Chapter Nine
Berlin December 31st, 2002
The Berlin Zoological Garden
Prince Michael and Paris both double-teamed me with the help of our father. The Belin Zoo Garden is very famous and they've never been so they want to share it with me. How could I say no? Besides, Prince had an emergency flight out to Texas for some reason. So I would have been alone at the Galpin house for two weeks anyway. This way I can see how Martin Bashir being around them has done to them.
It wasn't easy, but I got the zoo to shut down certain parts off so we can visit without a mob forming. Bashir's team knows that I'm not here to be questioned, I just want to spend some time with my family. He doesn't like that I won't talk to him on camera, but I don't give a fuck. I don't trust him and that's all there is to it.
" Sissy! Let's go to the penguin house. " Paris says pulling me.
I laugh at her eagerness. " Okay okay! "
We all head to the penguins with security around us like a bubble. Entering the habitat I smile. It's better than I remember.
" Oh look sissy! They're so cute! " She says pointing to the little flightless birds.
" Daddy, can we get one, please? " She and Prince Michael ask so adorably.
He smiles adoringly down at her. " Now we talked about this Paris, penguins are not pets. They need to be in a certain climate in order to live. Now let's take your pictures so we can go see the gorillas. "
I shake my head. this man and primates of any kind. When we get to the ape habitat the old man's face lights all the way up.
" Oh my, that one looks so sassy! " I say laughing.
Dad cracks up too at the way this gorilla is looking.
This one was ready for his fifteen minutes for sure. " Okay! It's mine and Prince Michael's turn! Time to see the pandas! " I say in excitement.
I took his hand in mine and we both skipped over to our favorite animal house. Hearing my dad's laughter behind us I laughed right along with him. It's so far in between that I get to do things like this.
" Aww look how sweet the babies look PM. They're napping. " I whisper.
" They're so cute sissy. I wish I can touch them. " He says putting his nose up to the glass.
I put my hand on his shoulder. " I know PM but they're wild animals. It can be dangerous to touch when they don't want it. "
" I know sissy. " He says just happy to be able to see them. " Look at that one! "
I look over to see what he's talking about.
" Well doesn't he look like he's having the world's best chill session? " I ask tickling PM.
He squeals in laughter trying to getaway. " Stop sissy! "
" Okay okay. Hey, look at the little guy over here. " I say leading him around to a baby panda in a tree.
PM laughs at the baby panda. " Rawr! " He growls and puts his hands up just like the panda.
" Okay, silly let's go back to the others. I'm sure everyone is hungry by now. " I say holding my hand out for him to take.
He's going through a bit of an " I'm a big boy " phase right now. But he'll still hold my hand in public, for now though. We get back to our group and as I thought, they are all ready to go. Paris was zonked out on dad's shoulder and the film crew is all packed up.
" Ready to head back? " I ask as we walk up.
Dad nods before shaking Paris a little. " Wake up sleepy head. Time to go. "
" Will you carry me, daddy? " She asks sweetly.
He looks like he wants to very badly. But I interject. " Darren will you please carry her to the car. My dad has lower back spasms. "
" Sure thing Miss. Jackson. " He says before picking her up.
When we get into the car it's my turn to rest my head on my dad's shoulder. He chuckles and hugs me tight. " Thank you for coming. It really means a lot to them. "
" You know I could never say no to my babies. Besides, Prince is off in Texas doing some top secret business so there's really nothing for me to do. And I didn't really want to be alone in that huge house of his. " I tell him leaving out the fact that we've been sharing the same bed. No sexual business, but he wouldn't like it either way.
He hmms. " Well, I'm glad you thought to seek company. It's not good for a young woman to be alone all of the time... "
" I'm fine really. So when is this documentary coming out anyway? He has been filming for months. " I ask referring to Bashir obviously.
I can feel him shift. " Probably sometime after the New Year. Will you watch it? " He asks timidly.
