Chapter 12

The classical and happy music from the merry-go-round gave Prince so many charished memories he wished he'd never gotten. He walked along the pathway with Paris and watched Evan's people move boxes towards the house.

Usually Paris would just talk until she gets tired but today she was quiet as she walked. Maybe she was having some memories too.

They began to pass the famous Zipper ride when they heard Evan.

"Yeah move those boxes over in Cabin 3 and I'll take over from there!" Evan called out to one of the workers.

Evan came up to them lowering his shades. He had a clipboard in his hand. "Hey kiddies! What a pleasant surprise!"

Paris nodded respectfully.

"No lectures? No 'You're-gonna-pay-for-this!' fits?" Evan asked.

Prince and Paris shook their heads.

"Well that's good." He said with a smile. "I think in time we're gonna become good friends..." He put an arm around Paris. She made sure she gave Prince an uneasy glance.

"Mr. Matolla..." Jermaine said on the phone. He gazed and Janet.

"Hey Jermaine. I just called because....." He paused with a sigh. He seemed troubled. "Because I heard Neverland was sold..."

"Yes....it is." Jermaine said, wondering what could possibly be concerning Tommy Matolla.

"....to Evan Chandler...right?" Tommy said.

"Yeah...."

"Right." Tommy went silent for a moment.

"What's the problem?"

"...and everything is finalized right? I mean, it's HIS...right?" Tommy asked.

"Yes, there's no turning back....everything is out of our hands." Jermaine said.

He heard Tommy swallow. Hard.

"What is it?"

Tommy took a deep breath. "Ahh nothing. I just wanted to......" He paused. "I....I just wanted to know."

"Okay...."

"Thanks.....uhh....thanks a lot." Tommy hung up the phone.

"What was that about?" Janet asked.

Tommy hung up the phone and stared at his TV screen. Now retired, Matolla was playing it easy and life was going at his own pace especially after Michael Jackson died. But now, after watching televison and hearing on the news that evan chandler had bought neverland...he knew that his peaceful life wasn't going to last long. Maybe he was being too supersticious. But he just had a feeling. Something wasn't right. And something was going to happen.
"Next on Extra," The announcer on his TV said. "more about the Jacksons, as we take a look back at Michael Jackson's weird, strange, and sometimes disturbing way life and his sudden death...."

Prince, Paris, and Evan continued to walk through the theme park. Evan showed the kids the papers on his clipboard.

"Here are all the plans we made for Neverland."

Paris looked at it for a long while and said softly, "There's a parking lot...."

Evan laughed. "Of course!"

"...there's a parking lot where the......Waterballoon Fight Field should be...."

"Oh yeaahhh...it was a god send. All that extra space." Evan said.

Paris stole a glance at Prince.

"So you're making....Neverland....into a business?" Prince asked.

Evan laughed again. "Well what do you expect? You thought I was gonna live in La-La Land? This is a great money-making machine if advertized for children though...and I don't understand why your father didn't take advantage of it,really. "

"You are not alone......" Lisa Marie sung. "I am here with you......" She laughed as she took another sip of wine while laying on the couch.

"Uhh...I think that's enough wine for you..." Debbie said, hesitantly.

"You have a nice place....really low key....average....middle-class like..." Lisa said.

"Yeah...." Debbie said. "Lisa, is something bothering you? I mean, I sensed that on the phone that's why i wanted you to come over..."

"Whisper three words and I'll...come runnin'......" Lisa continued to sing. "Debbie, do you sing?"

"No, not at all..." she laughed.

"Michael never asked you to try?"

"Well...you know how he was...of course he did." Debbie said. She was beginning to get suspicious.

"I never got the chance to.....know....how he was." Lisa said softly. She sat up. "something's bad gonna happen, Deb. Something really bad. And I need you to forgive me...."

"Forgive you for what? Saying all that stuff about him back in 2003? Well..."

"Noooo...." Lisa swallowed hard. "Noooo not that."

"Well I consider myself forgiving....what is it then?"

Lisa was silent. Suddenly she broke into tears. "I don't think you can forgive me! Why do I try? You'll never forgive me for what i did!"

"Lisa calm down..." Debbie said. "You don't know....what is it? Is it about Prince and Paris?"

Lisa shook her head. "i've got to go...." she stood quickly and headed for the door. "I'll have to take whatever he throws at me....." She grabbed her coat. "And Debbie?"

"Yes?"

"You are so lucky....so lucky Michael loved you." Lisa said as a new set of tears ran down her face. "Goodbye." she whispered as she walked out the door.