to me on the couch. Prince sat down on the other side of me and asked "what are আপনি playing?" I ব্যক্ত "Pokémon Ruby" and turned the power off. Dad asked "are আপনি sure that আপনি don't have anything on your mind AJ?" I ব্যক্ত as I went up to my room "yes dad; for the millionth time I'm fine!" He ব্যক্ত "okay; I just wanted to make sure that you're okay with everything that's going on."
I shut the door and lay down on my bed. I flipped through the TV channels and change the channel to Nickelodeon. I took a deep breath and ব্যক্ত to myself "I can't believe everything that's gone on in this past বছর and it's all because of stupidity!" I opened up my dresser drawer and pulled out a ছবি album of pictures. Most of them taken a few months before Prince was born. As I flipped through the pages; I smiled at pictures of dad and I when I was just a few months away from turning three years old. I could hear Prince talking with Grace on the other side of my door and then I heard dad say "bye children, I'll see আপনি in about four hours!"
He knocked on my door and asked "can I come in and spend the time with আপনি for a while?" I ব্যক্ত "yeah sure." He walked in and sat down on the bed. He dropped a big box in front of me and ব্যক্ত "look what I found!" I looked inside and it was filled to the very শীর্ষ in old VHS tapes. I asked "what do আপনি have all of these for?" He ব্যক্ত "it's a whole bunch of প্রথমপাতা চলচ্চিত্র from when আপনি were little and I thought আপনি and I could watch them together. It might help get your mind off of things!" I was reluctant and he ব্যক্ত "just watch a few at first… I'm telling আপনি that it will make আপনি feel better. Don't try to tell me that আপনি aren't stressed out because I know আপনি are! I always know when আপনি are!" I asked "how did আপনি know?" He ব্যক্ত "I just know when my baby isn't doing well. It's part of being a dad." I rolled my eyes and ব্যক্ত "dad; I'm almost 11 years old, I'm not a baby anymore!" He ব্যক্ত "you may be getting older but you'll always be my baby!"
He put a videotape in the VCR and pressed the play button.
Video one:
Dated at the bottom of the screen: January, 8, 1996
We were in the living room at Neverland ranch and I was sitting on dad's lap. He started গান গাওয়া "champion" দ্বারা Queen. He would sing one lyric and I would sing the next. That went on for about five আরো মিনিট before I got off his lap and started playing with the toy পিয়ানো that was in the room. He zoomed the camera in on my face and ব্যক্ত "you want to be just like just like me when আপনি grow up, don't you?" I ব্যক্ত "yes!"
(Dad paused the video and ব্যক্ত "even back then আপনি knew what আপনি want it to be!" I ব্যক্ত "I still don't see the point in watching this. If anything it's making me আরো depressed! He ব্যক্ত "just give me the benefit of the doubt please! That's all I ask." He switched videotapes and pressed play again as I rolled my eyes.)
Video two:
Dated at the bottom of the screen: February, 2, 1997
We were in a hotel and a woman behind the camera ব্যক্ত "hi AJ!"
(I paused the video and asked dad "who's that holding the camera? I can tell দ্বারা the voice that isn't Grace." He ব্যক্ত "that Debbie. Do আপনি remember her? It's been a long time since you've seen her." I ব্যক্ত "yeah; I remember her. I always wondered why she stopped coming over every few months after Paris was born." He ব্যক্ত "I'm sure that she is very busy but; আপনি will see her again someday!")
I ব্যক্ত "hi; I want to see" while pointing at the camera. She showed me what the camera was filming and then I ran off. The door opened and dad walked inside. He looked at the camera and at Debbie. He asked "you threw away that B – O – T – T – এল-মৃত্যু পত্র – E আপনি found last night, right? I don't want AJ to find it. I'm not ready to go into war all over again!" Debbie ব্যক্ত "yeah; I thought আপনি told me they আপনি through all of those away a long time ago." He ব্যক্ত "I did; I have no idea where she found that one last night! I had to spend 15 মিনিট convincing her to give it to me!"
