Chapter 11,

February 1, 2004,

I was sitting in our huge four-bedroom hotel room when dad woke up and came into the sitting area. He took a piece of gum out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. Prince and Paris walked over and sat down in between the two of us. Dad کہا "there's going to be someone coming here today to talk to آپ guys about some things." I کہا "I already know what they are going to talk to us about and I think it is so stupid!" He کہا "I know آپ do but; آپ have to talk to them… There's no way around it, trust me… I tried to negotiate a deal but it didn't work." Prince asked "what's AJ talking about daddy?" Dad کہا "nothing Prince; just make sure that آپ tell this man یا woman the truth, no matter what سوالات he یا she asks you!" I کہا "you don't have to worry about that; even if we wanted too, we have no reason to lie!"

About 20 منٹ later, a woman walked into the room wearing a badge that کہا "Child protective services" on it. She looked around the hotel room and کہا "okay; I think I will سوال the two younger children first and then come back to سوال the oldest one." I arrogantly asked "you do know that I have a name; right?" Dad gave me a look of shock because he couldn't believe what had just come out of my mouth. The woman didn't say anything as she directed Prince and Paris into a separate room. Dad کہا as the woman shut the door "don't talk like that to anyone! Especially; someone with a job like hers!" I کہا with my arms crossed and feet propped up on the coffee میز, جدول "I'm just trying to make it very clear that I don't want her here!" He کہا "I don't care! آپ are digging me into a deeper and deeper hole that's going to be really hard for me to get out of!"

The woman came back a half an گھنٹہ later and کہا "all right it's your turn." I کہا as I got up and followed her into the other room "alright; I just want to get this over with!" She shut the door and sat down. She کہا "my name is Andrea; what's yours?" I کہا "AJ" and sat down in the chair across from her." She asked "do آپ know why I'm here today?" I کہا "because someone lied." She کہا "how do آپ know that they lied?" I کہا "because my father would never ever do anything like that!" She کہا "I'm not here to get your dad in trouble in any way; I just want to make sure that آپ kids are محفوظ here!" I کہا "yeah; that's what آپ say now but; I know what all of آپ are really after… Don't act like you're not either! I know مزید than آپ think I do!"

She asked me a series of absolutely disgusting سوالات and I answered each one with a "no." As time went by; the سوالات got harder and harder to listen to. At one point, I کہا "every answer to these سوالات will be a no so; can I be done here!" She wouldn't let me leave and it was getting point where I couldn't handle listening to anything coming out of her mouth anymore. She kept me in the longest; I'm assuming because I am the oldest and she could asked me مزید detailed types of questions.

Almost an گھنٹہ later she کہا "okay I think I've asked آپ everything that I need to know. I'll give آپ my number and آپ call it if آپ ever feel in danger!" I took it and the two of us walked out room. She کہا "alright Mr. Jackson; I have all the information that I need and I'd like to thank آپ for allowing me to interview her children!" He کہا as he shook her hand "you're welcome and I hope this clears everything up!" She shut the door and I felt so relieved that she was finally gone!

Dad looked at me and I was all shaken up. He asked "how did it go?" Before I could answer him; I ran to the bathroom and started violently throwing up. He ran after me and asked "are آپ okay?" I stood up and کہا "daddy; آپ can't ever make me be interviewed like that again!" He کہا as we walked into one of the bedrooms that were in our hotel room "let's talk about it then." We both sat down in the recliners and I کہا "it was so gross daddy! The سوالات she asked me are things I hope I never hear again for as long as I live!" He کہا "I knew that they would ask آپ the hardest سوالات because آپ understand مزید than Prince and Paris do! That's why I tried to get all three of آپ out of it! I only went along with it because I had no other choice! I'm sorry that آپ had to go through all of that and I don't think anyone will have to سوال آپ again." I کہا "I hope you're right because that made me physically sick… Hearing her ask me if I ever saw anything wrong going on between آپ and Gavin. I tried to get her to stop going into so much detail about specifics but; she wouldn't listen to me!" He hugged me and کہا while trying not to cry "I'm so sorry!!!"

February 13, 2004,

Today is Prince's 7th birthday and I'm curious to see what dad has planned since we are not at home. I woke up this morning and went out to Prince's bedroom in our hotel room and woke him up. When he opened his eyes I کہا "happy birthday Prince!" He کہا "thanks; is daddy awake yet?" I کہا "yeah; he just woke up about five منٹ ago." Prince got out of بستر and walked into the corner kitchen. He looked at the pancake batter and chocolate chips on the counter and کہا "yes!" I کہا while laughing "I know; I کہا the same thing when I saw that!"

