Chapter 7

January 13, 2000,

I was hanging out with dad in his recording studio at the ranch. He paused the track that he was working on and had the chef bring us some food. The chef knocked on the door and dad let him inside. He brought us each an egg サラダ サンドイッチ and went back to the main house. Dad came over and sat down across from me at the small 表, テーブル that was there.

I 発言しました "daddy I want to be just like あなた when I grow up!" He asked "you do? In what way do あなた want to be like me?" I 発言しました "well; I want to be a singer and a dancer who is famous just like you!" He 発言しました "yeah; it can be awesome but; there are a lot of hard things that go along with it!" I asked "like what?" He 発言しました "I don't want to say too much right now because you're still too young to understand but; I will say that there are a lot of sneaky people out there that will take advantage of what あなた do!" I 発言しました "I also want to be a good person like あなた are and give money to people in need!" He 発言しました "you need to make sure that あなた always put others before yourself." I 発言しました "I will try not to be selfish!"

I remember that 日 like it was yesterday, I remember just staring at dad as he stood in the sound booth recording a song. I think the song he was recording was "butterflies." I just thought of how cool and amazing dad was in that moment. I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do for a career. I also know that there is no possible way that dad is going to let me become a musician before my childhood is over so; I'll have to wait quite a few years before I get my chance in the spotlight. I'm fine with that right now because I'm enjoying being a kid. If and when dad does give me the chance to prove myself as a valid artist… I don't think I could've ended up with a better mentor than my dad himself because he's been doing this for years!

January 31, 2000,

Dad was just walking through the door after having a meeting about when to launch his new album "invincible." Grace, Prince, and Paris were in the living room when dad asked "where's AJ at?" Grace 発言しました "I think she's upstairs in her room." He walked upstairs and into my bedroom. I was sitting on the ベッド looking down and 発言しました "oh no daddy!" He asked "what's wrong sweetheart?" I 発言しました frantically "I brush my teeth every 日 I promise!" He asked with a puzzled look on his face "what are あなた talking about?" I looked up at him and smiled. One of my teeth had fallen out and dad 発言しました "that's okay; they're supposed to fall out!" I asked "they are?" He 発言しました "yes; they fall out so your adult ones can come in. After those come in; if they start to fall out then あなた can worry!" I 発言しました "I can put it under my 枕 and the tooth fairy will come!"

Later that night that's exactly what I did and when I woke up in the morning there was five dollars under my pillow. I was so excited that I kept trying to make my other teeth fall out so I could get the money faster. Dad was laughing so hard because I even tried to tie a string around my tooth and pull it out によって slamming a door on the string!

February 10, 2000,

Yesterday we flew all the way to Monte Carlo because dad is accepting an award at the world 音楽 awards. We plan on staying here at least a week because Prince's third birthday is only a few days away. Dad rented ビーチ house and if あなた look out the window あなた can see the most perfect view of the beach.

Dad was getting ready to leave to go to the award 表示する and I walked into his bedroom to talk to him. I asked "can I go with あなた daddy?" He 発言しました "no I'm sorry あなた can't because they don't allow kids there." I 発言しました "but; I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with あなた because you've been working on your new album!" He 発言しました "I know and am sorry it has to be that way! Since we're here it will kind of be like a vacation from me working! I promise as soon as I get back we will all do something together!"

Later on, Prince, Paris, and I watched dad except the artist of the millennium award on TV. によって the time he got back I had already fallen asleep. Dad smiled as he looked at Prince and I peacefully hugging each other in our sleep. He chuckled as he stared at me wearing my SpongeBob SquarePants slippers and Prince wearing my old Spiderman slippers. He kissed my head and my eyes opened slightly. He whispered "good night AJ; I 愛 you." I closed my eyes and Prince rested his head on my shoulder.

February 13, 2000,

I woke up this morning and Paris was jumping on my ベッド saying "AJ!" I got up and looked around at dad sitting on the floor. I asked "where's Prince daddy?" He 発言しました "I'm just waiting for him to wake up. Don't forget that today is his third birthday." I 発言しました "I won't; I can't believe he's three already!" He 発言しました "yeah I know; all my 赤ちゃん are growing up way too fast!"

Prince came running into the room and the three of us 発言しました "happy birthday Prince!" I laughed because his hair was sticking up all over the place. Prince walked over to me and gave me a kiss. Dad asked "Prince, what あなた want to do today, I didn't have time to plan anything!" Prince 発言しました "I want to go down to the beach!" Dad 発言しました "yeah, we can do that! As soon as we get back to the ranch we can have a real party for you!"