I came into the room and ব্যক্ত "I want a drink please." He ব্যক্ত "okay; I'll get আপনি one." He went over to the refrigerator and took a রস box out of it. He gave it to me and I threw it on the ground. He ব্যক্ত "you're not getting what I know আপনি want! It's that অথবা nothing; understood?" I got mad and stormed off into the other room and he ব্যক্ত "that's not going to get আপনি anywhere and আপনি know that." Debbie looked at him and asked "is she always this stubborn?" He ব্যক্ত "this is nothing compared to most of her temper tantrums that she throws!" She ব্যক্ত "I really don't know how আপনি deal with that every single day. I wouldn't have the patience for it!" He ব্যক্ত "its way worse when she knows that I want her to do something and she just 100% refuses to do it! That's the oppositional defiance disorder at its worst!
The video ended and dad ব্যক্ত "that video brings back so many memories!" I rolled my eyes and ব্যক্ত "oh gosh; please don't say anything embarrassing! Every time আপনি say that আপনি tell some embarrassing story to me about when I was little!" He ব্যক্ত "right after Debbie was done filming that video…" I ব্যক্ত "dad; if you're going to embarrass me please stop now!" He ব্যক্ত "as I was saying; after she was done filming that video…” I ব্যক্ত "seriously dad; why do আপনি have to be so embarrassing all the time!" He ব্যক্ত "I'm not trying to embarrass আপনি but; I'm just having a hard time accepting that you're growing up." I ব্যক্ত "yeah well; আপনি need to accept it because there's nothing আপনি can do about it! I'm not that two-year-old anymore!" He ব্যক্ত "I think the only thing that needs to be accepted in the fact that you're scared and আপনি don't want to admit it." I ব্যক্ত "I don't know what you're talking about; I'm not scared at all!" He ব্যক্ত "you're scared that at the end of this trial there is a chance that I might not come home. I know you're scared! You're not the only one; Grace is scared and so am I.” I ব্যক্ত "okay dad; can আপনি seriously leave my room now?" He ব্যক্ত "fine but; আপনি can't hide it forever! The longer আপনি keep your feelings inside, the worse it will be in the long run."
February 10, 2005,
I can already tell that this trial is not going to be good on dad's health. He physically drained and all he does is sleep when he gets home. I can honestly say that I've never seen him like this in my entire life. I'm worried that if his trial lasts as long as he thinks it's going to; he is not going to be in the best shape দ্বারা then.
It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon and dad walked through the door dressed in a suit and tie. He sat down on the পালঙ্ক and he just looked so sad. I walked up to him and asked "are আপনি okay dad?" He didn't answer me as tears filled his eyes. I hugged him and ব্যক্ত "it'll be fine! আপনি have to try and stay optimistic about things because that's all আপনি really can do." He ব্যক্ত "I know; I just didn't want it to come to all this!" I ব্যক্ত "I know that this is hard for আপনি and I'm going to do my best to be well-behaved while আপনি are going to all of this! I can't make any promises though because আপনি know how I am!" That made him laugh and he ব্যক্ত "yeah; I have a feeling that won't last very long!"
Grace came into the room and hugged dad. Dad ব্যক্ত "AJ; I promise that I will be the best father that I can possibly be; even with all this going on! Don't worry… I'm not checking out as your father. There is one thing that I would like of আপনি guys though. Grace asked "what's that Michael?" He ব্যক্ত "the সেকেন্ড I walked through that door every day, we make a habit of not talking about the trial. It's easier on me that way! I ব্যক্ত "that's fine with me! I don't like talking about it either, it's depressing." He ব্যক্ত "the only time the three of us will talk about the trial beyond this point is if there is a bad outcome… I doubt and hope that there won't be a bad outcome."