Dad walked over to us and put his hands on each of our shoulders. We turned around and dad کہا "happy birthday سیب, ایپل head!" Prince کہا "thank آپ daddy!" Dad کہا "that pancake batter on the counter is extra just in case we need it. I had Grace start making پینکیکس and their almost done! I'm going to wake up Paris and Blanket, I'll be right back!"


Dad came back into the room carrying Blanket in one arm and holding hands with Paris with the other arm. Blanket stared at me and started laughing. Dad asked while smiling at him "what's so funny?" I کہا "I just think it's one of those days where everything is funny; right Blanket?" Blanket کہا "I get down?" Dad کہا "no buddy; we're going to eat breakfast!" Dad put Blanket in his high chair and set the table. All of us sat down and started eating. Dad asked "Prince what آپ want to do today for your birthday?" Prince کہا "I want to ride go carts!" Dad کہا "alright; I'll try to find a place. If I can't; what else would آپ want to do?" I asked "why would we not be able to go to the go کی ٹوکری, رکن کی نمائندہ track?" Dad کہا "it's not that we can't go but; it would be hard to find a place that is willing to shut their doors so I could go with آپ guys without anyone else finding out."

Unfortunately, dad was unable to find a go kart track that would shut their doors so he could go with us. Prince had کہا that he would want to go to the فلمیں to see "are we there yet?" Dad was able to go in disguise and he surprisingly pulled it off!"

February, 19, 2004,

I was watching my new پسندیدہ دکھائیں on TV called "this suite life of Zack and Cody" on Disney channel. Dad came into my hotel bedroom and looked at the TV. He کہا "oh my gosh… I can't believe you're watching this again!" I کہا "this is a new episode; I haven't seen it yet!" He sat down اگلے to me and کہا "after this, آپ have to take a شاور and go to bed." I asked "can I watch TV until I fall asleep?" He کہا "as long as you're not up until three in the morning and آپ take your ADHD medication!" I کہا "I promise that I'll do what آپ say."

During the episode a boy came on screen and started singing. I tried my hardest not to blush but; dad caught me." He started laughing and asked "what's wrong?" I کہا "nothing; nothing at all!" He asked "who is that guy?" I کہا "Jesse McCartney!" I started blushing even worse than before and dad asked "you'll like him; don't you?" I didn't answer him at first because I was trying to come up with an excuse. I کہا "no… I don't know where آپ got that idea from!" He کہا "I don't know, maybe it's because your bright red and آپ can't even say his name without smiling! I think my tomboys got a little celebrity crush on this Jesse kid!" I covered my face with a throw تکیا and کہا "I do not have a crush on him!" He کہا "yes آپ do! I can tell because آپ can't even look at him without blushing!" I کہا "okay; maybe I have a crush on him but; that doesn't mean I'm going to be a girlie girl; I'm tomboy all the way!" He کہا "I know that and I don't think that will ever change! I think I worked with that boy on "what مزید can I give?” When he was still in Dream Street!"

April 9, 2004,

I'm starting to get sick of living in one hotel room to the اگلے and that's how it's been for a while now. The boredom is driving me insane and I think dad is starting to notice it as well. He has no clue where to live because he has not bought a permanent residence since Neverland Ranch back in the 1980s. I can definitely tell that dad is really stressed out because all he has done since the دن after Paris's six birthday; all he has done is sleep and every once in a while come into the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ area to eat something.

It was the middle of the دن and I was sitting at the میز, جدول in our hotel room doing my schoolwork. Grace was playing with Blanket, Prince, and Paris when dad finally came out of his bedroom. He was dressed in his pajamas and his hair wasn't brushed yet. One of the things that I've always loved about him is that he never let us see how much he was struggling but; I'm old enough now to where it harder for him to hide it from me. He came over and sat down اگلے to me. He asked "how's it going?" I کہا "it's going alright; why do آپ ask?" He کہا as he rubbed his eyes "I know you're not happy with the fact that we are staying in a hotel for so long! I just want آپ to know that I really am trying to get us out of here." I کہا "I know آپ are daddy and I'm not mad at you! I just can't take being stuck in here were too much longer!" He کہا "well; I'm going to check out some rental houses for us to use until after the trial ends. Do آپ want to go with me? It will get آپ out of this hotel for a while!" I کہا "okay… Is it just going to be the two of us?" He کہا "yes; we will be able to see مزید houses that way.”

After I finished my last page of school work, dad and I headed out into central Los Angeles to look at rental houses. A realtor brought us to house after house but; nothing seemed like a perfect fit. He always made sure wherever we were that each of us has our own bedrooms no matter what. Either the houses we visited were too small یا dad thought that the rent was way too high.


