The Benefit of Mr. Kite

7

YEAR: 1976

•Michelle's POV•

"Michelle," John said. "I need to head out for a bit,"
"Why?" I asked.
"I have a meeting with my manager,"
"Why?"
"They want me to go on tour,"
"Oh, that's wonderful,"
"You're lying," he smirked.
"I am," I sighed. "I've been on tour before and it's awful,"
"Well, darling, my tours are nothing like yours,"
"You're right, I guess,"
"Jules!" he called.
"Yeah!"
"Please come in here!"
"What's up?" he asked as he joined us in the living room.
"I have to head out. Please be good for Michelle,"
"M'kay," he shrugged.
"Bye," John kissed my cheek and just like that, he was gone.
"Michelle, I'm hungry..."
"What do you want?"
"Dad always makes pancakes on Saturday,"
"I don't make pancakes like your father," I chuckled.
"You're right, you make them better,"
"You're funny," I smirked.
"It's true,"
"Fine, just keep an eye on your brother. I'll yell when it's ready,"
"Great, thanks," he smiled.

I gathered all of the ingredients and started making the pancakes from scratch. As soon as I was about to pour the first batch into the pan, the doorbell rang.

"I got it!" Julian yelled. "Hello?" he said, over the intercom system.
"Oh, hi... Is your mother home?"
"Um, yeah, I-I guess,"
"May you let me in so I can talk to her?"
"What's your name?"
"Daniel,"
"Last name?"
"She'll know me..."
"Okay... Hold on, I guess," Julian said.

He walked into the kitchen to find me flipping pancakes in the pan. I flashed him a smile and continued cooking.

"Who's at the gate?"
"Daniel,"

I immediately stopped cooking and turned the stove off. I threw down the spatula and took the pan off the burner then rushed to the intercom.

"Qu'est-ce que tu veux?" (What do you want?)
"Pas besoin d'être si rude, chéri," (No need to be rude, darling,) he said. "Puis-je entrer?" (May I come in?)
"No,"
"S'il vous plaît?" (Please?) he begged.
"Bien," (Fine,) I sighed.

I hit the buzzer, that opened the gate and the front door, then headed back to the kitchen.

"Michelle, who's Daniel?"
"No one," I sighed. "When he comes in, I want you and Sean to stay in the living room. Okay?"
"Okay," he said. "Do you want me to get the door?"
"Yes please..." I mumbled.
"Okay..."

I went back to the stove and stared breakfast again. After a minute or two, Julian let papa in, and he found his way to the kitchen. He flashed me a smile and took a seat at the breakfast bar.

