Chapter 9,
January 12, 2002,

I am really starting to get irritated with how often Gavin and his family are coming to the ranch and dad decided to take Prince, Paris, and I down to New Jersey to spend time with the Cassio family for a week. I tình yêu going to their house because they are really family oriented people and they are some of the only people that don’t use dad for anything!!!
We walked in the doorway to their cozy house and Denise was standing in the phòng bếp, nhà bếp cooking. Dad dropped 4 duffle bags on the floor and I sat on the couch. Dad walked over and pulled the mui xe from my áo len thun, áo len, sweatshirt off of my head. He smiled and đã đưa ý kiến “I tình yêu bạn AJ.” I didn’t look up from my video game and đã đưa ý kiến “okay.” He sat down tiếp theo to me and asked “what’s with the attitude?” I chewed on my gum and đã đưa ý kiến “I don’t know what you’re talking about dad!!!” He đã đưa ý kiến “you haven’t đã đưa ý kiến thêm than a few words to me in the last couple days and bạn have been calling me dad instead of daddy.” I turned off my video game and looked up at him. He knew that I wanted to say something but I just stared at him. He grabbed hold of my hand and asked “what’s a matter; please tell me?” I stood up and đã đưa ý kiến "I don't want to talk about it!" He said. "I wish bạn would because how I am I supposed to fix the problem?" I đã đưa ý kiến "what's the point? Once I tell you, bạn won't do anything anyway!" Frank looked at dad and asked "what's wrong with her?" Before dad had the chance to say anything I đã đưa ý kiến "I don't know; maybe it's because bạn let Gavin call bạn daddy! Dad asked "that bothers you?" I đã đưa ý kiến "of course it does! Why do bạn think I've been calling bạn dad instead of daddy?" I ran outside slamming the door behind me while he looked at Frank in shock.

Dad got up from his chair and Frank said. "Just give her some time to cool down. I don't think she'd respond well to bạn going after her." Dad đã đưa ý kiến "I know why she's mad and I'm getting concerned myself." Frank asked "why; what's going?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "Gavin and his brother are out of control." Denise interrupted the conversation and asked "in what way are they out of control?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "they destroy everything and bạn know how I feel about people swearing in front of the children, but; they do all the time. I have even pulled the two of them aside and asked them not to use swearwords in front of the children. I don't even like it when they swear in front of me. Then they eat tons of thuyền mành, rác rưởi, rác thực phẩm and Alanna wonders why they are allowed to when she isn't. Frank đã đưa ý kiến "I hate to say it Michael but; maybe it's time to cut ties with them entirely. Gavin has been healthy for some time now and they seem like they're just using you." Dad got defensive and đã đưa ý kiến "I just can't tell them they can't come over anymore Frank!"

I came back inside after calming down and dad đã đưa ý kiến "come here AJ." I walked up to him as he sat back down on the đi văng and he gently guided me onto his lap. He asked as he grasped my hand. "Are bạn still mad at me?" I thought about it for a một giây and đã đưa ý kiến "kind of." He đã đưa ý kiến "I'll make sure that Gavin doesn't call me daddy anymore, okay?" I đã đưa ý kiến as I hugged him "okay; because you're our daddy, not his!"

January 13, 2002,

We were also getting ready to eat bữa tối, bữa ăn tối at the Cassio family trang chủ and dad đã đưa ý kiến he had an announcement to make. As he put some mì ống ý, spaghetti on my plate, and sat back down in his chair, he đã đưa ý kiến "I got this call a couple of days cách đây from a reporter named Martin Bashir and he wants to produce a documentary about me." Frank practically choked on his thực phẩm and asked "you aren't going to do it… Are you?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "I've really thought about it and talk to this guy for hours about keeping my reputation clean. He seems like a nice guy and I don't think he's going to manipulate anything to make it seem like I'm a bad person!" I đã đưa ý kiến "I hope he doesn't make bạn look like the bad daddy!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "I'm going to allow the children to be a part of it. As long as they wear masks to keep their face hidden it will be fine." Frank đã đưa ý kiến "I don't think this sounds like a good idea Michael!" Dad asked "why?" Frank said. "Well; bạn don't know anything about this guy’s intentions! He may be getting paid to make bạn look bad! I mean, look at the past interviews you've had in the last few years, they haven't been the nicest." Dad đã đưa ý kiến "well; I really think that I am going to follow through with it. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"

January 17, 2002,

We will be going back to Neverland in just a couple of days and dad really isn't looking phía trước, chuyển tiếp to it because he knows that Gavin will want to come over. I started diễn xuất out because I know we'll be going trang chủ soon, and I don't want to. The worst part is; dad left my ADHD medication at Neverland bởi mistake and I'm bouncing off the walls!