February 16, 2005
Today is the start of the weekend so; dad doesn't have court for a few days. I went upstairs to get something out of my room and when I looked at my Jesse McCartney poster on my দেওয়াল there was a mustache drawn on it. I ran downstairs and ব্যক্ত "you're done for Prince!" Dad ব্যক্ত "wait! What are আপনি talking about?" Prince smiled and ran up to his room. I ব্যক্ত "Prince drew all over my Jesse McCartney poster with a sharpie marker! He's really going to regret doing that in a few minutes!" Dad ব্যক্ত "hey, just calm down; besides I'm not going to let আপনি beat him up on my watch! That's not going to get আপনি anywhere and আপনি know that." I ব্যক্ত "oh I see how it is! You're just going to let him get away with drawing on my poster!" He ব্যক্ত "no; I didn't say that at all! I'll make him buy আপনি a new one with money from his own piggy bank." I ব্যক্ত "he deserves worse than that though!" Dad ব্যক্ত "stop saying stuff like that! He's your brother and আপনি need to be nice to him!"
I ran up to my room and dad followed me. I went to slam the door and he stopped it with his foot. I ripped the poster off my দেওয়াল and sat down on the edge of my bed. He sat down পরবর্তি to me and ব্যক্ত "I'm not leaving here until আপনি calm down. Ever since the trial started; আপনি have been having outbursts. I know exactly what's wrong and আপনি do too but; you're in denial about it!" I ব্যক্ত "I'm not in denial about anything!" He ব্যক্ত "yes আপনি are! You're তিক্ত and angry because you're scared! আপনি need to talk about it because the longer আপনি keep your feelings inside the worse it will be when আপনি finally let them out." I ব্যক্ত "I'm not scared of anything! Will আপনি please leave me alone now! He ব্যক্ত "this isn't about the poster at all; আপনি just want to make it seem like it is!"
After about 20 মিনিট of waiting for me to talk to him, dad ব্যক্ত as he threw his hands up in the air feeling defeated "fine if আপনি don't want to talk to me; then don't! I'm here if আপনি need me but; I'm done trying for now." He left my room and I stood in the doorway listening to a conversation between him and Grace from downstairs. Dad ব্যক্ত "I don't know what else to do! I know all Alanna needs to do is cry! I don't know if she's specifically mad at me অথবা mad at this whole situation in the first place. She won't talk to me about anything. I can tell দ্বারা the look in her eyes that she is absolutely terrified of what's going to happen to me at the end of this trial." Grace asked "have আপনি thought about where the children would end up if আপনি went to prison?" He ব্যক্ত "well; Blanket, Paris, and Prince would live with my mother. I haven't talked to her about the situation with AJ because honestly I don't think she can handle Alanna's ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder!" Grace ব্যক্ত "if I can't handle her there's no way your elderly mother is going to be able to! I mean আপনি yourself can barely deal with her!" He ব্যক্ত "look at how red she turned and that was just because Prince colored on her poster! I'm worried that as AJ gets older it's going to get physical one of these times! He ব্যক্ত "you know that I would never hurt her. I don't care if she hurts me but; when she's that angry it's hard to calm her down before the situation escalates!" Grace ব্যক্ত "I just hope that it never reaches that point!"
March 1, 2005,
I was in the রান্নাঘর of our rental প্রথমপাতা in Los Angeles and dad had just put my brothers and sister to bed. I ব্যক্ত as I put dishes in the sink "I wish that the Jesse McCartney tickets were not sold out when আপনি looked at them when আপনি got প্রথমপাতা today! Are আপনি sure all of the tickets are sold out?" He ব্যক্ত "I promise you; ALL the tickets for the Beautiful Soul tour are gone! You're just going to have to wait until he goes on tour when the পরবর্তি CD comes out. I'm sorry; I really did try to get them for you. Since I had to go to court today, I had Grace go online the সেকেন্ড the tickets went on sale but; দ্বারা the time she filled out the shipping address for the tickets they were all sold out." I ব্যক্ত "well; at least আপনি tried! I hope it doesn't take Jesse too long to come out with a new album."