"Bonjour Chérie," (Hello darling,) he greeted.
"Bonjour papa,"
"Comment avez-vous été?" (How have you been?) he asked.
"Bien," I sighed. "Comment m'as tu trouvé?" (How did you find me?)
"Il est pas difficile de trouver la maison de John Lennon à Londres, cher," (It's not that hard to find John Lennon's house in London, dear,) he smirked.
"Qu'est-ce que tu veux?" (What do you want?)
"Je veux que vous rentrez chez vous," (I want you to come back home,)
"No,"
"Mais tu nous manques," (But we miss you,)
"Non, vous manquez mon acte," (No, you miss my act,)
"Non, Michelle, tu nous manques. Vous êtes frère est seul sans toi. Votre mère est déprimée sans toi. Et, je viens aime et vous manque tout père ferait..." (No, Michelle, we miss you. You're brother is lonely without you. Your mother is depressed without you. And, I just love and miss you like any father would...)
"Je t'aime aussi, papa, mais je ne peux pas revenir en arrière. Je ne supporte pas les foules en liesse et le sentiment constant d'être un animal en cage. Je ne peux pas le prendre ... Voilà pourquoi je suis parti ..." (I love you too, papa, but I can't go back. I can't stand the cheering crowds and the constant feeling of being a caged animal. I can't take it... That's why I left...)
"Regarde, chérie, je viens de vous dire combien nous aimons et manquer vous, maintenant s'il vous plaît ... s'il vous plaît revenir ... Le cirque échoue sans vous!" (Look, darling, I just told you how much we love and miss you, now please...please come back... The circus is failing without you!)
"Donc, vous essayez juste de me remettre!" (So you are trying to get me back!)
"D'accord, oui, mais tu nous manques aussi. S'il vous plaît Michelle, nous perdons de l'argent et vous avez beaucoup de celui-ci," (Okay, yes, but we also miss you. Please Michelle, we're losing money and you have plenty of it,)
"Non, papa, je ne," (No, papa, I don't,)
"Mais vous êtes marié à John Lennon, n'êtes-vous pas?" (But you're married to John Lennon, aren't you?)
"Non, nous ne faisons que datant..." (No, we're just dating...)
"Donc, vous êtes ici illégalement?" (So, you're here illegally?)
"Oui," I whispered. "S'il vous plaît ne dites à personne," (Please don't tell anyone,)
"Donnez-moi une raison pour laquelle je ne devrais pas?" (Give me one reason why I shouldn't?)
"Parce que, papa, je l'aime John. J'adore mes enfants. J'adore mes amis. Je ne peux pas partir!" (Because, papa, I love John. I love my kids. I love my friends. I can't just leave!)
"Enfants," (Kids,) he scoffed. "Ils ne sont pas vos enfants. Vous êtes juste un soignant libre, chérie," (They're not your children. You're just a free caregiver, darling,) he smirked.
"Ne vous avisez pas de dire ça!" (Don't you dare say that!) I scolded. "John ne me utilise! Et, ces enfants, ils me aiment! Ils appellent même moi mum!" (John is not using me! And, those kids, they love me! They even call me mum!)
"Vraiment? Parce que j'entendu le plus âgé vous appel Michelle," (Really? Because I heard the older one call you Michelle,)
"Sors de ma maison," (Get out of my house,) I whispered.
"Michelle-"
"Sortez!" (Get out!) I yelled as I pushed him out. Once he was outside, I slammed the front door closed, and continued making breakfast.
"Michelle," Julian whispered. "What just happened? Who was that?"
"My father..."
"Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine," I mumbled. "Here," I said as I handed him his plate. "Enjoy,"
"Thank you..." he said as he took his seat at the breakfast bar.

I poured the next batch of pancakes into the pan and headed for the living room, to get Sean. I picked him up, held him on my waist, and carried him into the kitchen. I dragged his high chair over to the breakfast bar, and set him down in it. When his breakfast was done, I cut it up into small pieces, and gave it to him.

"Thank you, mummy," he smiled.
"You're welcome, sweetie," I beamed.
"Hey, Michelle," Julian started.
"Yeah, bub?" I asked.

I turned off the stove and set my plate down on the opposite side of the breakfast bar. I poured each of the boys a glass of milk and made myself a coffee, then tried my best to calm myself down.

"What was your dad saying to you?"
"He was just trying to get me back home,"
"Oh... You're not gonna go... Are you?"
"No," I said. "I don't plan on ever leaving you boys,"
"Good," he sighed. "We really love you,"
"I really love you too,"

We continued eating breakfast and as I was cleaning everything up, we heard someone else ring the doorbell.

"Hello?"
"Hi, I'm Officer Smith. May I come in?"
"Um, yeah, I'll buzz you in," I said as I hit the buzzer. I waited by the door and let him in when he knock.
"Hello,"
"Hi..." I raised a brow. "How can I help you?"
"You're under arrest,"
"What!" I yelled. "Why? I didn't do anything wrong!"
"We got an anonymous call saying that you were here illegally,"
"Hey! Get your hands off my wife!" John yelled as he pulled me out of the officers grip. "Did he hurt you?" he whispered.
"No, I'm fine," I sighed.
"Get the fuck out of my house," John threatened as he slammed the door. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked as he hugged me.
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
"Why was he here? What happened?"
"I was going to get deported," I cried.
"How? We didn't tell anyone that you don't have your papers,"
"Papa came by," I mumbled. "He must've told the police..." I sobbed into his shoulder.
"Shhh... You're okay..."
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too," he said as he lightly rubbed my back.
"Hey John..."
"Yeah, love?"
"Will you marry me?"