We had just gotten back to the Cassio family trang chủ after seeing a movie. The best part about being down here is the fact that the last place bạn would think to find Michael Jackson would be here in New Jersey, Prince, Paris, and I were all sitting on the đi văng watching SpongeBob when I decided to do a flip off the back of the couch. I had done it 1000 times before, even though dad had told me not to. This time, instead of landing on my feet, I twisted my ankle and fell to the ground on hàng đầu, đầu trang of my foot. I let out a bloodcurdling scream and dad quickly ran over to see what was a matter. He asked "what's wrong?" I didn't want to admit that I was doing a backflip off the couch, but I confessed because I was in so much pain and couldn't think of a lie to tell him. bởi the look on his face, I knew he wanted to tell me "I told bạn so!" But he was too concerned about the amount of pain I was in.

He picked me up and put me on the couch. My foot was bruised and throbbing; anyone could tell that it was clearly broken. Frank said. "We have to take her to the ER Michael!" Dad said. "You guys will have to take a bởi yourself because there's no way I can go into the hospital without getting mauled, even here!" Frank đã đưa ý kiến as he picked me up. "Okay, I'll take her bởi myself!" I quickly snatched my mask from the bàn before we left and got in the car.

About an giờ later; I walked into the Cassio house using crutches and wearing a cast. I walked up to dad and he asked as he looked up at Frank "so how bad is it?" Frank said. "Her foot is broken and so are three of her toes!!!" Dad shook his head in disbelief and đã đưa ý kiến "I've told bạn so many times AJ not to jump hoặc do flips off of the couch." I đã đưa ý kiến "I know bạn have… And I won't do it anymore; I promise!" He đã đưa ý kiến "I hate to say it but, I don't believe you!" I asked "why?" He đã đưa ý kiến "you told have me bạn won't do something about the times but, then bạn just go and do it anyway! How do bạn expect me to believe bạn anymore? bạn really need to change your attitude because my patience is wearing thin. I'm not saying that I'm mad at bạn because I'm not! I'm very disappointed in bạn though and it's going to take a lot of proving to me to change that. bạn have to remember that your only seven years old!" I đã đưa ý kiến "I'm almost 8 years old!" He đã đưa ý kiến "that's not the point at all Alanna, bạn need to behave… That's all I'm trying to say. bạn also have to remember that I'm your father and what I say goes. I only tell bạn not to do things because I'm looking at for your best interest." I looked up at Frank hoping that he would cover for me; but all bạn đã đưa ý kiến was "your dad's right." I asked "so… I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "well; I think you've learned your lesson because bạn broke your foot! Just promise me bạn won't jump off of anymore couches… And that you'll listen to me when I tell bạn not to do something tiếp theo time?" I đã đưa ý kiến "okay I won't!" Knowing full well that I would probably defy him within the tiếp theo five minutes… But I was willing to say anything to get him off my back!

After we had eaten dinner, all of us sat in the living room and dad đã đưa ý kiến "I've come to my decision about the "living with Michael Jackson" documentary." We all looked up at him in suspended silence and then he đã đưa ý kiến "I'm going to go through with it!" bạn could tell that Frank was completely baffled bởi what had just come out of my father's mouth and quite frankly; so was I!" Thinking of dad's past track record with interviewers in the past few years and how terrible they made him look. I don't understand why he would want to do this again! I just hope it turns out as good as he thinks it will for his reputation!

January 19, 2002,

We pulled up in front of the gates to the ranch after just getting back from our flight! Dad had asked Frank to come back to the ranch with us because he was contemplating telling Gavin and his family that they couldn't come over anymore. Dad planned one last weekend sleepover and… Then he would just keep contact with them over the phone. He wants to let them down easy so they aren't too disappointed but; without Frank there I don't think he would be able to follow through with it!

I walked through the front door and there were a few messages on the answering machine. I đã đưa ý kiến "someone called here daddy!" Dad walked over and đã đưa ý kiến "thank bạn sweetheart!" He pressed the play button and it was a woman talking about the baby she was carrying for dad. Her due ngày is tiếp theo tháng and I can't wait to meet my new baby brother. I can't believe that dad is naming him Prince Michael the second… If I was him I would pick something totally different than my other brother's name.

