Michael's Cold

Chapter 8

I woke up in the morning and my nose was still very congested. Everybody was already awake because it was a Saturday.
"Hey Michael," said Joseph. " I'm assuming you are well enough to perform tonight so I got us a gig at a local bar.
I still had a very bad cold and I was in no position to perform, but I couldn't let the Jackson 5 down again.
"Ok," I nodded. "I'll go."
"That's my boy!" Joseph exclaimed, excitedly.
I laughed and went in the bedroom to dance in front of the mirror.
As soon as I started dancing, I felt tired and it made my head hurt even more.
I fell onto the bed, holding my head. It felt as if I had a migraine.
"Ow," I said loudly.
"Are you alright, Michael?" My mom said, coming in.
"I have a headache," I cried.
"Oh, then maybe you shouldn't perform tonight."
"Michael's not performing tonight?" My dad chimed in.
"No, feel his forehead. I don't understand why he is still so sick."
"Ha-choo!" I sneezed.
"See. He's in awful condition."
"Oh come on, he's fine. Just let him perform."
"Yeah. I can perform," I said, coughing soon after that.
"Are you sure Michael?" My mother asked.
"I'm positive. It's just a little cold."
"Yes!" My father exclaimed.
"Choo!" I sneezed again. "Achoo! Eh-choo!"
"Ok, your ok. Let's go rehearse!"
I dragged myself into the living room, coughing once again.
"Boys!" My father yelled. "Get in here!"
"Can I sing too?" Asked little Randy.
"No boy. Your too little."
Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and I got in our positions and began to sing and dance to the 1965 four tops hit, 'I Can't Help Myself.'
"Sugar pie honey bunch!" I sang. "You know that I love you! I can't help myself, I love you and nobody else."
I then turned away from the microphone and coughed like 10 times.
"Stop, stop," Joseph growled. "Michael, if you want this then you gotta stop coughing."
"I can't help it!" I cried out.
"Hey," he said angrily, grabbing me by the shirt. "You either do it, or get out. For good."
With tears streaming down my face, I wiped them away and started the song all over again.
"Sugar pie homey bunch!" I started, but then got suddenly interrupted by an annoying tickle in my nose.
"Ha-choo!" I loudly sneezed, not bothering to cover it.
"Ok, this is getting ridiculous. Michael, trade places with Marlon."
"But I'm the lead!" I yelled.
"I don't care. I want Marlon in the front. He's really starting to catch up to you."
"This isn't fair," I said, crying while moving to the back.
"Stop being a little baby cry! Randy could do better than you."
"Can I try it Joseph? Please!!!!"
"Fine. One time."
"Yes!!" Yelled Randy, excitedly.
He moved to the lead while Marlon traded places with me.
"Where am I supposed to go?" I asked.
"You can sit over there," said Joseph.
"Sugar pie honey bunch! You know that I love you!!! I can't help myself! I love you and nobody else!"
"Look Katie!" Joseph motioned for my mother to come over. "The boy's a natural!!!!"
"He's doing great. But what about Michael? Why is he sitting out?"
"Well, there was a little problem."
"He won't let me sing because I'm sick!" I yelled crying. It just made me more congested and my nose started to run a lot.
"Well, I think that would be the right decision. You can't be the lead singer and dancer if your sneezing and coughing every two seconds."
"But Randy can't take my place!" I cried.
"Relax, it's just for one night," my mother reassured me.
"No! I want to do it tonight!"