Dad got up from his chair and walked over to hug me. I ব্যক্ত "I'm going to go listen to my Jesse McCartney CD before I lie down and watch TV until I fall asleep." He ব্যক্ত as I walked up the stairs "I'm sorry AJ… I know how bad আপনি wanted those tickets!" I ব্যক্ত as I shut my bedroom door "it's fine dad; I'm not mad at you. The পরবর্তি tour will definitely be worth the wait!" When dad had told me that he wasn’t able to get any tickets I was crushed inside! I knew it wasn't his fault and that I couldn't act upset because I didn't want to make him feel bad. I guess I'll just have to settle for listening to the CD and staring at my poster for a while.
March 9, 2005,
Dad walked through the door, after another দিন in court and ended up right in the center of an argument between Grace and me. I shouted "I didn't do it so; I shouldn't be on punishment for it!" Grace ব্যক্ত "yes আপনি did do it; I saw you." Dad asked confused "what's going on?" Grace ব্যক্ত "she was hiding video games in her room so Prince couldn't play them. When I caught her taking them out of her dresser, she ব্যক্ত that the games weren't even in the cases and when I looked in them every single game was in its case. Not only did she hide the games from Prince; but she also lied right to my face!" Dad looked at me and ব্যক্ত "you know that one of the things that I just can't tolerate in this house is lying! Go up to your room. No Xbox for a week starting today."
I ran up the stairs and slammed my door. I opened the door back up and yelled down the stairs "you guys are ridiculous! All I did was lie and I can't use the Xbox for a whole week!” Dad walked up to my room and shut the door. He asked with a serious look on his face "do আপনি want to make it two weeks with no Xbox?" I ব্যক্ত "I don't really care at this point!" He ব্যক্ত "alright; then I'll change it to a মাস if আপনি don't care." I ব্যক্ত while in shock "I didn't agree to a whole month; I agreed to two weeks without it!" He ব্যক্ত "that's not how it works! আপনি don't get to pick and choose your punishment. আপনি better stop talking back to me because I'll punish আপনি from using the computer and watching TV!"
I didn't say a word as he left the room and he ব্যক্ত "lose the attitude; neither Grace nor I deserve to hear that!" He shut the door and I turned my TV on. I whispered to myself "they both overreact way too much!" Even though deep down I knew I deserved to be in trouble!" Nine times out of ten I deserve it; whether অথবা not I want to believe it!
March 15, 2005,
Today is my 11th birthday and dad is still at the courthouse but; ব্যক্ত he would be প্রথমপাতা in about 20 minutes. I was downstairs doing my schoolwork and was about to walk down the hallway when Grace ব্যক্ত "no; আপনি can go down there until your dad gets home." I looked at her confused and went back to the রান্নাঘর to sit at the table.
Dad opened the door and up ran to me. He gave me a hug and ব্যক্ত "happy birthday!" I ব্যক্ত "thank you" and I put my বই away on the bookshelf. He ব্যক্ত "come on; let's all watch a movie together in the living room!" The two of us walked into the living room and he shielded my eyes. I asked "why are আপনি covering my eyes?" He moved his hands out of the way and I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing in front of me was a life-size cardboard cutout of Jesse McCartney. I shrieked and ব্যক্ত "oh my gosh; for a সেকেন্ড I thought that was really him; not a cardboard cutout!" Everyone started laughing and dad ব্যক্ত "sit down; I have something else for you!" I sat down on the couch; leaving a মহাকাশ পরবর্তি to me for dad to sit down. He passed me a big box and ব্যক্ত "go ahead and open it!" Whatever was in the box weighed a lot! There must have been a whole roll of tape used on that box. I asked while they all laughed at me struggling to open the box "did আপনি really have to use this much tape on it dad!"
