Book 5- 1969 (Michael Jackson)

Chapter 26- Advantages

Chapter 26- Advantages

Date: Thursday, November 27, 1969

Time: 2:34PM

JACKIE'S POV

"Yo, watch where you're going!"

My eyes diverted from the road to an old, beaten, grey Chevrolet vehicle to my left. A middle-aged man sat in the passenger seat, and by no means did he look pleased. With one swift movement of his hands and body, he flipped me the bird and the driver veered off Sunset Boulevard.

I shook my head disgustedly. Some of the drivers in Los Angeles certainly did not like to share the road. I knew I was no excellent driver, but the locals could have made at least a little effort at sharing. Of course, just like nearly every other major city, the newbies are always the ones who screw the roads up.

I parallel parked into a snug location, sandwiched between two new, well-kept family cars. At last, I had arrived at my destination, one of the few places I had been intrigued in visiting: the Griddle Cafe. It was only two or three minutes from our subdivision, but I had never found myself the time to explore as I had desired to.

Today was my first exception.

Not bothering to roll up my car windows, I hopped out of my own vehicle and slammed the door shut. I figured if the Jackson 5 was going to soon be a nationally-recognized band soon, I may as well savor those last few days of inconspicuousness. From what I understood, we were going to be featured on the Ed Sullivan show in the next month, and everyone knew that Ed Sullivan was the man who glorified a famous person's presence in their business. After being there, I highly doubted we would get a break for a long while.

I wondered just what fame would be like. Back in Gary, I used to believe that fame meant all good and no evil, just glory everywhere. Maybe I would be revered like some type of god, or live a lavish life free from the chains of labor and disappointment. Maybe it would mean I could do anything I wanted, whenever I wanted. Every single desire, wish, and yearning could be granted, just by snapping my fingers.

Now, however, I knew that our case was far from that fantasy. If anything, the Jackson 5 would be working twice as hard to maintain a good image in the public eye. Not only would we have to practice endlessly, but one little, seemingly insignificant goof-up could ruin us permanently. If Michael chose to mess around on the stage, we could get called out by the media. If Marlon made an embarrassing comment, it would be plastered to the front of every newspaper. If Tito slipped his shirt off in public as he once did this summer in Gary, oh god... The Jackson 5's lives would be chaotic.

I used my elbow to force the door open. In the front, a charming young woman, all smiles galore, cocked her head kindly and asked for my last name.

"Jackson," I muttered quietly, keeping direct contact with her eyes. "Jackie Jackson."

With her required courtesy, she replied, "Right this way, please." She sashayed around the front desk and tiptoed to a booth, her skirt slightly swaying in sync with her walk.

I sat myself down, placing my satchel to the side of me. I pulled out a small, purple agenda with a matching pen and placed it to the side. As the lady was getting herself ready for my order, I crossed my arms and looked out the window by my seat, engrossing myself in my own thoughts.

One of my fingers found its way to the bottom ride of the windowsill.My eyes were fixated upon a certain object with no identity, simply a strange, green thing floating in the air. It held no definite shape and seemed to be constantly moving in a distorted path. I squinted my eyes, wondering, Now, I've never seen nothin' like this before. What the hell is that?