Chapter 7

January 13, 2000,

I was hanging out with dad in his recording studio at the ranch. He paused the track that he was working on and had the chef bring us some food. The chef knocked on the door and dad let him inside. He brought us each an egg saladi sandwich, sandwichi and went back to the main house. Dad came over and sat down across from me at the small meza, jedwali that was there.

I alisema "daddy I want to be just like wewe when I grow up!" He asked "you do? In what way do wewe want to be like me?" I alisema "well; I want to be a singer and a dancer who is famous just like you!" He alisema "yeah; it can be awesome but; there are a lot of hard things that go along with it!" I asked "like what?" He alisema "I don't want to say too much right now because you're still too young to understand but; I will say that there are a lot of sneaky people out there that will take advantage of what wewe do!" I alisema "I also want to be a good person like wewe are and give money to people in need!" He alisema "you need to make sure that wewe always put others before yourself." I alisema "I will try not to be selfish!"

I remember that siku like it was yesterday, I remember just staring at dad as he stood in the sound booth recording a song. I think the song he was recording was "butterflies." I just thought of how cool and amazing dad was in that moment. I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do for a career. I also know that there is no possible way that dad is going to let me become a musician before my childhood is over so; I'll have to wait quite a few years before I get my chance in the spotlight. I'm fine with that right now because I'm enjoying being a kid. If and when dad does give me the chance to prove myself as a valid artist… I don't think I could've ended up with a better mentor than my dad himself because he's been doing this for years!

January 31, 2000,

Dad was just walking through the door after having a meeting about when to launch his new album "invincible." Grace, Prince, and Paris were in the living room when dad asked "where's AJ at?" Grace alisema "I think she's upstairs in her room." He walked upstairs and into my bedroom. I was sitting on the kitanda looking down and alisema "oh no daddy!" He asked "what's wrong sweetheart?" I alisema frantically "I brush my teeth every siku I promise!" He asked with a puzzled look on his face "what are wewe talking about?" I looked up at him and smiled. One of my teeth had fallen out and dad alisema "that's okay; they're supposed to fall out!" I asked "they are?" He alisema "yes; they fall out so your adult ones can come in. After those come in; if they start to fall out then wewe can worry!" I alisema "I can put it under my mto and the tooth fairy will come!"

Later that night that's exactly what I did and when I woke up in the morning there was five dollars under my pillow. I was so excited that I kept trying to make my other teeth fall out so I could get the money faster. Dad was laughing so hard because I even tried to tie a string around my tooth and pull it out kwa slamming a door on the string!

February 10, 2000,

Yesterday we flew all the way to Monte Carlo because dad is accepting an award at the world muziki awards. We plan on staying here at least a week because Prince's third birthday is only a few days away. Dad rented beach, pwani house and if wewe look out the window wewe can see the most perfect view of the beach.

Dad was getting ready to leave to go to the award onyesha and I walked into his bedroom to talk to him. I asked "can I go with wewe daddy?" He alisema "no I'm sorry wewe can't because they don't allow kids there." I alisema "but; I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with wewe because you've been working on your new album!" He alisema "I know and am sorry it has to be that way! Since we're here it will kind of be like a vacation from me working! I promise as soon as I get back we will all do something together!"

Later on, Prince, Paris, and I watched dad except the artist of the millennium award on TV. kwa the time he got back I had already fallen asleep. Dad smiled as he looked at Prince and I peacefully hugging each other in our sleep. He chuckled as he stared at me wearing my SpongeBob SquarePants slippers and Prince wearing my old Spiderman slippers. He kissed my head and my eyes opened slightly. He whispered "good night AJ; I upendo you." I closed my eyes and Prince rested his head on my shoulder.

February 13, 2000,

I woke up this morning and Paris was jumping on my kitanda saying "AJ!" I got up and looked around at dad sitting on the floor. I asked "where's Prince daddy?" He alisema "I'm just waiting for him to wake up. Don't forget that today is his third birthday." I alisema "I won't; I can't believe he's three already!" He alisema "yeah I know; all my babies are growing up way too fast!"