I got dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of swim trunks. As we were coming down the stairs grace 発言しました "I will watch Paris for あなた Michael, so あなた can spend time with them without having to worry about her running off!" Dad 発言しました "thank you; I don't want her getting sand in her eyes either." He passed Paris to her and I grabbed some ビーチ toys.

Prince, dad, and I walked down to the ビーチ and sat in the sand. Dad started to build a sand 城 and decided to help him. After a few 分 though my ADHD kicked in and I didn't have any interest in it anymore. Dad 発言しました "hey; do あなた guys want to bury me with sand." I got excited and 発言しました "yeah!!!" He laid down in the sand and Prince and I covered him with sand all the way up to his neck. His toes were the only thing that wasn't covered in sand and he started to poke me with them. Then dad 発言しました "okay; I think that's enough! Hang on I don't think I can get up. I'm stuck!!! あなた buried me too well!" I 発言しました laughing "yeah right daddy! It's only sand!" He started to laugh and 発言しました "I'm not joking; I really am stuck!" I 発言しました as I grabbed Prince's arm and 発言しました "come on Prince; let's go back to the house!" Dad 発言しました as we walked away "wait AJ; あなた can't just leave me here stuck in the sand!"

Prince and I walked through the front door the ビーチ house and Grace asked "where's your dad?" I 発言しました "we buried him up to his neck in sand and now he says that he stuck but; I think he's joking!" Grace looked out the window and started cracking up. She 発言しました "oh my God; the tide is getting worse! I don't think he's joking! He would've gotten up によって now because the water is getting closer to him!" She ran out and helped him get up out of the sand and I was laughing the entire time!

After dad and her got back inside, dad 発言しました while laughing "thanks for leaving me down there AJ!" I 発言しました "sorry daddy, I really thought あなた were joking!" He 発言しました as he picked up Prince "that's okay; I was laughing the whole time, hoping that someone would come along and rescue me before the water got too close!" Grace pointed down and 発言しました "umm, Michael!" He looked down and there was a piece of seaweed wrapped around his foot. We all started laughing and he 発言しました "I probably would've been walking around with that wrapped around my foot all 日 if あなた didn't say anything!"

April 22, 2000,

I think dad has been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. With me age 6, Prince age 3, and Paris age two. Other than working on his album "invincible" he has been spending a lot of time with us without Grace there because he wants to be the parent that his father never was to him.

We were in dad's library/office and Prince walked over to the chess set and 発言しました "I want to play this!" Dad 発言しました as he pretended to teach him the rules "I don't think あなた really understand it but; we can just play with the pieces." I walked over and sat 次 to dad. Prince and Paris were sitting across from us on the other bench. Prince 発言しました "daddy, I see a baby" dad asked "where?" Prince 発言しました "right here" as he passed dad one of the ゴールド chess pieces that was shaped like a baby. Dad 発言しました "let me see" as he took it from him and placed it on the table. Dad asked "Prince; what あなた want to do today?" As Prince reached for another piece, he 発言しました "I'm going to go to school today!" Dad asked "you are? What do あなた learn in school?" Prince 発言しました "I learned my ABCs!" Dad asked "you did? Can あなた sing them? Prince sang a disorganized scrambled version of ABCs and dad 発言しました "very good 林檎, アップル head!" I climbed onto dad's lap and dad asked "do あなた learn anything else in school?" Prince 発言しました while looking down at the tower shaped piece "no." Dad asked "really? あなた don't learn anything about geography, north, west, south, east?" Prince 発言しました "the sun goes to the east and then to the West!" Prince looked at the tower piece again and 発言しました "daddy I like this Castle!" Dad 発言しました "me too! Do あなた think we could fit in there?" Prince 発言しました "no; it's too small! We need it!"