I finally got the box open and the first thing I saw was two rolled up pieces of paper. I took them out and unraveled them. One of them was a new copy of the poster that Prince had drawn on and the other one was a different one of Jesse McCartney that was exactly the same size as the blue one. I ব্যক্ত "thank you" and dad ব্যক্ত "keep going; there's a whole bunch of stuff in there for you!" The পরবর্তি thing I took out was 11 teen magazines like Tiger Beat and Bop. Dad ব্যক্ত "one magazine for each বছর you've been alive! I've been collecting them for about five months now.” One of the bodyguards named Will ব্যক্ত "I've been the one to go buy those magazines and I can't even begin to tell আপনি about some of those awkward looks I get being a grown man buying boy band magazines. It actually makes the cashiers laugh!" We all laughed and I started pulling out something else from the box. I grabbed two Jesse McCartney T-shirts and ব্যক্ত "I'm going to wear these all the time!" One of the shirts ব্যক্ত "Jesse McCartney: beautiful soul tour 2005." Dad ব্যক্ত "since I couldn't get আপনি the tickets; I figured I should buy আপনি the tour T-shirt to try and make up for it!" I ব্যক্ত "at least I can pretend that I got to go to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান when I wear this."
I hugged everyone and thanked them for the gifts. Dad ব্যক্ত "I was so bummed when I couldn't buy আপনি the regular tickets to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because they sold-out so fast!" I ব্যক্ত "that's all right; I know আপনি tried." Dad ব্যক্ত "I wasn't able to get আপনি the tickets আপনি wanted but; I hope what's inside this envelope will at least make waiting for the পরবর্তি tour a little easier." I looked at him confused as he passed me the envelope. I looked inside and there was a folded piece of paper. I took it out and opened it up and dad ব্যক্ত "read the part that I highlighted." I read it out loud "Jesse McCartney VIP experience package." I didn't understand what it was and ব্যক্ত "oh that's cool; আপনি got me another package of Jesse McCartney stuff that's coming in mail." Dad laughed and asked "you don't know what that is?" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; it says right here that it's another Jesse McCartney package." He laughed even harder as he looked at Grace and ব্যক্ত "she really doesn't know what it is!" I ব্যক্ত "alright; what's going on? What's so funny? What is this piece of paper?" Grace ব্যক্ত while gasping for air because she was laughing so hard "its tickets to a Jesse McCartney concert!" My mouth dropped and dad ব্যক্ত "the seats are in the front row!" I was speechless and then he ব্যক্ত "there's one আরো tiny detail that I forgot to mention." I asked "what else could there possibly be?" Blanket, Prince, Paris, and Grace covered their ears. Dad ব্যক্ত "guess what!" I ব্যক্ত "what?" He ব্যক্ত "you're going to meet Jesse McCartney at the concert!!!"
I think the entire family was expecting me to let out an ear piercing scream but; what I did পরবর্তি shocked everyone including me. I started crying uncontrollably and shaking. Once dad realized that I was crying; not screaming, he asked "what's wrong? Why are আপনি crying?" I ব্যক্ত "I'm so happy! I never thought I'd actually get to meet Jesse!" He smiled and hugged me. He looked like he was about to cry because he had never seen me so happy in my life!" Grace removed her hands from her ears and ব্যক্ত "I didn't see that reaction coming at all! আপনি made your tough tomboy cry tears of joy Michael!" Dad ব্যক্ত "I'm glad আপনি like the tickets that much! Are they better in the regular tickets that আপনি originally wanted?" I ব্যক্ত in between sobs "so much better! Thank আপনি so much dad!" He ব্যক্ত as his voice broke from trying to hold back tears "you're welcome! You've got to stop crying though because you're going to make me cry! I knew আপনি wanted the normal tickets badly but; never in 1 million years would I have thought that আপনি would cry because আপনি are so happy!"
