Chapter 6 - Michaela's Story
September 17, 1997 - Los Angeles, California

"Oh my god! Oh my god! It's him! It's really Tay!" screamed a bunch of seventh graders as I walked past the Junior High School. It was something that I'd become accustomed to but it was not fun. Thankfully, since I had started High School it did not happen in school, high schoolers weren't into Manson. Still, it had become impossible to walk down the street in jeans and a T-shirt. It seemed that I had to wear dresses, high heals, lots of make up and my hair in pig tails or plaits so that I would not be mistaken for Tweedle-Tay Manson. Unfortunately, his nickname Tay rhymed with my nickname Kay and I had turned around several times thinking that people were calling me. It was a lesson I'd learnt.

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"Okay. Who can do this one? x2 + 8x + 15 = 0" The math teacher was trying in vain to explain quadratic equations. I looked around the class. No one put up their hand. I reluctantly raised mine. "Yes Michaela?"
"(x + 3)(x + 5) = 0 Therefore x = -3 or -5" I said softy.
"Very good. If only everyone could be as bright as Michaela."
The rest of the class snickered, mumbling something about Tweedle- Tay. Yet another drawback of the Mansons's fame. Although I had been the most popular girl in the school less than a year ago, my strong resemblance to Tweedle-Tay had changed all that. The general consensus at school was no longer that Tweedle-Tay looked like a girl, it was that I looked like a guy. And so no guy would be seen with me, for fear that they would look gay. I didn't have any female friends either. It was really pissing me off. While fame had made Tay, Neut and Grub the happiest boys on earth, it had ruined my life and made me miserable.
"Michaela? Michaela? Michaela Morgan!"
I looked up. There was an office girl standing in the doorway. "Michaela Morgan. The Mr. Kent wants to see you. He says its important."
I stood up, picked up my books and walked to the door. "Coming." I said. I walked with the girl down the hall. "Do you have any idea what it could be about?" I asked.
"Sorry. He said it was private."
"Right."
We arrived at Mr. Kent's office. I hoped I wasn't in trouble. After all, I couldn't think of any other reason why I would be called to the principal.
"Mr. Kent?" said the office girl. "Michaela Morgan is here to see you."
"Come in Michaela." called a voice from inside the room.
I stood up and walked inside. "Good afternoon Mr. Kent," I said.
"Good afternoon Michaela. Take a seat. I'm sorry to drag you out of class like this but I feel this is most important. Which class are you missing?"
"Math."
"Well, I hope this won't disadvantage you, but -"
"It's fine. I'll catch up."
Mr. Kent gave me a little smile and then his serious expression returned. "Michaela, there's no easy way to tell you this........"
"I'm not being expelled am I!?" I interrupted yet again.
"Now Michaela, I can not think of any reason why that should happen, can you?" Mr. Kent, was getting slightly annoyed but his tone was still sympathetic. I shook my head. "Michaela, I am very very sad that I have to be the person that tells you this but........ this morning you grandmother had a heart attack. She called 911 to get an ambulance, but, by the time the ambulance arrived it was too late............ your grandmother has passed away."
I shook my head. "No. No. There must have been some sort of mistake. My grandmother isn't dead. My grandmother, Annabelle Morgan is still alive."
But deep down I knew it was probably true. This was not the sort of thing that would happen to the Manson's but it sure as hell was the sort of thing that would happen to me.