Dad asked as he got up "Paris; what do あなた want to do?" Paris just looked at him and didn't say a word. Prince asked "Paris; do あなた want to play a game?" I 発言しました "daddy I want to go somewhere!" He 発言しました "if it was just me and あなた we could go somewhere but; I don't think I can handle going somewhere with all three of あなた によって myself." I 発言しました "I want to go to the 映画 with あなた and Prince." He 発言しました as he knelt down to my level "I know あなた do and the first chance I get the three of us will go; I promise!" I 発言しました "I wonder if the 秒 toy story movie is still in theaters?" He 発言しました "it might be but; I doubt it. That came out around Thanksgiving and I don't think it will still be there!" I 発言しました "that's too bad because I really wanted to see that movie. When it comes out on DVD あなた have to go get it so we can watch it together!" He 発言しました "listen; Grace will be back 次 week so until then we have to hang around here. I promise あなた that I'm going to make it fun for all of us!"

If あなた haven't noticed; dad has been giving Grace a lot of time off lately because her sister has cancer and isn't doing very well. She had a long time where she was doing pretty good but, in these last few months her health has taken a turn for the worst! As あなた can imagine; dad feels absolutely terrible about the whole situation and wants to help out as much is possible! Grace needs to be with her sister just in case she doesn't make it because grace is the only one who can decide whether または not to resuscitate her sister if her ハート, 心 stops. Her sister has told her that there if her ハート, 心 does stop she doesn't want to be brought back to life. Dad even told Grace that he would pay for the medical bills so; her sister has everything that she needs." Even though dad 発言しました she will be back 次 week; I think it's going to be at least a 月 before she is back! I don't mind that though because dad in my opinion does a better job taking care of us. Not that Grace doesn't do a good job because she does but; let's face it, dad is just もっと見る laid-back and fun to be around! I'm definitely looking フォワード, 前進, 楽しみにして to this time with him!

April 23, 2000,

I woke up this morning and realized that today was a Monday. I have to work on my school work today and this will be the first time that dad will have to help me with it since I started school last year. I technically should be in the first grade now but; I'm really advanced for my age! I actually do school work at a 秒 grade level in all my classes. I used to just be ahead in 読書 but; now I've gained skills to do everything before my time. It just so happens that two days 前 Grace started teaching me multiplication before she left. I'm curious to see how dad handles pretty much playing teacher and taking care of my younger siblings.

I walked downstairs with a packet of worksheets that Grace have put together for me to do while she's gone. Normally, I would just do five worksheets in my school book without even having to tell anyone that I was doing them. I would just go in order 日 によって 日 until the entire book was finished but; since I'm just learning about multiplication it will be easier for dad to teach me this way. I think it's going to be funny because he hasn't had to do multiplication in years または any other type of school work.

I put packet down on the 表, テーブル and dad came downstairs. It was about 8 o'clock in the morning and dad wanted to help me with my school work a few hours before Prince and Paris wake up because he wants it to be quite enough for me to think. While I was waiting for him to get settled in I filled out the multiplication problems that had obvious answers. Like 8×0 または 1×1, I really didn't have to think too much about those.

Dad came over and sat 次 to me at the table. He asked "how's it going? Do あなた need my help with anything?" I 発言しました "no; I'm fine right now." He watched as I wrote eight underneath the problem 6×4. He 発言しました "wait up; that's not right. Look at it again AJ. I asked puzzled "are あなた sure it's not right? It looks right to me!" He 発言しました "think about it. What's 6+6?" I 発言しました "what are あなた talking about? This is multiplication not the addition." He 発言しました "just answer the question; trust me I know what I'm doing." I 発言しました "6+6 = 12." He asked "so we already know the answer isn't eight! So if there's four sixes in the problem that means there's two 12's." I 発言しました "oh I get what あなた saying now!" He asked "so what's 12+12?" I counted on my fingers and 発言しました "24!" He got rid of the eight that I originally wrote on the paper and 発言しました "then that's your answer!"

May 9, 2000,

I got up this morning and ran downstairs full of energy. Dad was just waking up and still rubbing his eyes. I ran up to him and gave him a hug. Soon after, Prince had woke up and came downstairs with Paris holding his hand. Dad 発言しました "good morning あなた guys." I asked "what are we going to do today?" He 発言しました "I have a lot of stuff planned since あなた don't have to do school work today!" I 愛 it when it's just dad, me, and my siblings because dad cuts me a little slack. Whereas if it was Grace she jumps at any chance when I mess up."

After breakfast, dad 発言しました "I want あなた to go get dressed because were going somewhere!" I asked "we are? Where are we going?" He 発言しました "I can't to あなた because it's a surprise!" I ran upstairs and got dressed as quickly as I possibly could. Then all four of us shuffled into the SUV and one of the bodyguards drove us somewhere. I quickly put my mask on and was dying to see where we were.