After I composed myself; I asked "who's going to take me to the concert?" Grace ব্যক্ত "I will be if your dad has court that দিন but; if he doesn't he is going to take you." Dad ব্যক্ত "now that you've stopped crying I have to tell আপনি this. আপনি better be on your best behavior between now and the দিন of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because if আপনি really do something that I don't like… I'm going to sell those tickets faster than আপনি can say Jesse McCartney! Do আপনি understand that I'm not messing around when I say that? I'm hundred percent serious too! I guarantee আপনি that there is another girl out there that would প্রণয় to meet Jesse also!" I ব্যক্ত "I promise you; I'll be a whole different kid until after the concert! I don't want to lose the tickets! আপনি saw how much they mean to me!" He hugged me and I ব্যক্ত "I'm going to go upstairs and put my two big posters on the walls in my room! Then I'm going to take all the posters out of the magazines আপনি got me and put those ones up also!" As I headed for the stairs; dad ব্যক্ত "don't forget to bring your Jesse cardboard cutout and other stuff upstairs with you." I walked over and grabbed the cutout. I ব্যক্ত "you're going to have to help me carry the T-shirts and magazines to my room because my hands are kind of full!" Dad tossed the two T-shirts, two big posters, and 11 magazines on my বিছানা with a brand-new roll of tape and a pair of scissors. He shut the door behind him as he left and I pressed play on my "Jesse McCartney: beautiful soul" CD that was in my CD player. The first track "beautiful soul" started and I moved my cardboard cutout to a corner of my bedroom. Out of all the posters I got there was a total of 23 Jesse McCartney posters that I now have up on the walls of my bedroom! I think it's so funny when dad walks দ্বারা my room and he gets startled দ্বারা my cardboard cutout of Jesse because it really looks like he's standing in my room! This is দ্বারা far the best birthday I've never had… It's going to be hard for dad to শীর্ষ this one!
May 14, 2005,
I was chasing Prince around the house and dad walked through the door. Dad ব্যক্ত "AJ; I need আপনি to empty the dishwasher please." I ব্যক্ত "I don't want to." He ব্যক্ত "I wasn't asking you; I'm telling আপনি to please empty the dishwasher for me." I grabbed the Xbox controller from Prince and dad ব্যক্ত "I know আপনি heard me AJ." I jumped over the back of the পালঙ্ক and switched the batteries out of the controller. Dad looked at me and ব্যক্ত "remember what I ব্যক্ত about the Jesse McCartney tickets! আপনি better do what I told আপনি to do অথবা I'm going to take them away from you!" I got a worried look on my face as I ran over to the dishwasher and started taking dishes out of it. He ব্যক্ত "that's what I thought!!"
After I was done unloading the dishwasher, dad ব্যক্ত "thank you; আপনি need to go outside and take your bicycle and সরানো it out of the way because it's laying in the driveway and I don't want to have to buy আপনি a new one. Someone could easily run it over!" I was about to say something when he raised his eyebrows and ব্যক্ত "don't forget about the Jesse McCartney concert." I immediately ran outside and moved my bicycle out of the way. I came back inside and Grace ব্যক্ত "I think that's the first time that AJ has done something without putting up a fight!"
I went upstairs to my room and about 20 মিনিট later dad came in. He ব্যক্ত as he sat down on the edge of my বিছানা "I just wanted to let আপনি know that on June 15, the jury in my court case will decide whether they think I'm innocent অথবা guilty." I ব্যক্ত "I hope they come to their senses; it's obvious that Gavin is lying and I will be really mad if আপনি get sent to jail because of him!" He ব্যক্ত "I know; আপনি just have to think as positively as possible and hope for the best." I ব্যক্ত "alright; I প্রণয় আপনি dad, I'm going to go to বিছানা now." He ব্যক্ত "I প্রণয় আপনি আরো and I'll see আপনি tomorrow afternoon when I get home." He kissed my forehead and shut off the light as he passed me the remote to my TV.
June 15, 2005,
Today's the দিন that we find out if dad is going to prison অথবা not. Grace put a ডিজনি movie on in Blanket's bedroom to occupy my siblings. Grace and I went into the living room and put it on the channel that will be announcing the verdict on dad's case. It seemed like it took forever to get to the point where the jury had come to their decision. Finally; a woman walked outside the courthouse and ব্যক্ত "we the jury in the above entitled case find the defendant, Michael Joseph Jackson…" I whispered to myself "come on; lady hurry up!" The woman ব্যক্ত "not guilty on all accounts!" Grace hugged me and I ব্যক্ত "he's coming home!"