Prince came running into the room and the three of us alisema "happy birthday Prince!" I laughed because his hair was sticking up all over the place. Prince walked over to me and gave me a kiss. Dad asked "Prince, what wewe want to do today, I didn't have time to plan anything!" Prince alisema "I want to go down to the beach!" Dad alisema "yeah, we can do that! As soon as we get back to the ranch we can have a real party for you!"

I got dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of swim trunks. As we were coming down the stairs grace alisema "I will watch Paris for wewe Michael, so wewe can spend time with them without having to worry about her running off!" Dad alisema "thank you; I don't want her getting sand in her eyes either." He passed Paris to her and I grabbed some beach, pwani toys.

Prince, dad, and I walked down to the beach, pwani and sat in the sand. Dad started to build a sand ngome and decided to help him. After a few dakika though my ADHD kicked in and I didn't have any interest in it anymore. Dad alisema "hey; do wewe guys want to bury me with sand." I got excited and alisema "yeah!!!" He laid down in the sand and Prince and I covered him with sand all the way up to his neck. His toes were the only thing that wasn't covered in sand and he started to poke me with them. Then dad alisema "okay; I think that's enough! Hang on I don't think I can get up. I'm stuck!!! wewe buried me too well!" I alisema laughing "yeah right daddy! It's only sand!" He started to laugh and alisema "I'm not joking; I really am stuck!" I alisema as I grabbed Prince's arm and alisema "come on Prince; let's go back to the house!" Dad alisema as we walked away "wait AJ; wewe can't just leave me here stuck in the sand!"

Prince and I walked through the front door the beach, pwani house and Grace asked "where's your dad?" I alisema "we buried him up to his neck in sand and now he says that he stuck but; I think he's joking!" Grace looked out the window and started cracking up. She alisema "oh my God; the tide is getting worse! I don't think he's joking! He would've gotten up kwa now because the water is getting closer to him!" She ran out and helped him get up out of the sand and I was laughing the entire time!

After dad and her got back inside, dad alisema while laughing "thanks for leaving me down there AJ!" I alisema "sorry daddy, I really thought wewe were joking!" He alisema as he picked up Prince "that's okay; I was laughing the whole time, hoping that someone would come along and rescue me before the water got too close!" Grace pointed down and alisema "umm, Michael!" He looked down and there was a piece of seaweed wrapped around his foot. We all started laughing and he alisema "I probably would've been walking around with that wrapped around my foot all siku if wewe didn't say anything!"

April 22, 2000,

I think dad has been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. With me age 6, Prince age 3, and Paris age two. Other than working on his album "invincible" he has been spending a lot of time with us without Grace there because he wants to be the parent that his father never was to him.

We were in dad's library/office and Prince walked over to the chess set and alisema "I want to play this!" Dad alisema as he pretended to teach him the rules "I don't think wewe really understand it but; we can just play with the pieces." I walked over and sat inayofuata to dad. Prince and Paris were sitting across from us on the other bench. Prince alisema "daddy, I see a baby" dad asked "where?" Prince alisema "right here" as he passed dad one of the dhahabu chess pieces that was shaped like a baby. Dad alisema "let me see" as he took it from him and placed it on the table. Dad asked "Prince; what wewe want to do today?" As Prince reached for another piece, he alisema "I'm going to go to school today!" Dad asked "you are? What do wewe learn in school?" Prince alisema "I learned my ABCs!" Dad asked "you did? Can wewe sing them? Prince sang a disorganized scrambled version of ABCs and dad alisema "very good apple head!" I climbed onto dad's lap and dad asked "do wewe learn anything else in school?" Prince alisema while looking down at the tower shaped piece "no." Dad asked "really? wewe don't learn anything about geography, north, west, south, east?" Prince alisema "the sun goes to the east and then to the West!" Prince looked at the tower piece again and alisema "daddy I like this Castle!" Dad alisema "me too! Do wewe think we could fit in there?" Prince alisema "no; it's too small! We need it!"

Dad asked as he got up "Paris; what do wewe want to do?" Paris just looked at him and didn't say a word. Prince asked "Paris; do wewe want to play a game?" I alisema "daddy I want to go somewhere!" He alisema "if it was just me and wewe we could go somewhere but; I don't think I can handle going somewhere with all three of wewe kwa myself." I alisema "I want to go to the sinema with wewe and Prince." He alisema as he knelt down to my level "I know wewe do and the first chance I get the three of us will go; I promise!" I alisema "I wonder if the sekunde toy story movie is still in theaters?" He alisema "it might be but; I doubt it. That came out around Thanksgiving and I don't think it will still be there!" I alisema "that's too bad because I really wanted to see that movie. When it comes out on DVD wewe have to go get it so we can watch it together!" He alisema "listen; Grace will be back inayofuata week so until then we have to hang around here. I promise wewe that I'm going to make it fun for all of us!"

