The Maid In Neverland || Michael Jackson

Chapter 6

The last time that I received a food coming from a guy was when I was in High School which was about four years ago. I didn't consider myself as attractive but somehow, I had some suitors back then that would give me foods as well as gifts. For the first time in a long time, a food---a box of donuts---was given again to me not by a suitor but by my own employer, Michael Jackson.

I couldn't sleep that night. I was reading the note again and again. His handwriting was a bit messy but I somehow managed to understand it. Did he really just sent me a box of Krispy Kreme just for laughing when a book fell on my head? It wasn't really a big deal for me so I never expected that he would say sorry by sending a food with a note. I shared the donuts with my fellow maids and as for the note, I folded it and put it safe inside my wallet.

My last day of cleaning the library came. That day, I came there earlier than I used to, carrying the basket of cleaning materials and smiling excitedly as I walk. When I got there, I stood outside the library's huge door for a moment to tie my hair in a neat bun. I fixed my uniform and made sure I looked at least okay before I face him. I took a deep breath and opened the door to let myself in. I was expecting to see him sitting on his favorite chair and reading a book but my smile faded when I saw that the chair was empty. I look around but there's no one inside.

He wasn't here.

I closed the door behind me. I didn't know but I was a bit dissapointed that he wasn't here. I was expecting to talk to him since this was my last day in the library and thank him for the donut.

"Maybe he was busy," I said to myself. The boss was a busy man, after all.

Everything here seemed to be in order exactly how I left it yesterday except for a couple of books and a magazine that was on the center table. I brought them back to their shelves but I stopped when I noticed the title of the other book. Ancient Egypt.

'So the boss reads about Ancient Egypt?' I thought to myself. I smiled. I used to read everything I could find about Ancient Egypt when I was in high school out of so much fascination. The pyramids. Mummies. The golden ages. I was so into it that I even tried memorizing all the Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty.

My smile widened. I missed reading about this kind of stuff so I decided to open the book and scan some few pages. There were chapters about the pyramids, temples, and Egyptian Gods. I got so hooked that I didn't notice that I'd been flipping the pages til I finished an entire chapter.

"Reading?"

I almost had a heart-attack when I heard someone speak behind me. I turned around saw a tall man in a red long-sleeved shirt, leaning against one of the shelves with his arms crossed, smirking.

Oh shit.

"S-sir," I stuttered. I got so lost in reading that I didn't notice him sneaking in. How long had he been there?

"I-m sorry, I was just checking the book if---"

"No, it's okay." He smiled. "It's okay, Jane."

The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine. I looked down and didn't know what to say. He stood straight and walked closer.

"So what can you say about it?"

I looked up. "A-about what, Sir?"

"The book."

Oh. I looked at the book on the center table. "It's interesting since I've always been a fan of Ancient Egypt."

"Really?" he asked, a bit surprised.

It turned out that the boss and I shared the same interest. We both had a fascination about Ancient Egypt. We ended up having a short conversation about it, and he even mentioned that his favorite Pharaoh was King Tutankhamun.

"I am actually looking for a replica of King Tut's sarcophagus," he said. "I would like to display it somewhere here."

"Really, Sir?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "And I am planning to make an Egyptian-themed music video. Maybe for one of my songs."

When It was time for me to go, he was already seated on his favorite chair, ready to read again. I collected the basket of cleaning materials and I told him that I was going. He smiled and nodded as a response.

Just as I was about to open the door, I remembered something. I turned around and looked back at him.

"Uh, Mr. Jackson?"

He looked at me. "Hmm?"

"I. . uh," I wasn't sure how to say it. After taking a deep breath, I finally said what I wanted to say. "I just wanna say thanks for the donuts."

"Oh, yeah, the donuts." He smiled again. "Did you like it?"

I nodded. I loved it. "Of course, Sir."

He nodded. "Glad you did."

I smiled for the last time before I finally left.

My one week assignment to the library was over and Dana assigned me to the kitchen together with Sarah. The next day, we spent the entire day working in the kitchen and serving snacks to the guests that visited the ranch. Sarah was the closest to me among the maids here so I enjoyed working with her. We talked about a lot of things as we work. I kinda missed cleaning in the library, though.

We went to our beds that night around 10 pm. Everyone was ready to sleep except for me who was still wide-eyed as an owl. I was tucked under my blanket while staring blankly at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep.

My mind drifted to my younger brother, John, who was probably sleeping alone now in his tattered bed in our old shoebox apartment. I handn't seen him in weeks and I missed him. I know I shouldn't worry for him especially that he was too responsible for a 15-year-old but as an older sister, I felt that I should be taking care of him and I had to give him a better life.

For a better life, he needed to finish school.

And for him to finish school, I needed to work. I needed to stay away, to live in this ranch to get money that'll support his needs.

And that's why I can't leave this job even though I hated being away. I would try visiting him, though. Maybe I could talk to Miss Joan next week so I coud visit home over the weekened.

I took a deep breath and shifted my lying position on the bed. The rest were already in deep slumber but here I am, still awake and unable to sleep. I looked at the clock and saw that it was already 12:00. I tried closing my eyes for about fifteen minutes but still, nothing happened.

I've been experiencing this these past few weeks. I didn't know why.

Maybe I just needed some warm water so I decided to get up and walk down the kitchen to get a glass of it. I tried sneaking out the quarter as silent as I can for I didn't wanna disturbed anyone's sleep. The kitchen was silent and dimly lit when I got there. I didn't bother to open the lights and just proceeded to get some water by the sink but my eyebrows pulled together when I saw that the refrigerator's doors were wide open.

I stopped. Is someone in here?

The lights coming from the fridge illuminated the nearby floor of the kitchen. That's when I saw a shadow moved. I immediately took a step back out of fear.

"Who is that?" I called. I saw a tall figure came out from behind the fridge. My heart started racing because my stupid self thought it was a ghost. I blinked numerous times and my eyes adjusted to the dark. That's when I figured out who it was.

Not a ghost but a real person.

"Mr. Jackson?"

Yes, it was the boss. He was standing there holding something in his hand. What was he doing in the kitchen in this hour?