I opened up the door and saw that we were at the movie theater. He 発言しました "I think you're going to be excited AJ" I asked "why?" We walked over to the building with dad holding Prince and Paris's hands. He looked up and pointed to one of the framed movie posters hanging on the wall. It was the 秒 toy story movie and underneath it, it 発言しました now playing. I 発言しました "no way daddy! I definitely thought it wouldn't be in theaters anymore!" He 発言しました "it's the very last showing; so we have to hurry up because we don't want to miss it." I hugged dad and 発言しました "thank あなた so much daddy!" He 発言しました "you're welcome sweetheart."

After the movie was over, we went ホーム and hung out together. All of us were in the play room and dad was watching us. Prince and Paris started fighting over a toy and dad got up to break it up. He 発言しました "Prince, Paris had it first!" Prince 発言しました "no; I did!" Dad 発言しました "Prince I was watching あなた guys the entire time, I know who had it first." Prince angularly through the toy on the floor and started to cry. Dad 発言しました "I don't want to hear it Prince; that's enough." He kept crying for no reason and dad asked "do あなた want to go stand in the corner?" Prince 発言しました "no!" Dad 発言しました "well; then that's enough!" Prince quickly quieted himself and started playing with something else.

When we sat down for dinner, dad 発言しました grace and we started to eat. あなた could definitely tell that dad was exhausted but; still had a few hours before it was time for us to go to bed. Dad 発言しました "Alanna; I can't believe how well behaved you've been these past few days, I'm so proud of you!" All the sudden dad had a worried look on his face. I asked "what's wrong daddy?" He 発言しました "I just realized that I have to give Prince and Paris a bath によって myself. I'm so tired, that's going to take everything out of me!" I 発言しました "well I could help you!" He 発言しました "yeah I guess now that あなた little bit older あなた can help."

About 45 分 later, I helped dad wash Paris his hair while he washed princes. Then we walked downstairs and sat on the ソファー, ソファ in the living room. I had already taken a シャワー before we had dinner. I was dressed in SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas with the matching slippers. My short boyish haircut was sticking up all over the place because it was still wet. Paris was wearing a シンデレラ night シャツ and ピンク pants, with the ディズニー princesses on the front. Prince was wearing my old お気に入り Spiderman pajamas, even though he had plenty of new Spiderman pajamas of his own. I don't blame him though because when I was three that was my お気に入り Pajamas also. We all slept downstairs on a big blowup mattress, eating ポップコーン and watching movies. These are the memories that I'll never forget!

November 4, 2000,

Unfortunately, dad got a call from Grace and her sister passed away last night. She asked dad if he would mind if she didn't come back to work until the first of the year. He ended up agreeing with her because he felt terrible but; I don't think he knows what he's getting himself into. Prince is getting to the age where he likes to argue, especially with me! I think he doesn't like the fact that I'm older than he is. I get to stay up a 時 later than he does and for the most part I am allowed to be outside によって myself as long as I'm somewhere dad can see me through the window. I think it bothers Prince that I'm allowed to do stuff that he isn't allowed to do yet.



Dad was in his recording studio and I was with him. He had just put Prince and Paris down for a nap about 20 分 ago. He was putting a few last-minute touches on his new album "invincible" and I was one of the only people that got to hear it before anyone else. I just stared at him with a big smile on my face as he saying into the microphone in the sound booth. He was recording "butterflies" and I am so amazed によって his voice.

I 発言しました as dad shut the door "how old do I have to be to be a celebrity like you?" He 発言しました "I want あなた to wait until your 18 before あなた decide that that's what あなた want to do with your life!" I looked down at the floor, clearly disappointed によって his answer. He sat down in a chair and 発言しました "come here AJ." He 発言しました "I'll make a deal with you; if something were to happen to me I will make sure that someone signs あなた to my record label. I'm not saying that anything will happen before あなた turn 18 but, I promise if something does; あなた can have your chance in the spotlight." I asked "when did あなた know that あなた wanted to be a famous singer?" He 発言しました "I was right around your age." I 発言しました "daddy I wish あなた knew how bad I want to do this. あなた have no clue!" He 発言しました "I completely understand how あなた feel because I felt the same あなた when I was your age! I truly believe they あなた want to be famous one 日 but; I want あなた to have a childhood. Something I never got growing up!" Once あなた turn 18, everything is up to you. And I'll be there to help あなた as much as I can!"