If wewe haven't noticed; dad has been giving Grace a lot of time off lately because her sister has cancer and isn't doing very well. She had a long time where she was doing pretty good but, in these last few months her health has taken a turn for the worst! As wewe can imagine; dad feels absolutely terrible about the whole situation and wants to help out as much is possible! Grace needs to be with her sister just in case she doesn't make it because grace is the only one who can decide whether au not to resuscitate her sister if her moyo stops. Her sister has told her that there if her moyo does stop she doesn't want to be brought back to life. Dad even told Grace that he would pay for the medical bills so; her sister has everything that she needs." Even though dad alisema she will be back inayofuata week; I think it's going to be at least a mwezi before she is back! I don't mind that though because dad in my opinion does a better job taking care of us. Not that Grace doesn't do a good job because she does but; let's face it, dad is just zaidi laid-back and fun to be around! I'm definitely looking mbele to this time with him!

April 23, 2000,

I woke up this morning and realized that today was a Monday. I have to work on my school work today and this will be the first time that dad will have to help me with it since I started school last year. I technically should be in the first grade now but; I'm really advanced for my age! I actually do school work at a sekunde grade level in all my classes. I used to just be ahead in kusoma but; now I've gained skills to do everything before my time. It just so happens that two days zamani Grace started teaching me multiplication before she left. I'm curious to see how dad handles pretty much playing teacher and taking care of my younger siblings.

I walked downstairs with a packet of worksheets that Grace have put together for me to do while she's gone. Normally, I would just do five worksheets in my school book without even having to tell anyone that I was doing them. I would just go in order siku kwa siku until the entire book was finished but; since I'm just learning about multiplication it will be easier for dad to teach me this way. I think it's going to be funny because he hasn't had to do multiplication in years au any other type of school work.

I put packet down on the meza, jedwali and dad came downstairs. It was about 8 o'clock in the morning and dad wanted to help me with my school work a few hours before Prince and Paris wake up because he wants it to be quite enough for me to think. While I was waiting for him to get settled in I filled out the multiplication problems that had obvious answers. Like 8×0 au 1×1, I really didn't have to think too much about those.

Dad came over and sat inayofuata to me at the table. He asked "how's it going? Do wewe need my help with anything?" I alisema "no; I'm fine right now." He watched as I wrote eight underneath the problem 6×4. He alisema "wait up; that's not right. Look at it again AJ. I asked puzzled "are wewe sure it's not right? It looks right to me!" He alisema "think about it. What's 6+6?" I alisema "what are wewe talking about? This is multiplication not the addition." He alisema "just answer the question; trust me I know what I'm doing." I alisema "6+6 = 12." He asked "so we already know the answer isn't eight! So if there's four sixes in the problem that means there's two 12's." I alisema "oh I get what wewe saying now!" He asked "so what's 12+12?" I counted on my fingers and alisema "24!" He got rid of the eight that I originally wrote on the paper and alisema "then that's your answer!"

May 9, 2000,

I got up this morning and ran downstairs full of energy. Dad was just waking up and still rubbing his eyes. I ran up to him and gave him a hug. Soon after, Prince had woke up and came downstairs with Paris holding his hand. Dad alisema "good morning wewe guys." I asked "what are we going to do today?" He alisema "I have a lot of stuff planned since wewe don't have to do school work today!" I upendo it when it's just dad, me, and my siblings because dad cuts me a little slack. Whereas if it was Grace she jumps at any chance when I mess up."

After breakfast, dad alisema "I want wewe to go get dressed because were going somewhere!" I asked "we are? Where are we going?" He alisema "I can't to wewe because it's a surprise!" I ran upstairs and got dressed as quickly as I possibly could. Then all four of us shuffled into the SUV and one of the bodyguards drove us somewhere. I quickly put my mask on and was dying to see where we were.