10 মিনিট later, I heard the front door open and dad walked through it. I turned around, jumped over the back of the couch, and literally jumped into his arms. The both of us just started crying and he didn't even care that he was carrying me. I must've been heavy for him but; he didn't even notice. I ব্যক্ত "don't ever scare me like that again!" All the emotions that I had been holding back for the entire trial just poured out right then and there! He wiped the tears off of my face and put me down on the counter top. He ব্যক্ত "trust me; I'm not going to let anything like that happen again!" Blanket, Prince, and Paris came out into the living room to see what was going on. Dad hugged all three of them and blanket asked "why were আপনি guys crying?" Dad ব্যক্ত "never mind that; let's go watch a movie!"
While I was getting ready for bed; dad walked into my room and ব্যক্ত "you must be excited for this weekend!" I looked at him confused and asked "why? What's this weekend?" He ব্যক্ত "you forgot… It's the Jesse McCartney concert!" I ব্যক্ত "oh yeah; so আপনি have your disguise that you're going to wear when আপনি take me to the concert?" He ব্যক্ত "I'm just going to wear a really dark সোয়েটার and big sunglasses with a pair of faded jeans… No one will suspect that I would wear something like that!"
June 17, 2005,
I rushed to put on one of my Jesse McCartney shirts and dad and I ran out to the car. I had spiked my short blonde hair were some gel and dad sat in the drivers আসন of the Rolls-Royce. This was one of the few times that my dad had driven us himself, instead of bringing a bodyguard along to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান because he didn't want to blow his disguise. I could barely contain my excitement as we pulled up to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান arena. Dad passed me a VIP lanyard and I put it around my neck. He put his on and we got out of the car.
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We gave one of the staff members our tickets and he ব্যক্ত "all VIP concertgoers need to line up over there. There is a guide that will take আপনি where আপনি need to be." We walked over and I was surprised that there was only a small group of অনুরাগী that would also be meeting Jesse. Then the guy brought us to a big room and we waited for Jesse to প্রদর্শনী up.
Jesse walked into the room about 40 feet away from the crowd of fans. I placed myself at the end of the line. When he finally got to me he whispered "hi Michael; it's nice to see আপনি again!" Jesse looked down at me and ব্যক্ত "you must be AJ!" I stuttered and ব্যক্ত "hi Jesse, I প্রণয় you!" Jessie ব্যক্ত "your dad told me that আপনি have a bunch posters of me in your room!" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; every time I see a magazine with আপনি on the cover I buy it! I প্রণয় watching আপনি on "summerland" that's my পছন্দ show." He passed me a poster he signed and ব্যক্ত "that's for you!" I ব্যক্ত "thanks; I প্রণয় it!" He ব্যক্ত "of course; anything for my number one fan. The security guards are telling me that I have to go get ready for the প্রদর্শনী now; I hope আপনি enjoy it!" Dad ব্যক্ত "wait one second; I've got to take a picture of the two together before আপনি leave!" Jessie ব্যক্ত "you can hug me if আপনি want to!" I hugged him and ব্যক্ত goodbye after dad the picture.
Dad and I made it to our front row seats just as they started rolling the introduction video. The Jumbotron read "get ready… 10, 9, scream, 8, 7, I can't hear you, 6, 5, it's time for, 4, 3, 2, 1… Jesse McCartney!" Jesse came on the stage and sang each song from his album. Then Jesse brought a girl that was in a wheelchair on stage and sang "take your sweet time" to her. That was dad's পছন্দ part of the concert, just knowing that there is still a lot of যশস্বী out there that care about helping those in need as much is he does. My পছন্দ part of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান was definitely getting to meet Jesse. This is the best দিন of my life so far. I will never forget this day! Thank আপনি so much dad only