The Adopted Jackson (editing)

Chapter 3 - A Double Life

The years rolled by and since they were around the same age Michael and Sharice grew up very close, but neither knew that she was adopted since they were too young to have remembered the day of the adoption. Despite the fact Sharice had no idea that she was adopted she could tell that she wasn’t like the rest of her family, the main difference was the fact that her skin was white yet her family’s skins were black, they all had dark hair yet she had blonde and they all had brown eyes but she had blue eyes. Although up until Sharice started school she didn’t even care about the differences since her family had just told her that she was ‘special’ to be born with the appearance she had.

At school, Sharice was in the same class as Michael, every day they would walk up to school together while their brothers and sisters either trailed behind or sped off in front. On the way home they would always call into the shop so that they could buy sweets with the little pocket money they had, they would always try and eat it before they got home or else their siblings would want some of the treats as well. At school they would be together and after school they would play together. Basically Michael and Sharice were inseparable, they were constantly together.

During that first day at school in almost every lesson Sharice was pestered by lots of people asking about her skin colour and the fact she was different from her brothers and sisters. First thing in the morning nobody said a word because they didn’t know Michael and Sharice were related, but after a few lessons when the register was read out everybody realised they were related since the teacher read out everyone’s first and last names. From then on the only comments that were made were racist ones. ‘Whites shouldn’t be anywhere near Negro's’ was one of the first comments, it really upset Sharice because she had never experienced racism before since her family were Jehovah’s Witnesses, so she was brought up accepting other races and religions. After that first comment had been spoken the other comments started and soon enough the teacher told Michael to move away from Sharice and sit with the other black people in the room since they were considered not human.

Sharice felt so lonely throughout the day and whenever she turned around to say something to Michael, she would get told off by the teacher. Luckily the end of the day soon arrived and Michael and Sharice raced out of the classroom, across the playground and out through the school gates. They began walking after that since they were too tired to run anymore, they made their way back towards their house and all the way home they spoke about their first day at school. ‘Michael, are we related?’ Sharice asked thinking about the comments made by her class mates earlier that day, ‘yes of course we are, don’t listen to those people. You’re special, that’s why you look different to us. It’s no biggy Sheece’ he insisted smiling at his sister, Sharice smiled back and they changed the topic to something else.

The pair of them soon arrived back home and when they walked through the door they both shouted at the same time ‘mom we’re home’ Katherine shouted back ‘go and get changed, dinner will be ready soon’ the two children ran upstairs and got changed then ran back downstairs and into the dining room where most of the other Jackson siblings were sat talking. Michael sat down but Sharice hesitated then walked into the kitchen where her mother (Katherine) was stood in front of the sink peeling potatoes, ‘mom, am I related to you?’ Sharice asked standing next to her mother. ‘Of course you are why d’ya ask? Katherine enquired, ‘cause at school people asked me if I was related to Mike since I don’t have the same skin, hair or eye colour as him’ Sharice explained, ‘baby, you’re special and you’re unique. Ignore those people they’re jealous’ Katherine smiled looking down at Sharice.

Young Sharice returned the smile then exited the kitchen and went back into the dining room where the rest of the family had entered and sat down at the table. Everyone then heard the front door slam shut and they all knew it was their father (Joseph) returning home from a day’s work at the mill. ‘I hope Joseph’s got some dohnuts today’ Jermaine whispered to his sister Janet, ‘yeah me too’ she exclaimed. You see the Jackson’s weren’t exactly rich, actually they were pretty poor. But at the mills the workers took it in turns to take home the dohnuts which weren’t sold in the canteen that week, so every few weeks the Jackson’s would have that treat to look forward to. But they loved it more when Joseph got a pay rise for something so they could have an even more special treat of chocolate.

Joseph strode into the dining room and took a seat at the head of the table, he looked at his children but he didn’t smile or say a word he sat in silence. The dinner was served up and the Jackson’s said a prayer then tucked into their food, none of the children said a word but Joseph and Katherine however did talk but only to each other and only occasionally to the children. After a while when everyone had finished eating Joseph rose to his feet and exited the room but returned seconds later carrying something behind his back, ‘what’s behind your back Joseph?’ Katherine asked. ‘Some….. Dohnuts’ he exclaimed rising up a paper bag full of the delicious treats.