April 10, 2004,

After not being able to find a temporary place for us to rent, dad is obviously frustrated and hates the fact we have to اقدام in the first place. I was sitting in my hotel room and could hear dad cheering down the hall. I opened the door and asked "what the heck are آپ so happy for?" He کہا "we have a place to live!" I کہا while smiling "where?" He کہا "the Prince of Bahrain who is a good friend of mine just offered to let us use one of his mansions for as long as we need to." I looked at him confused and asked "so we're moving to Bahrain?" He کہا "yes; right on the ساحل سمندر, بیچ too!" I کہا "that's going to be so awesome daddy! How are آپ going to be back here in Los Angeles for the trial when it starts اگلے year?" He کہا "I will just travel back and forth until it's over and آپ guys will come with me! Oh my gosh; I'm so excited! I'll help آپ pack your bags because were leaving in a few hours on a private jet."

Prince and Paris came running into my room and کہا "we are moving to the beach!" Grace came into and asked "what is this rolled up piece of paper that was in your room Michael?" Dad کہا "oh yeah; I forgot to give that to آپ AJ! I meant to give آپ on your birthday but; I lost it when we were switching hotels!" I took it from Grace and unraveled it. It was a poster of Jesse McCartney and I کہا "thank آپ daddy; even though I told آپ that I only have a little crush on him!" Dad کہا "you've been listening to his CD that I got آپ for your birthday over and over again. For someone that only has only has a little crush on him; آپ sure do talk about him a lot!" Grace started laughing and کہا "I never thought I would see Alanna blushing over a boy!"

April 11, 2004,

We are finally here in Bahrain and it is مزید amazing than I could have ever imagined! Our bedrooms are three times as big as the ones we had back in Neverland. I woke up this morning and just lay in بستر looking around my new bedroom. My پسندیدہ part سے طرف کی far is that I have my own bathroom for the first time! Then when آپ look out the خلیج, کھاڑی window آپ can see the perfect view of the shore. My room is pretty much a disaster because I haven't had time to decorate یا put things away due to the fact that we got here so late last night.

I got out of بستر and decided to put my new Jesse McCartney poster up on the دیوار because I knew it would make dad happy. I grabbed a roll of tape out of one of the cardboard boxes in my room hung the poster on the wall. Dad walked in and کہا "I knew آپ would put it up!" Blanket came into my room with my dog ڈریک (yes, I am aware that I haven't talked about the dog in a long time!) And ڈریک climbed on my bed. Dad کہا "after we eat, Prince Al-KhalifaI coming over to welcome us to Bahrain. Don't worry, آپ don't have to call him that; just call him Al. That's what I call him because I always forget his name."

Just as dad said; Prince Al showed up منٹ after we had finished eating breakfast and he seemed like such a nice person. He took the time to get to know each of us and he actually told me a few jokes that were really funny. He passed a set of keys to me and I asked "what are these for?" He کہا "they are for the gate to the outdoor باسکٹ, باسکٹ بال court! Your father told me that that's your پسندیدہ American sport." I کہا "that's so cool; I didn't even notice that there was a باسکٹ, باسکٹ بال court outside! Daddy; can I go play basketball?" Dad کہا "sure آپ can; just make sure that آپ lock the door when آپ leave so Blanket can't get out! “Al laughed at how excited I was and dad کہا "I can't even begin to tell آپ how thankful I am to آپ for letting us stay here!" Al کہا "of course Michael; I enjoy having آپ here and I hope this will be the first place آپ perform when آپ stage آپ come back!" Dad کہا "without a doubt; I will! I am loving it here already and as آپ can tell, so are the children! Maybe if all goes well; I will stay here and live here permanently after the trial is over!"

May 7, 2004

I'm definitely getting مزید comfortable here in Bahrain and my typical attitude is getting back to normal. I'm not the only one who seems back to themselves because dad hasn't been depressed since we moved here and he's back to laughing and having fun. Whenever we need something, Prince Al is always willing to get it for us and for the first time in a long time I finally feel like we have our ہوم again!

I was chasing Prince around and pinned him down on the ground. Dad کہا "Alanna; be careful because آپ are stronger than he is!" I looked down at Prince and کہا "say uncle, say it, say it!" He کہا "okay; uncle! Please let me go now!" Dad کہا "AJ; that's enough now!" I got up and Paris came into the kitchen. She asked "daddy; I want to find my Princess dress!" He asked "where was the last place آپ saw it?" Paris کہا as she shrugged her shoulders "I don't know." He کہا "that doesn't help me out at all; are آپ sure آپ don't know where it is? Did آپ even look for it?" Paris کہا "yes; all over my room!" Dad کہا "as soon as I'm done making lunch for everyone I will help آپ look for it." She کہا "I need it now though!" Dad looked at me and smiled. I کہا "oh no; if آپ think I'm helping her look for that آپ are out of your mind!" He laughed and asked "please Alanna, for me?" I would my eyes and went upstairs with Paris to her bedroom.