" As if I really wouldn't though? " I ask with sarcasm. " Of course I'm watching. And he had better be on his best behavior. "
February 3rd, 2003
My stomach is doing flips. I really hope that my dad knew what he was doing when he put his trust in this man. I really wanted to be optimistic. So when the time came I had a hot cup of tea while I sit in front of the TV.
The beginning is okay... My dad climbing his giving tree make me smile something terrible. He loves that damn tree.
" Some people like to play football and basketball... I like to climb trees. "
That's one of the more truthful and powerful points my dad has ever made. They watch a bunch of old concert footage of the Jackson Five and talk about his childhood. I know all of this stuff. The world knows all of this stuff.
It's only when Bashir says that they are heading to Las Vegas that things really get going. When he says he's going to meet the children I almost lose it. Seriously? Why does he insist on bringing them into this?
The whole time my dad is teaching Bashir to play the scooter game I feel my blood boil. He's just standing there in mockery of everything they're trying to do with this.
When they head over to do some " shopping " I know exactly what's coming. It's always a spectacle when my dad spends money.
" Do you like to buy Jewelry? "
" No... For my mother or Liz Taylor. Because Liz loves jewelry and my mother loves jewelry. I actually just bought Bibi this really beautiful pair of Harry Winston " Pirouette " earrings for her birthday. She's a big fan of the brand. And, of course, if there's a girl I like at the moment I'll buy her jewelry as well. I don't actually buy my own jewelry. "
" If you don't buy it then where does it come from Michael? "
" Bibi loves making sure that when we go out I have just as much " bling " as she does. I just really don't care for it. Don't get me wrong, I like buying her the shiny things that she adores. Only the best for my baby girl. "
" Before you said there's a girl you like... Who's that? "
" I said ifthere is one and I like her. At the moment no. Not right now. I haven't found one yet. "
" Well, who knows? There's time. You're still a young boy. "
Well then. Martin is really taking advantage of asking super personal questions. Is it really his or anyone else's business if my dad buys jewelry for himself? What the hell?
As news spreads, crowds start to gather to catch a glimpse of Michael Jackson. It's been the same since he was a boy. And what happened then, sparked a lifelong obsession with his face.
" I would never look at myself in the mirror, ever. I would turn off all the lights because I had pimples real bad. It was just difficult. To face the public... "
He went on to talk about how a woman said disgusting things about the way he looked. My heart hurt so badly for him. I don't know what I would have done if that were me. No one should have to feel that way ever.
After watching our interaction at the Berlin Zoo there's a little interaction with one of the impersonators dancing in the street. My dad always gets mad when the police drag him away before he can finish. They head to dinner where it's once again, pandemonium. Living my life like this I'm used to what goes on... But to see it on tv? It's almost unreal how famous he really is.
It's the same when they leave. Except for my dad signs a bunch of autographs. When they get in the car he orders the bodyguards to continue to let accept gifts from the fans.
At one point during the mob of people trying to get at him, a blonde woman comes up to the door.
" Michael! Can I get a hug? Please, can I get a hug? " She begs.
I then hear my dad enthusiastically say " let her. Let her. "
She was just about to elbow the bodyguard when he finally let her in. " I want to give you a hug, can I? "
" Of course! I'll give you more than a hug! " He says fighting to get to her.
Oh my God! And on national television to boot! What a horn dog. After a commercial break, it comes back to a shot of my dad feeding Blanket with a mesh blanket covering his face. To a normal person, this is strange... To me not so much. He always does this when he thinks the kids are being filmed.
It cuts again to them pulling up and greeting a few fans. Another blonde woman asks for a hug and he, a little too willingly, obliges. When they go to pull away they both go in for a kiss right on the lips. I can't even imagine what was going through his mind! He's usually so shy, especially around women... Gentlemen prefer blondes I guess.
When the woman realizes what just happened she starts to cry irrationally. Like she couldn't believe Michael Jackson just laid one on her. Like a pro too.