I opened up the door and saw that we were at the movie theater. He alisema "I think you're going to be excited AJ" I asked "why?" We walked over to the building with dad holding Prince and Paris's hands. He looked up and pointed to one of the framed movie posters hanging on the wall. It was the sekunde toy story movie and underneath it, it alisema now playing. I alisema "no way daddy! I definitely thought it wouldn't be in theaters anymore!" He alisema "it's the very last showing; so we have to hurry up because we don't want to miss it." I hugged dad and alisema "thank wewe so much daddy!" He alisema "you're welcome sweetheart."

After the movie was over, we went nyumbani and hung out together. All of us were in the play room and dad was watching us. Prince and Paris started fighting over a toy and dad got up to break it up. He alisema "Prince, Paris had it first!" Prince alisema "no; I did!" Dad alisema "Prince I was watching wewe guys the entire time, I know who had it first." Prince angularly through the toy on the floor and started to cry. Dad alisema "I don't want to hear it Prince; that's enough." He kept crying for no reason and dad asked "do wewe want to go stand in the corner?" Prince alisema "no!" Dad alisema "well; then that's enough!" Prince quickly quieted himself and started playing with something else.

When we sat down for dinner, dad alisema grace and we started to eat. wewe could definitely tell that dad was exhausted but; still had a few hours before it was time for us to go to bed. Dad alisema "Alanna; I can't believe how well behaved you've been these past few days, I'm so proud of you!" All the sudden dad had a worried look on his face. I asked "what's wrong daddy?" He alisema "I just realized that I have to give Prince and Paris a bath kwa myself. I'm so tired, that's going to take everything out of me!" I alisema "well I could help you!" He alisema "yeah I guess now that wewe little bit older wewe can help."

About 45 dakika later, I helped dad wash Paris his hair while he washed princes. Then we walked downstairs and sat on the kitanda in the living room. I had already taken a kuoga before we had dinner. I was dressed in SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas with the matching slippers. My short boyish haircut was sticking up all over the place because it was still wet. Paris was wearing a cinderella night shati and pink pants, with the Disney princesses on the front. Prince was wearing my old inayopendelewa Spiderman pajamas, even though he had plenty of new Spiderman pajamas of his own. I don't blame him though because when I was three that was my inayopendelewa Pajamas also. We all slept downstairs on a big blowup mattress, eating popcorn and watching movies. These are the memories that I'll never forget!

November 4, 2000,

Unfortunately, dad got a call from Grace and her sister passed away last night. She asked dad if he would mind if she didn't come back to work until the first of the year. He ended up agreeing with her because he felt terrible but; I don't think he knows what he's getting himself into. Prince is getting to the age where he likes to argue, especially with me! I think he doesn't like the fact that I'm older than he is. I get to stay up a saa later than he does and for the most part I am allowed to be outside kwa myself as long as I'm somewhere dad can see me through the window. I think it bothers Prince that I'm allowed to do stuff that he isn't allowed to do yet.



Dad was in his recording studio and I was with him. He had just put Prince and Paris down for a nap about 20 dakika ago. He was putting a few last-minute touches on his new album "invincible" and I was one of the only people that got to hear it before anyone else. I just stared at him with a big smile on my face as he saying into the microphone in the sound booth. He was recording "butterflies" and I am so amazed kwa his voice.

I alisema as dad shut the door "how old do I have to be to be a celebrity like you?" He alisema "I want wewe to wait until your 18 before wewe decide that that's what wewe want to do with your life!" I looked down at the floor, clearly disappointed kwa his answer. He sat down in a chair and alisema "come here AJ." He alisema "I'll make a deal with you; if something were to happen to me I will make sure that someone signs wewe to my record label. I'm not saying that anything will happen before wewe turn 18 but, I promise if something does; wewe can have your chance in the spotlight." I asked "when did wewe know that wewe wanted to be a famous singer?" He alisema "I was right around your age." I alisema "daddy I wish wewe knew how bad I want to do this. wewe have no clue!" He alisema "I completely understand how wewe feel because I felt the same wewe when I was your age! I truly believe they wewe want to be famous one siku but; I want wewe to have a childhood. Something I never got growing up!" Once wewe turn 18, everything is up to you. And I'll be there to help wewe as much as I can!"