I was coming nyumbani from my mother's funeral in Las Vegas, Nevada; she had been murdered. It was a mwezi long stay, mostly in court, and I was tired and glad to go nyumbani to Los Angeles, California. When I went around the last corner, (my house was the third on the left on a kilima in Hacienda Heights), I saw a black wingu of smoke rising up from my side. The house was blazing the colors of furious anger, and there were about five moto trucks with men heavily dressed shooting white streams of cool water against the crackling beast that was in reality my house burning to the ground. When the flames had died down to embers and they were putting out the very last of it with sand, my house was literally to the ground in gray ashes. I had my essential things, thank goodness I had my money, but still I had nowhere to go. The woman who took care of my dog while I was gone came up to me.

"Well... At least your dog is still here. She enjoyed playing with my daughter Claudia." My eyes teared up as I took my baby pug Ruby into my arms. She snorted and snuggled her flat snout into my arm. Meilina gave me Ruby's bowl and everything.

"Thank you, Melina." I walked over to my car, drove to the park, and got out with the windows partially rolled down for my now asleep dog. I ran over to the kisima, chemchemi and looked up at the Angel statue. I started to bawl my eyes out and sat down on the side. A few dakika later (at eleven at night) someone sat down inayofuata to me.

"Are wewe okay?"

"Well, my mother was murdered and then I went to Vegas to find out my mother had been shot and killed. After a mwezi in court nobody knows who killed her, and then I came nyumbani and my house burned down, so no I am not okay!"

"That's very unfortunate. Is there anything I can do to help you?" I looked up. The first thing that I recognized was his large brown eyes and his bright smile.

"Michael Jackson! What are wewe doing out here in the middle of the night! Yo, wewe are just asking to get hurt!"

"I take walks at night, hoping to find someone to talk to."

"Why?"

"I get very lonely. But if wewe want wewe can come stay with me for right now." I smiled and gave him a big hug.

"Thank wewe soooo much."

"Let's go to your car... You've been through enough, I'll drive us there." I led him over to my Volkswagen bug and he got in on the driver side, me on the passenger side. I handed him the keys and he started it. My eyelids felt heavy, so I rested my head against the window; I passed out.

A while later, he picked me up when I was half-asleep and brought me in the front door. He set me down gently on the kitanda and ran back out to go get my bags. He set Ruby down and came over to me.

"Is there anything wewe want? Like are wewe hungry au thirsty au something?" I sat up.

"No, I'm just really tired right now."

"I don't blame you!" he laughed, his eyes sparkling. "I'll carry wewe up to a room."

"Thank you..." He picked me up and carried me up maroon-carpeted spiral stairs. We passed through a few halls ornately decorated with art and plants of all types until he opened a door and layed me down on a soft bed. He pointed to another door in the room.

"There's the bathroom if wewe want to go freshen up, take a kuoga au something. My bedroom is right across the hall if wewe need me. Anything else before I go to bed?"

"Undress me please. I don't mean to be bossy, but I'm so freaking tired right now I can't even change into my pajamas."

"It's okay, I know how wewe feel. Sometimes when I come nyumbani I come in, lock the door, and collapse out on the hardwood floor."

"Yeah, wewe like it HARD!" We busted out in laughter for a dakika au two. Michael went to retrieve the bags, Ruby trotting behind along with a chihuahua following. He pulled out my inayopendelewa nightgown, the blue satin one with the white lace trim.

"I think this one is hot; wewe should wear it." He smiled.

"Yeah, that one is my favorite." He set it down inayofuata to me and took off my jacket, and then my shati after he unbuttoned it. He unzipped my pencil skirt, and gazed me in the eyes as he slid it down my legs and off of me. I sat up and allowed him to slip it over my head and down. The kanzu, gown came down to my upper thighs, and the juu part was sleeve-less with a scoop neck.

"You look so beautiful... What's your name?"

"Haley."

"Just as beautiful as your face..." He pecked me on the lips, and then three zaidi times.

"I upendo wewe so much..." I stroked his hair. He pushed away.

"Um... I should be getting to kitanda now."

"Yeah. Well, thanks again for letting me stay here."

"Your very welcome, anything for a shabiki of mine." I could just barely see his high cheekbones blush a cherry-red in the dim lamplight as he slipped away through the door and shut it behind. I fell asleep.