We had only been in the house for less than five phút before the phone started ringing off the hook. The caller ID read Gavin's name and the first few times he called dad ignored him, but after a while it started to get really ridiculous because he wasn't giving up! Finally, dad picked up the phone and đã đưa ý kiến "if bạn and your brother want to come over for the weekend bạn can. I know I miss bạn too. We'll see bạn then." Dad sighed and đã đưa ý kiến "the two of them will be here tomorrow." I was far from thrilled to see them again, I know my dad loves having them around but; I think the only reason why they have a relationship with him still is because of the money that he provides them! I'm glad that Frank sees how they are too and I'm not the only one. It's not my place to say anything because what do I know? I'm only a little kid!!!

January 20, 2002,

Gavin and ngôi sao got here just a few phút cách đây and they're already back to their old ways. They ran into the phòng bếp, nhà bếp and I followed them. Gavin ripped open a bag of cheese doodles and they scattered everywhere. The dog was clearly excited that all this thực phẩm had fallen on the ground because vịt đực, drake hardly ever gets to eat human food. I asked as dad walked into the room "can I eat some of those too daddy?" He asked "how many are left in the bag? Look at this mess!" I đã đưa ý kiến "they are the ones who spilled them; not me! There's only a few left in the bag!" I know that dad could tell that I was very irritated with them and he đã đưa ý kiến "it's all right; I'll have one of the bodyguards bởi some thêm for bạn tomorrow!" I looked at him as a bend down to help him pick up the cheese doodles off the floor. He raised his eyebrows and I knew exactly what he was thinking "did they really just walk out of the room without even offering to help pick up this mess that they made? We must have been the phòng bếp, nhà bếp for over 45 phút cleaning up the small cheese doodles. When I đã đưa ý kiến they were everywhere… I mean it! Every time I would go to pick up one of them, I would accidentally step on another one; which obviously made the mess worse!

A few hours later, I was up in my room bởi myself when dad came in to check on me. I was laying in my giường working on some school work and he came over and đã đưa ý kiến "move over." He lay down on the giường tiếp theo to me and asked "are bạn okay?" I sighed and đã đưa ý kiến "yes; I guess." He saw that I was struggling to understand the word problem that I was working on and asked "do bạn need my help with figuring that out?" I threw my hands up in frustration and đã đưa ý kiến "yes please!!!" He spent over 15 phút going over the problem with me but, I was still confused. Just as I started to understand what he was saying; Gavin came barreling through my bedroom without even knocking on the door. I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore and đã đưa ý kiến "hey; I'm trying to do my school work! bạn didn't even knock on the door before coming in and that's not okay with me! Dad đã đưa ý kiến "it's okay AJ; there's no need to get so frustrated and start yelling at him!" I looked Gavin's right in the eyes and đã đưa ý kiến "you better get out of my room right now!!!" Gavin laughed at me and asked "what are bạn going to do about it if I don't?" I tried punching him but I was so much shorter than he is! Dad was shouting at this point, saying "Alanna please stop!"

Frank must've heard the commotion coming from upstairs because he eventually came to my bedroom. He đã đưa ý kiến shocked with how red my face was "hey; stop it!! Dad pulled me off from Gavin, who was still laughing at my attempt to attack him. Gavin ran out of the room and shut the door behind him. I threw my shoe at the door and dad looked at me, still trying to comprehend what just happened. I đã đưa ý kiến "I'm getting so sick of them, they are annoying!" He đã đưa ý kiến "that doesn't give bạn the right to hit him!" I đã đưa ý kiến "I'm tired of being nice to him; he doesn't deserve it!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "you need to cool off… I'm going downstairs, bạn stay in here." I was thêm than happy to have some time away from the two of them.

