I sat in my dressing room waiting for my bodyguard to come get me. I looked myself up and down in the mirror making sure everything was perfect. I was wearing leather pants, jacket, and a black juu that showed my stomach. I smiled at myself I was going for hard edge and I think nailed it. There was nock at the door bringing me back from my thoughts. I did another quick look over and then went to the door. I opened it and it was my body guard Joe. “Hey Joe! Is it time?” I asked. “Yep it’s time wewe ready?” he replied. “Yep I’m ready.” I said. “Alright lets go.” He alisema leading the way. I fallowed behind him as we walked throw the corer doors in the back of the arena behind the stage. I could hear the faint sound of the crowd cheering beyond the cement walls and smiled to myself. I’d been in the industry for about a mwaka now and I was pushed full force into it. I’ve already won 2 moon men and 3 Grammys it really is a blessing and I thank god every siku for letting me live my dream. The tabloids suck but wewe learn to ignore I’m just happy to be touching people through my music. An artist I have a lot of respect for is the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson. I hope I can work with him on an album it would be a real honor. I’ve been working with Quincy Jones so it’s a possibility. I’ve started to get called the Queen of Pop so I think we could make a good combination. Plus he is HOT! My parents support my carrier even though they don’t get to see me that often I call whenever I can. I’m about to end my first leg of my world tour and it’s been a blast. This is my first tour and I’m very excited the audience just gets me pumped up and before I know it I’m blowing kisses and waving goodbye trying to get the hell out before I’m mobbed. We came behind the stage I could fully hear the crowd now screaming and shouting. “Alright wewe good?” Joe yelled over the crowd. I laughed lightly and shook my head yes giving him thumbs up. He mimicked me with his thumbs and left me as I proceeded to my spot underneath the stage wear I would be raised up slowly. I kneeled on one knee saying a small praying to god hoping for a good show. Then looking over to a crew member waiting for my signal to send me up. I signaled him and I slowly began to rise, it was pitch black. I took a deep breath feeling my moyo race. I got into position my arms to each side my hands in fists with my head facing to the left looking down. Suddenly a spot light came over me the crowd got loader and I felt myself smile lightly. I stayed like that for a moment au so taking in the crowd then pointed to the right with my right hand setting off fireworks waiting a moment again then pointing to the left with my left hand setting of fireworks. I was now facing the crowd totally and then threw both my arms to the side setting fireworks of on both sides and the muziki blared and the tamasha began.

I always upendo the feeling of it first starting. I Lost myself in the muziki imba and dancing my moyo out. The tamasha ended as soon as it began for me and I waved goodbye to my mashabiki and blew kisses thanking them for coming. Joe met me behind the stage waking with me to the car waiting for us to take me to my hotel. We got into the waiting car quickly and I sat down in my kiti, kiti cha with grown. “Hard show?” Joe asked. I laughed lightly and alisema “Nah just tired plus it’s so damn hot under all those lights.” Joe grabbed me a cold water bottle and handed it to me. “Ah thanks Joe.” I alisema quickly taking a gulp. The drive to the hotel was short. We made our way quickly out of the car trying to avoid the paparazzi and through the hotel lobby to the elevator. We got to the juu floor with only one room on it. I hugged Joe and alisema good night to him and walked into the huge hotel room. I went and took a quick kuoga and got into a pair of sweat pants and a wife beater shati for women and pulled my hair back into a pony. I got into kitanda and tried to fall asleep. I laid there for a while but then realized I really just couldn’t sleep. I got up and went to my balcony overlooking California. I saw a park a couple blocks away and then looked down to see if any paparazzi were around…nope. I smiled and grabbed a sweat shati and put the hoodie on. I walked out my door and Joe was there sitting outside my door. “What are wewe doing up?” he asked. “I could ask the same thing. Wears Shawn?” I asked. “Oh I couldn’t sleep and he was tired so I told him to go get some rest and that I’d watch your room for a while. Why are wewe up?” he asked. “Same couldn’t sleep. Actually there’s a park a few blocks away I wanted to take a walk.” I said. “At three a.m.?” he asked. “Yeah haven’t wewe herd it’s the new thing.” I alisema jokingly. He just shook his head. “Alright lets go.” He alisema getting up. We got into the elevator and down to the lobby. Joe was about to walk out with me when I stopped. “Joe I think I should go alone your presence may draw attention. I’ll be fine I promise.” I said. “What no I can’t let wewe do that far too dangerous.” He alisema in a fatherly tone. “Joe I’ll be fine. Listen if I’m not back in thirty wewe can call in the cavalry alright?” I alisema lightly laughing. He just crossed his arms and looked at me and huffed. “Fine boss but if you’re not back in thirty I’m sending a tafuta party.” He said. I just laughed at him and alisema “Don’t worry.”

