Chapter Twenty-One

IT AIN'T EASY BEING A JACKSON

Freddie stood in the window looking down at the garden that bathed in the morning sunlight and took a long drag of his cigarette. Michael sneaked behind him and wrapped his arms around his shirtless chest.

'You should quit smoking, you know', he whispered into his ear. 'It ain't good for your lungs.'

Freddie shrugged and took another puff.

'You won't get another kiss from me if you keep on.'

'Oh I wont?' Freddie said and stole a smooch from his lover. ' I bet!'

'You smelly...' Michael started but was cut off by a loud knocking on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

'Excuse me', he scowled at Freddie and ran to open the door.

'What is it?' he spat out at Annie, although relieved that it was her and no one else.

'It's your father.'

Michael felt like someone had hit him over the head with a baseball bat. He thanked Annie curtly and slammed the door shut.

'Freddie', he said then, not moving from his spot. 'Could you move to the guest room? And please take your things with ya, I've to go downstairs.'

'Huh?' Freddie said tapping ash from the end of his cigarette. 'Who is it?'

'Joseph. Please, I'm serious. This is urgent.'

'Alright.'

Freddie dumped his cigarette and Michael watched him collect his clothes and kissed him quickly before he went.

Then he straightened up and checked himself in the mirror that hang on the wall next to the door.

With a sigh, he finally turned the handle and headed down the stairs.

'There you are, son. At last.'

Joseph Jackson's smirk was close to devious and Michael knew exactly what was hidden behind it. He stood in the other side of the room, in a pimp suit and a several sizes too small bowler hat adorning his greasy head.

'I see you've put on weight since I saw you last?' he snarled in a demonic voice and scrutinized him from head to toe. 'I reckon you have.'

It took all of Michael's mental strenght not to turn into a wild, ravenous beast and beat his father up for that remark.

'Be careful, girls don't like chubby boys.'

'Like yourself', Michael added silently in his mind.

Joseph looked around in the room and stopped to examine an expensive-looking ancient sculpture in the corner of the saloon. Michael watched him with clenched fists, fighting to swallow the burning anger he felt inside. Joseph had only two reasons to come here: either to push him to make another tour with his brothers or to ask for money.

Or both.

'Well, son, have you talked to your brothers lately?'

So it was about the tour.

'No I haven't', Michael said and was surprised by how calm and collected he sounded to his own ears.

'Well, it so happens that I have. They would like to have a serious conversation with you.'

'Concerning the new album or the tour?'

'Both.'

Michael groaned. He was so fed up with his brothers. He wanted to do things of his own, for a chance, like this new album of his. It was going to be something else, not just a cheesy catalogue of poorly harmonized soul ballads.

'I'm kinda busy now with my own stuff and everything. I have an albuming coming out in a few months. I don't have time for any other projects right now.'

Joseph's smug fake grin vanished in seconds and was replaced by a cold, hard mask.

'Don't you talk to me like that, boy', he hissed using his most threatening tone. 'You'll make room for this project in that schedule of yours, dammit.'

Michael instinctively took a step backwards, but then he shook himself mentally.

No. He was a boy no longer. He was a succesful young man, he was capable of making a living for the whole family.

Also, this was his house, not Josephs. He would not him get the better of him anymore.

'I didn't say I wouldn't do it. But right now, I don't have the time. Period.'

Joseph halted and looked at him like he had lost his mind.

'You son of a *****.'

Michael blinked a few times but kept his composure.

'One day you'll realize that no matter hard you try, no matter where you go, you will never be anything. You're nothing without your brothers, absolutely nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing.'

He was now only inches away from Michael's face and Michael could see clearly how his eyeballs bulged in their sockets. The sight made him sick.

'Think about it, son.'

And with those words Joseph stormed out of the room and soon Michael could heard his car pull away in the street.

A few minutes later Freddie came down the stairs and found Michael in the living room staring into space.

'I hate him', Michael whispered. 'I hate, hate, hate him.'

Freddie didn't say anything but drew him into a hug but let go of him when he heard footsteps approaching.

It was Martha.

'Is everything alright? I saw Mr. Jackson leave in much haste.'

'Everything's fine.'

She gave Freddie a long, suspicious look.

'Good morning, sir.'

'Good morning, madam.'

'The breakfast is ready, if you will...'

Michael nodded and in silence they walked into the dining room, where Katherine sat alone drinking her morning coffee and staring out of the window.

'Was Joseph here?' she asked Michael feigning indifference.

She had most certainly heard the noisy quarrel, but there was an unwritten agreement in the family not to talk about what went on between Joseph and the children.

'Yes he was', Michael said and drew a chair from under the table, gesturing to Freddie to sit down besides him.

He was still shaking in the aftermath of the fight.

'Did you boys sleep well?' his mother changed the topic, taking a bite of her toast. 'I didn't know you stayed here overnight, Mr. Mercury, but you're welcome at any time of course.'

'We were at the studios and mistook the moon for the sun', Michael replied eloquently.

'I see', Katherine chuckled. 'My little moon child.'

Michael cracked a little smile. He liked that nickname.

'How are you this morning, Mrs. Jackson?' Freddie asked politely and by the twinkling of her eyes Michael could tell she liked him very much.

'Excellent, thank you so much for asking. How about you?'

'Very good, very good indeed.'

'I think my grandchildren are coming over later today. I'm looking forward to that, this big of a house feels so empty without children...'

'You mean Marlon's kids?'

'Valencia and Brittany, yes.'

Michael frowned. If Marlon was coming, it probably meant the other brothers were coming too and he didn't really care to see them.

'Also, Brooke popped in for coffee yesterday. She was hoping to meet you but I told her you two were recording.'

'Oh.'

Freddie and Michael exchanged looks.

Then Freddie stood up from the table.

'Excuse me, but I just remembered I have a meeting with my manager at eleven o'clock sharp', Freddie announced in an apologetic tone. 'Thank you for the delicious breakfast, Mrs. Katherine.'

'You're welcome.'

'I'll call you later', Michael said quietly. 'But I'll go see Brooke first'.

Freddie nodded, gave him a little wink and left.

Michael looked around in the room. The walls were nicely colored, maybe a little bit too pink for his taste but nicely colored nevertheless. Through the thin curtains he could see the silhouette of the city skyline against the orange blaze of the sky.

'Would you like to have some tee?' Brooke yelled from the kitchen.

'No thanks', Michael refused, got up and rubbed his arms nervously.

He walked up to a cupboard and looked at the photos on top of it. There were a few photos of him with Brooke, smiling, holding hands, walking on the red carpet like every other Hollywood couple.

'Oh, look at that sunset! Isn't that beautiful?'

Michael couldn't but agree.

'Gosh, this is why I love Los Angeles so much.'

'Uh – huh.'

Brooke tilted her head and looked at him pensively. She had her hairs in a ponytail and the green dress she was wearing hung elegantly over her lean shoulders.

'You seem quiet, Michael', she stated matter-of-factly. 'What are you thinking?'

'Nothing really.'

He grimaced. Brooke could see straight through him.

'I see', she said slowly. 'So - how is it with Freddie?'

Now Michael literally jumped. He stared at her bewildered.

'Wha – wha – what do you mean?'

Brooke raised one of her nearly plucked eyebrows.

'Nothing, I just heard from your mum that you're working together', she explained. 'So - you're friends again?'