Chapter 4

Michael stood in the full-length mirror and fixed his tie.

  "I don't know if I can go to this funeral. How am I supposed to act like I'm in grief?"

Ryan White stood beside him in a black suit.

   "You can do it, Mike. You gave a wonderful performance on the day of his death, you can do it at his funeral too."

   "You're right." Michael said, fixing his jacket. "I can do this."

Michael and the 3 boys rode in a limo with Janet to the funeral. Michael was silent through most of the ride and gazed out the window.

   "Michael," Janet said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Everything is going to be fine. I know it will."

Michael turned around and hugged her. "How could this happen, Jan? How could it?"

As they embraced, he gave a devilish grin at the 3 boys sitting across from them. They caught on quickly.

When they arrived at the church, Janet had an arm around Michael's shoulder as he cried loudly. Michael, in reality, was having the time of his life fooling them.

   "Come on Michael," Janet said softly. "Let's sit down."

Janet and Michael said next to each other in one of the pews. After a few minutes, Kathrine came in and sat next to Michael.

    "Talk to me son," Kathrine said. It seems as if she was crying a lot but now she had gained her composer. She gave Michael hug. "I know it's hard."

    Got that right, Michael thought. Hard to keep acting like this for the whole ceremony...

LaToya looked around. She was in a huge mansion. Not Michael's, not Hayvenhurst, it was her mansion. She was sitting on her couch watching herself being honored on her big screen TV.

Suddenly there was a news flash.

   "This just in, Joesph Jackson has been sentenced with 15 years in prison, along with Michael Jackson, his son. Joesph was charged with physical child abuse, while Michael Jackson was charged with sexual child abuse."

LaToya stood. "What?! But Michael didn't do that! I thought this was over!"

The newscaster continued. "Because of victim, Latoya Jackson's comments in her book, it has proven evidence of guilt on Joesph and Michael's part. more updates at 4."

As the last few words were said, Latoya rushed out the door.

    "I need to see Joesph and Michael" she said breathlessly when she reached the California prison.

The officer reluctantly sighed and led her to Joesph's cell. Smacking loudly on gum, she said "Michael is down the hall to your right. Have fun."

The place was loud with inmates yelling across to cells in front of them. LaToya turned her attention inside Joesph's cell.

    "Joesph?" She said softly.

    "I can not believe you." Joe said between his teeth. He was sitting on his small bed. He began cracking his knuckles.

    "I'm sorry...."

    "sorry??" Joesph stood and came up to the bars. "Fifteen years of prison and you say sorry???"

LaToya began crying. "I'm..I'm..."

    "NO!You're not my daughter!" Joesph's eyes became blood red. "Get out of my sight. I never want to see your face again."

Latoya looked up at her father. He was serious. Latoya turned and slowly headed towards Michael's cell. With tears streaming down her face, she felt weak. She could barely walk. She felt so overwhelmed. She reached Michael's cell. He too, sat on the bench. He was curled up against the corner of the wall, hugging his legs. He was rocking back and forth as his he was extremely anxious about something. Tears streamed down his face. When LaToya came up to the bars, Michael didn't even acknowledge her, as if he was trapped inside his own world.

   "Michael?"

Michael turned his head, gasped and backed as far as he could against the wall.

   What is wrong with him? LaToya thought. Michael's hair was slightly messy and his orange prison suit was slightly baggy on him. She knew what was wrong.

  This is Michael what he is driven over the absolute edge. She thought. And I drove the car.

As if talking to a timid child she said, "Do you want to talk?"

Michael swallowed and said, "15 years." His voice was soft and rough.

   "I know." Tears came to LaToya's eyes again. "I know."

Michael touched the wall with both hands and looked up and down, as if amazed by it.

   "These walls.....these walls...." he mumbled.

   Oh my god, I drove him mad... With this thought , the weakness came back to LaToya. More powerful this time. Michael suddenly turned his head towards her and blinked several times.

   "These walls.....they don't move and....." he began to shed tears. "...and can't get out....I won't perform...and...no Grammy Award...and can't see children...they're all behind these walls...and ..they don't move...." He put his back to the wall. "....it feels like Hell..."

LaToya swallowed hard. Her heart began to beat faster and she felt a sensation of sleepiness.

   "LaToya," Michael continued. "Why'd you do this to me? I didn't do it...." He began running his fingers slowly through his hair. LaToya's heart seemed to be pushing against her ribs.

   "You know I didn't do it...why LaToya, why?"

LaToya's heart stopped.

LaToya opened her eyes. She was back in her jail cell. She sat up on her bed and saw Michael standing, this time, on the other side of the bars.

   "Having a bad dream?" Michael asked, sticking his hands in his black trenchcoat.