Book 1- 1965 (Michael Jackson)

Chapter 6- Blossoming Friendship

                                                        Chapter 6- Blossoming Friendship

                                                      Date: Saturday, September 11, 1965

                                                                        Time: 11:38AM

                                                                      MICHAEL'S POV

        I trotted up to one of my neighbor's doors, and rang the doorbell. About fifteen seconds later, a fairly heavy lady with a big smile opened the door.

        "Oh, it's little Michael! Hello, Michael, what are you doing today?"

        I cleared my throat, and then recited what Mommy told me to say. "I would like to tell you a little about Jehovah, and why we should worship him."

        The lady sat patiently while I preached about the importance of Jehovah, and why she should become a Jehovah's Witness. When I was finally done, she gave me a sweet smile, and replied with, "I'm sorry, hun, but I'm actually Baptist."

        "Oh, okay," I said, a little upset to have recited all of that stuff just for her to tell me she was Baptist.

        She turned around and reentered her house without saying goodbye. I sighed loudly, so that La Toya would hear me.

        "I know, Michael, but we'll be home soon. We stop at 12, and..." she checked her watch. "It's already 11:46."

        "So that's, um... fourteen more minutes, right?"

        La Toya nodded very matter-of-factly. "Only another fourteen... now thirteen, more minutes, and we go home."

        I shrugged a little. "I think I can do that."

         We walked over a couple houses, and then La Toya held her hand up.

      "I'll take this one," she proclaimed, full of pride. She skipped up the steps and rang on our neighbor's doorbell. Out came a thin older man, with a five o'clock shadow and laugh lines.

        "Um," La Toya started, "I'm here to..." I drowned her out as I scanned the neighborhood. Across the street were rows upon rows of trees and bushes. Fallen twigs and leaves scattered across the area. Birds settled on rooftops and sang to us. The sound of people's shoes tip-tapped along the road. Wind rustled between the remaining tree limbs.

        I stood in my spot, caught in a trance by the slew of sounds. All of the noises seemed to join each other and create a rhythm, a harmony. Lyrics to the harmony soon popped in my head.

           Every time I hear your name...

        I softly hummed a tune to myself while La Toya finished talking to the neighbor. By the time I finished singing, I noticed La Toya was staring at me.

       "Bah!" I screamed, and nearly toppled over. La Toya caught me by the hand and pulled me up.

        "Hold on!" she shouted, and stared at me strangely. "Were you singing?"

        I shrugged and gave her an 'Elvis lip'. "I dunno, I guess I was."

        La Toya nodded a little and replied with, "It sounded pretty good."