I've already seen his award so while that was being shown so I ran to the kitchen real quick to get another cup of tea. When I come back I hear Bashir loud and clear say
In the time I've known Michael Jackson, we've touched on most aspects of his life... Save for one, his relationship with children.
And just like that my heart stops beating. Up until this, it has been just a regular documentary. Now he's bringing up things that are long dead and should stay that way.
For me, perhaps the most disturbing aspect of his life story. As he often does, he's invited a group of disadvantaged children to Neverland. They couldn't believe their luck.
Then there are a bunch of shots of my dad and the kids having fun on the train and getting snowcones.
The problem was I, like everyone else, knew that ten years ago children were being invited to sleep over at Neverland. One of them, a thirteen-year-old boy accused Michael Jackson of sexual molestation. A claim that cost him millions of dollars. I'd assumed now that he'd be more cautious... But to my utter astonishment, I discovered that children were still sleeping over.
Oh my God! There are two children that live in that house of course kids are going to sleepover!
Sometimes in his house, sometimes in his bedroom.
Oh no. No no no no no. The shot cuts yet again to a shot of the Arviso family. Gavin was one of those kids that had terminal cancer. My dad swooped in and literally saved his life. His family had honestly become like our own. Like we adopted them.
What happens next is the worst thing that could have ever happened. He admitted to sleeping in the same room as Gavin. My face was in my hands as I listen as Bashir harshly question him about it. His age, his intent, all of that. Why!? Why!? Why!? Why!? Why would he do this!? Why would he do this to us!?
I can barely get through the final confrontation because this has already driven me to the point of insanity. Bashir is so pompous and condescending I can hardly breathe with the anger that is flowing through my body. And then he brings up my babies.
I was talking to Prince one day, he said that he didn't have a mother.
He said that he didn't have a mother?
I Said " Prince where's your mommy? " And he said " I haven't got a mama. "
That's right.
Did you tell him to say that?
No.
What do you think he means when he says he hasn't got a mother?
Like he said he didn't have a mother.
I can't stand this line of questioning. What does it matter to Bashir if Prince has a mother or not? God!
Do you not think though, that they benefit from contact with their mother?
No, because it's private information. She can't handle it. What comes with being the mother of my children. She would prefer them to be with me because that's the agreement we made. She doesn't want the kind of fame being in their life will create for her.
Did you know that she didn't want relationships with the kids when you married her?
Yeah. She did it for me.
They go into this whole clarification thing and then come back to the kids.
My kids are fine, they have had Bianca since they were born. She has been a great female presence in their lives. My children have never wanted for anything.
I spend the rest of the interview with my face buried in my hands. They go back and forth over sleeping arrangements and the nineteen ninety-three allegations. When my dad's voice starts cracking I shoot up off of the couch and throw my teacup at the wall shattering it. This man has pushed him way too far! And twisted way too much! I collapse on my knees in a fit of rage.
" Bibi? " I could hear Rome calling me but I couldn't stop shaking. " Someone get the boss. "
After a minute I could feel myself being pulled into a warm embrace. Which starts a new series of sobs. " I knew he couldn't trust him! "
" Shh baby shh. " Prince says softly.
I know he doesn't know what to say. That whole thing makes my dad look really bad. Yet here he is comforting me. The love of this man knows no bounds.
The next morning my jet was ready and waiting for me. There is no way I'm going to stay in Chanhassen while the media tears my dad to shreds.
Prince rides with me to the airport. He still doesn't know what to say so before I get out I look at him. " My dad may be eccentric and naive, but he would never hurt a child. Not ever "
" It's not me you need to convince mama. " He says grabbing my hand and placing a kiss on the back. " I'll be here whenever you need me. "
I give a small fake smile before reaching over to kiss him on the lips. " I love you. "
" I love you too mama. Call me when you get there. " He says into my mouth.
I peck him one more time before opening the door. " I promise I will. "
Getting inside of the jet I'm not exactly sure what I'm heading for. I just know that I'm doing it head on in true Jackson fashion.