I looked around Paris's bedroom and toys were scattered everywhere. I could barely see the carpet and کہا "no wonder why آپ can't find it in here! It's a disaster!" She کہا "it's not my fault; I was looking all over for my Cinderella dress!" I کہا as I picked up a few T-shirts "yeah but; did آپ really need to take all the clothes out of your dresser and closet? Why would it be in there? I've never seen any of your dress-up stuff in there!" She کہا "I've put it in there before because Prince کہا he was going to rip it when he was mad at me one time!" I asked "how do آپ expect me to find it in all this mess?" She کہا "daddy always finds stuff when it's missing!" I کہا "yeah well; I'm not daddy. I'm a 10-year-old with a very short attention span! I don't know what he was thinking when he sent me up here to look for a dress!"

Dad yelled from downstairs "lunch is ready." Paris and I went downstairs and sat down at the میز, جدول with everyone else. Dad asked as he took a bite of his سینڈوچ "how did the تلاش for the Cinderella dress go?" Paris کہا "AJ wouldn't help me find it!" I کہا "I tried to help you! Daddy; آپ have to see her room! There has to be every one of her toys on the floor in there! There's no way I would be able to find that dress. I don't even think آپ could find it in there! He کہا "Paris; if I go up there to help آپ find your dress and your room is a mess آپ will have to clean it!" She کہا "I don't think it's a mess in there at all." I کہا "you're kidding me Paris! I stepped on at least 50 of those little Polly pocket doll pieces!" Dad کہا "you're going to end up losing all of those if آپ don't keep them all in the same place and picked up off the floor because they are so small." I کہا "I bet آپ if آپ clean your room آپ would find that Cinderella dress!" Dad looked at Paris and کہا "AJ's right!"

After we all at lunch, I helped dad and Prince clear the table. Paris کہا "I don't need to find my Cinderella dress anymore daddy!" He کہا "okay; but that's not going to get آپ out of cleaning your bedroom." Paris کہا "why do I have to clean it?" He کہا "because I saw it a few منٹ پہلے when I went upstairs to get something out of my bedroom and there is everything from puzzle pieces to videotapes all over the floor! آپ need to go clean it; right now please!" Paris reluctantly went upstairs to clean her room and I went into the living room to watch TV.

ڈریک jumped on the سوفی, لٹانا and lay his head on my lap. I looked for the remote and found it underneath one of the سوفی, لٹانا cushions. I noticed something blue underneath the other one so; I lifted it up! It was the Cinderella dress that Paris wanted and just as I grabbed it dad کہا "you found it! I wonder what it was doing under there?" I کہا "Paris is lucky that I had to look for the remote-control." He کہا "please watch something other than that Zack and Cody دکھائیں on the Disney channel. I کہا "that's my پسندیدہ دکھائیں though!" He کہا "I know it is; practically everyone that knows آپ knows that that's your پسندیدہ show! I know for a fact that آپ have seen the episode that's on right now because I've seen it!" I asked "what if the episode with Jesse McCartney comes on after this one?" He کہا "you have seen that one about seven times! Why don't آپ just buy the DVD with that episode on it?" I کہا while laughing "fine; if آپ don't want to watch this then I will go to my room and watch it سے طرف کی myself on my TV!"

May 12, 2004,

I was listening to my Jesse McCartney CD in my room and singing along to the words when dad came. He asked "is that آپ singing? Wow; you've gotten really good at singing!" I asked "do آپ really think that I'm a good singer یا are آپ just saying that because آپ are my dad?" He کہا "no I mean it; you're really good AJ!" I کہا "thanks!" He کہا "you sound a lot like me when I sing! It's actually uncanny how much we sound alike!" I کہا "I still want to be a famous singer like آپ when I grow up! Dad کہا "wow; آپ کہا that when آپ were only three years old and that's still what آپ want to be when آپ grow up!"

Blanket came into my room and dad picked him up. I walked up to him and کہا "look at his hair daddy; it's sticking up all over the place!" He کہا "I think we should go comb your hair Blanket!" Dad took him out of my room and I turned on the desktop سیب, ایپل Computer that was in my room. I stared at my Jesse McCartney پیپر وال for a few منٹ and then clicked on the "Firefox" icon. I went on YouTube.com and searched "Jesse McCartney کنسرٹ 2004." Jesse has been performing a few concerts at city fairs and charity benefits. I obviously really want to go to one of his concerts but; I haven't کہا anything to dad about it and I don't plan to! I don't feel that now is the right time for me to ask for کنسرٹ tickets because dad has his trial starting soon and I don't want him to be worried that he would not be able to take me to the کنسرٹ due to a دن in court!