About an giờ after we had dinner, I had just taken a vòi hoa sen and dad came upstairs, carrying pillows and blankets into one of the guest rooms. Gavin and ngôi sao came running upstairs behind him and dad đã đưa ý kiến "okay; the guestroom is all set up for bạn guys. I have to go bring AJ some clothes, I'll be right back! A few phút later, I went into dad's bedroom and asked "can I sleep in here tonight?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "of course bạn can!" I climbed up on the giường and he kissed my forehead. Then Gavin knocked on the door and asked "can we sleep in there with bạn too Michael?" I looked at dad and shook my head "no" he đã đưa ý kiến "hang on a second." Dad yelled "Frank, can bạn come here?" Frank walked out of the master bathroom and asked "yeah?" Dad whispered "Gavin and ngôi sao want to sleep in here!" Frank's eyes widened and he đã đưa ý kiến "I really don't think bạn should do that Michael!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến “here’s what bạn and I are going to do, you're going to sleep in here with me! The two of them will sleep on the bed, you, AJ, and I will sleep on the floor! I don't want there to be any reason for any accusations and this seems to be the only logical way around that!" I was really upset that dad had agreed to let the boys sleep in his bedroom because I was looking phía trước, chuyển tiếp to spending quality time with him! The three of us lay on blankets on the floor, while the boys were lying in dad's bed. After watching three Disney phim chiếu rạp in a row, I curled myself up against dad and he wrapped his arms around me. Even though I was asleep, I could hear all of them laughing and having fun. Nothing out of the ordinary went on that night and I know that for a fact!!!! After that, we didn't see much of the boys hoặc their family until we started taping the "living with Michael Jackson" documentary.

February 29, 2002,

My baby brother, Prince Michael the một giây was born yesterday and dad has nicknamed him "Blanket." I had asked him why he came up with that nickname and he đã đưa ý kiến "because he's a blanket of tình yêu and a sweet Angel of God!" I think dad starting to realize how long it's been since he has had to take care of a newborn baby. He looks exhausted and every time he tries to take a break the baby starts crying again! It just makes me appreciate dad a lot more!!!

I was sitting on the đi văng with my crutches tiếp theo to me. We had just gotten back from a trip to Disneyland Paris and were settling in back at the ranch. I hate having my foot broken because I can't really do the things that I'm used to doing. If my foot wasn't broken I would be outside right now climbing trees hoặc jumping on the trampoline. Instead I am stuck in your watching TV and doing school work. One thing's for sure; broken limbs and ADHD don't mix.

After dad had put Blanket down for a nap, he came over and sat tiếp theo to me. He đã đưa ý kiến "you look unhappy… What's up?" I đã đưa ý kiến "I'm just tired of sitting here!" He đã đưa ý kiến "I know bạn are; but bạn need to stay off your feet for a while so bạn can heal." Prince came over and đã đưa ý kiến "I'll sit here with you!" I đã đưa ý kiến "you don't have to!" He đã đưa ý kiến "I know but, I want too." Dad đã đưa ý kiến "that's so sweet of bạn Prince! You're such a good little brother!" Dad got up from his chair and đã đưa ý kiến as he rubbed his eyes "I think I'm going to go take a nap… I'll be back in 40 phút hoặc so."

I think it will take all of us a little while to adjust to having a baby in the house again. I don't think dad remembered how much work it is to take care of a newborn baby because it's been so long. He will get used to soon though.
March 23, 2002,

Filming begins for the "living with Michael Jackson" documentary tomorrow and Martin Bashir is coming over today to get thêm acquainted with the family. I was having a very difficult ngày behavior wise and Grace is clearly frustrated with me. Dad was getting ready for the ngày and none of us had seen him yet this morning. I was in the phòng bếp, nhà bếp sitting at the bàn playing with the rubber ball that I had won as a prize at the arcade we went to yesterday. I kept bouncing the ball higher and higher and Grace đã đưa ý kiến "please stop that before bạn break something." I đã đưa ý kiến "no." She came over and took it from me and I stomped upstairs to my room.

I repeatedly slammed the door to my bedroom to hiển thị Grace how upset how upset I was with her. Dad was just coming out of his bedroom and he đã đưa ý kiến "hey, hey, hey, what are bạn doing that for?" I đã đưa ý kiến as I crossed my arms "I'm mad because Grace took the ball away!" He đã đưa ý kiến "that doesn't give bạn the right to slam your bedroom door AJ." I kicked the door and he đã đưa ý kiến "if you're going to act like that then bạn don't deserve to have the ball anyway!" I whined "but its mine daddy!!!" He đã đưa ý kiến "you know I won't let bạn get away with diễn xuất like a brat and Mr. Bashir is coming over today so bạn need to be on your best behavior… Understood?" I didn't answer him and gave him a look of irritation. He knelt down and đã đưa ý kiến "that's what I'm talking about right there! Enough of that… There is no reason for it and if bạn keep that up bạn will be up here in your room bởi yourself while everyone else is having fun." I knew I didn't want that so; after a few phút of calming down I went downstairs.

