Got To Be There

When Opportunity Knocks

Whitney (POV):

Thursday (April 19, 1985)

Sitting at a fancy private Café...

I Haven't seen Dionne in months. I'm so glad she finally got some time off from her crazy schedule and called to meet with me. It was about time! Cousins should not go almost eight months without seeing each other, especially us being such close family.  But I can't blame her for working so hard with how the music industry is. Hell I'm learning myself. Working on my first solo album, my time isn't exactly free ya know. Whoo! I'm getting tired just thinking bout all the singing Ima have to do this week. I'm about to lay my head down when I hear screaming....

"Nippy! Nippy come here girl! Ohhhh..." she yells, I get up and she pulls me in for a hug. That's my big cousin always loud and happy to see me.

I laugh at her calling me by my nickname like we're still kids , but I'm just as excited to see her, so I smile big also and hug her back. Times like this you wanna show as much love as you can, especially when I know we won't be able to see each other as frequent, like when we were younger. We now sit  at the small table.

"Hey D! I've missed you so much!" I reply.

"Awww I've missed you too, I'm so glad you're here. I've got so much to tell ya!"

"Okay and me too!" I say while giggling. " You know it feel like it's been forever the only time I've been seeing you is through the T.V. girl,  looking effortlessly fabulous as always!"

She laughs, "Well thank you much darling, although it does take a little effort." We giggle. Dionne really did look so beautiful. I told myself I'd want to look at least half as good as her, when I reach her age.

"So Nippy, how have you been ?" she asks.

"I've been doing good." I sigh.

"Mhmm...and how's the album coming?"

I smile ,"Oh D it's going great! I'm just glad Ma' finally let me sing outside of the choir! It feels amazing!" I sigh again.

She laughs, " Ah well that's great news... and I've got some news that's gonna make you feel...well marvelous I'd say."

I wonder what the great news is that she has to tell me.

"D, what are you trying to say ?" I ask narrowing my eyes at her.

"Alright, " she starts " I recently stumbled across an opportunity to work on a project , with a dear friend of mine.." she says slowly.

"Ok" I say just as slowly not really catching on. 

"He's one of the world's latest and greatest producers...say Quincy Jones! she quickly says. I gasp and cover my mouth fast. She laughs at my actions.

"We're working on this song well more like anthem written by... guess who?"

"You ?" I guess, removing my hands from my mouth and smiling."

"Noooo not me , but it's by two amazingly talented men, also dear friends of mine." One is Mr. Hello is it me you're looking for?...", she sings.

"Lionel Richie!", I gasp and then scream.

"That's Right!" she laughs.

"Ahhhhh! Wait...who's the other writer?"

 "Girl this is gonna be big, because the other writer just won eight Grammys last year , and has to be   the biggest star right now!!!" she nearly yells.

As she is saying this I really start to think and then I finally realize .... I gasp.

"Oh my god... you don't mean--"

"Mhmmm!!!"she cuts me off.

"Michael Jackson !!!!!!!!!!" I screech. She then nods while laughing. "Oh Michael Jackson! You're working with him again! Oh that's great D! I'm so happy for you!!! I yell, get up and hug her tightly.

Now I am extremely happy for her. I am such a huge fan of  Quincy and Lionel, but when she mentioned Michael Jackson, I knew this was really gonna be something. Everything Michael does is phenomenal. From the way he sings and his moves. Not only am I a huge fan of him and his family, but I practically aspire to be as influential as him ,and I also ...sort have a secret crush on him! I mean he is sooo sexy, ugh!

"Ah ha! Thanks baby, and I also get to work and sing with other artists. Say Diana Ross , Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, The Jacksons, and of course Michael, Lionel, and many more talented voices! She exclaims.

"Oh that's amazing! This is gonna be the Anthem of the Decade!!! Again I am so happy for ya D! I sigh. What a great opportunity.

"Well you should be happy for yourself too..." she says smiling at me. What is this women talking about?

"What are you talking about?" I say side eyeing her again. She laughs at me.

"Well, Quincy needs a few more vocalists, and I told him I happened to know a new up and coming artist!".

She didn't!

"You didn't!" I nearly yell. She laughs again.

"Someone who can sing her ass off!"

"D!" I gasped and covered my mouth again. I was about to jump out of my chair.

Dionne nods. "Yep I told him about Whitney Houston! And do you know what he said to me? Huh?"

I shake my head still covering my mouth almost in disbelief.

"I trust you D, bring her in, let me hear her!"

"Ahhhhhhhh" I scream. That did it I jumped out of my seat to hug her again. "I get to sing for Quincy?!"

"Not just Quincy , I'll be there, Lionel too, and of course Michael!" she says."

*Gulps*

"Really Michael Jackson too?!". This is so crazy I say in my head. I hope I don't mess up, especially in front of Michael!

"Yes in two weeks from today we'll be in the studio, and of course you'll meet and sing with all the other artists I mentioned before too!"

Wow this is truly amazing! I never thought I'd get to work with these people ...at least not this fast! This is the best news any new artist could receive!

"Thank you D, thank you so much!" I say tearing up. I love my cousin she's always there for me. I then reach up to hug her.

She laughs. " Ah you're so welcome. When opportunity knocks you answer it, and this is your opportunity Nippy. You deserve this." She says as we're hugging.

Dionne is right the opportunity is knocking and I won't waste no time answering it's door! I'm soooo excited!!!!!