I left the hotel and walked down the mitaani, mtaa toward the park. It was quiet and the streets were empty cars passed here and there but everything was at peace. As I made my way finally to the park nearing the center was a huge kisima, chemchemi with colorful lights shining from the water. I saw there was a man sitting on one of the benches near it. I pulled my hoodie over my head to hide my face. I stared down at the water wishing I had someone to share this beautiful moment with. I wish I had someone at all I was lonely and it was hard to be in a relationship aliyopewa my job of choice. I had to watch for dhahabu diggers and many people in onyesha biz were so into themselves. I just wanted someone down to earth like me. I grabbed a coin from my koti, jacket pocket and turned away from the kisima, chemchemi and threw it over my shoulder and made my wish and who knew right then and there I’d start to come true. “What did wewe wish for?” a soft voice asked. I practically jumped back I didn’t know someone was inayofuata to me. They laughed lightly and alisema “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” I laughed lightly and alisema “It’s ok. I’m ah not really used to this.” “Me neither.” They said. I could see it was a tall man with a kanzu, koti and fedora hat and penny loafers. He looked familiar but I couldn’t figure wear I saw him. “Have we met?” he asked. “I could ask the same question” I alisema debating if I should tell this man who I am. I hesitated but for some odd reason I wanted him to know who I was and I couldn’t figure why but I decided to go with it. “I’m Danielle Scherrer and wewe are?” I asked. “Danielle Scherrer the artist?” he asked. I laughed lightly and alisema “Yes” while pulling my hoodie off so that my face was better revealed. Michael had thought she was beautiful before when he only saw a glimpse of her face but now that he could totally see her and in person she looked simply amazing. quince had told him about her and how she had a real talent and an ear for music. The man’s smile widened and so did mine. There was something about him I don’t know what I just wanted to know him. “It’s a pleasure to meet wewe I’m Michael Jackson. quince has told me a lot about you.” Michael alisema extending his hand. Danielle couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She just ran into The King of Pop! “The pleasures all mine! quince has also told me much of you.” I alisema shaking his hand. “So what brings wewe hear at this time of night?” Michael asked. “Oh I just got done with a tamasha tonight and I can’t sleep so I thought a walk would be nice.” I said. “Mmm yes I too do that sometimes. wewe just want to get away from it all and relax just-” Michael was stopped when they both alisema “Breathe” at the same time. Both smiled at each other and their eyes connected glued to one and other. Danielle looked down feeling shy and blushed lightly.

We walked to a nearby bench and sat down and began to talk and talk. We talked about music, life, family, and the price of fame. We both had so much in common we became very comfortable with each other. As Michael and I were in a deep conversation I heard my name being called. I looked over to find Joe looking around and laughed to myself. “I’m sorry Michael just a minute.” I alisema getting up and waving Joe down. He came over quickly and alisema “It’s been forty dakika and I wanted to make sure wewe were alright. wewe know I worry.” I laughed lightly and alisema “Yes I know wewe do I’m fine. I got caught up talking to someone.” I alisema then motioned to Michael to stand and he did. “Michael this is my body guard Joe.” I said. “Hi I’m Michael Jackson! Nice to meet you.” He alisema shyly. “Wow it’s a pleasure. I upendo wewe music.” Joe alisema almost nyota struck and I laughed at him. “Thank you.” Michael alisema becoming zaidi shy. “Well I just wanted to make sure wewe were alright and also to remind wewe that wewe have to get up early tomorrow for meeting before we leave for Europe in a couple days.” Joe alisema looking at me. “Ugh those damn meetings. Alright I’ll be there in a few.” I alisema and Joe nodded walking to wait off to the side. I turned to Michael sad that I had to go we were talking and I enjoyed his company. “I’m sorry but I have to get going.” I said. I saw his smile fade a little. Did he not want to stop talking either? “Oh…I understand. Good luck with the tour.” He said. “Thank wewe and Michael I ah…I really enjoyed talking with wewe tonight…maybe we could do it some other time?” I asked feeling nervous. His smile became a little bigger and he shook his head yes then reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of paper and pen and uandishi something on it. “Here call me some time to talk and hang out.” He said. I smiled bigger feeling on juu of the world I got Michael Jacksons number! “I will. Goodnight Michael.” I alisema leaning in to give him a hug. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. I’ve had several hugs before but none like this it was different. I never wanted to let go of him. Little did I know that I was falling in upendo with him and him with me. Life had a lot in store for us we just didn’t know it yet. “Goodnight Danielle” Michael whispered in her ear holding her close. It’s as if they were made to hold each other. The way she easily relaxed around him. He really loved talking with her and enjoyed her company and was looking mbele to seeing her as much as possible before she left for Europe on her tour. They pulled away smiling at each other and saying goodbye. Michael watched as her and Joe slowly faded away and sighed happily. He knew something wonderful would come out of meeting her he just didn’t know what yet.

As Joe and I walked back to the hotel I couldn’t seem to get Michael off my mind. I kept thinking about him and his smile. Wow that smile it just wouldn’t leave me. There was something about him I can’t explain it I just wanted to know him understand him and that hug was simply…wow. There was a spark I felt it I know I just met him but why do I feel like I am starting to already have feelings for him? I mean sure I had a crush on him as a young girl watching him perform with his brothers but I’ve never felt what I’m feeling now. “Well goodnight” Joe alisema bring me back from me thoughts to relies we were on my floor. “O ahh yeah night.” I alisema smiling nervously. Joe just smiled in a way that I could tell he knew I was thinking of Michael and I blushed and quickly went into my hotel room. I got in and took my sweat shati off throwing it on the kitanda as I walked kwa and tossing my shoe’s off as well. I jumped into kitanda pulling the blankets around me and grabbing a mto to hold onto. I laid there for a few dakika thinking of Michael and all the things we talked about and how comfortable I could be with him. I slowly began to fall asleep remembering his soft voice saying “Goodnight Danielle.”