The doorbell started ringing and I answered it. I đã đưa ý kiến "daddy; I think it's for you!" It was a tall man with a tan and brown hair who was wearing glasses. Dad came over and đã đưa ý kiến as he shook hands with him "nice to finally meet bạn face to face Martin!" Martin đã đưa ý kiến "I'm so glad bạn agreed to do this documentary." I asked Martin "where are all the cameras at?" Dad and Martin laughed and Martin đã đưa ý kiến "they won't be here till tomorrow." I asked "daddy; how come the cameras aren't here today?" Dad looked down at me and đã đưa ý kiến "I wanted to give Mr. Bashir sometime bạn get to know us before we started filming." I đã đưa ý kiến "oh" and hobbled away using my crutches.

Dad and Martin sat down at the phòng bếp, nhà bếp bàn and Martin asked "how did Alanna break her foot?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến as he took a sip of his trà "she was doing a back flip off of my Những người bạn đi văng and she landed on her foot." Martin asked "is Debbie her mother also?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "yes; as well as Prince and Paris's." Martin đã đưa ý kiến "I have to say Michael; your kids really do look like you, especially Blanket!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "I just want to make sure before we start filming tomorrow that you're not going to ruin my reputation!" Martin đã đưa ý kiến "of course not Michael! One of the reasons for doing this documentary is to defend you!"

Just as dad was about to respond, he could hear Prince and I arguing in the living room and went to so see what was going on. Martin followed dad into the living room and dad asked "what's going on here?" Prince đã đưa ý kiến "AJ took the remote from me!" I đã đưa ý kiến "I don't want to watch the fairly odd parents daddy!" Dad asked "well; what do bạn want to watch?" I đã đưa ý kiến "I was going to watch the Disney Channel!" Dad asked "a Disney channel cartoon, hoặc one with real people?" I đã đưa ý kiến "one with real people!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "that's not going to hold your brother's interest like a cartoon would AJ. Would bạn please put it on a cartoon?" I đã đưa ý kiến "but daddy I don't want to!" He đã đưa ý kiến "I guarantee bạn that you've probably seen that episode 1000 times… I'll let bạn watch Disney channel later! Do bạn remember what we talked about this morning?" I đã đưa ý kiến "yeah" and he đã đưa ý kiến "I'm still willing to send bạn to your room for the rest of the day. Now please give Prince the remote!" I tossed Prince the remote control and đã đưa ý kiến "Prince always gets what he wants!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "no he doesn't and bạn better stop it." I rolled my eyes and dad and Martin went back to the kitchen.

Then two them went back into the phòng bếp, nhà bếp and Martin "why do bạn call Alanna AJ? Dad đã đưa ý kiến "it stands for Alanna Jackson. She prefers that as opposed to just her first name because she is a tomboy. Martin đã đưa ý kiến "I spent a lot of time with bạn today and I'm shocked bởi how different AJ is; compared to Prince and Paris." Dad chuckled and đã đưa ý kiến "she's definitely a handful that's for sure!" Martin asked "so are we all set to start filming tomorrow Michael?" Dad đã đưa ý kiến "yes, just as long as bạn agree to only film the children once and make sure they are wearing masks when bạn do so?" Martin đã đưa ý kiến "I really agree with bạn Michael; overexposure for the children is not a good thing! We will be here around 9 o'clock tomorrow morning to set up equipment!" Dad đã đưa ý kiến as he walked Martin to the door "okay we'll see bạn then! I'm counting on bạn to make me look good… Don't let me down!"

May 5, 2002,

Dad has been being interviewed bởi Martin Bashir for many months now. He had already filmed Prince, Paris, and I. We were in a hotel room in Berlin Germany, just a few hours after dad had decided to hiển thị the những người hâm mộ outside Blanket. bởi this point; every news broadcast network all over the world was hiển thị footage of what they thought was dad "dangling" the baby over the balcony. Of course the tabloids slowed the footage down to make it seem awful but; that's not at all what happened!

I can honestly say that my father had a very tight grip on Blanket. Under no circumstances would dad have let the baby fall. Of course Martin absolutely had to câu hỏi dad about what had actually happened and dad was really reluctant to say anything for fear that it would be taken the wrong way. Today's the last ngày of filming and all I can say is that I hope when "living with Michael Jackson" premieres in early 2003… It will be 100% truthful and depict my father in a positive way!