Less than a week has passed since The Mike Douglas onyesha and Michael cannot get holly out of his mind. Her bold yet angelic voice is still ringing in his ears. No matter what he has been doing she somehow manages to pop back into his mind where he tries desperately to shake it off, but to no avail. He was hoping she would stop kwa for a visit like he suggested, but nothing. Perhaps it was too mbele of him? Maybe his niceness was misconstrued as creepy to Mrs. Williams. The thought has made him scratch his head multiple times. Luckily he has been working on songs to keep him occupied till the inayofuata event with his brothers. Plus being at nyumbani always is a nice distraction when his sisters are involved.

As Michael is sitting in the living room he can hear the makings of a pending argument between Janet and Latoya over a necklace. Michael can’t help but roll his eyes at the shouting of “It’s mine!” over and over again. He rubs his forehead and mutters “Oh God” at the noise. He looks up at their sekunde floor “If wewe two stop shouting about this mkufu I will buy one of wewe a new necklace, does not that sound good?” Janet and Latoya emerge to the side of the railing of the sekunde floor with equal scowls on their faces. Latoya places her hands on her slender hips, “Michael are wewe a girl?” Michael’s face turns into a quizzical stare, “No…” “Then butt out of our business!” Latoya snaps back. The doorbell rings as Latoya and Janet go back to arguing slightly drowning out the noise. Michael goes to the door and sees holly standing there at his doorstep looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Holly! What a surprise!” Michael exclaims, his face widening with a smile. He can feel his stomach flutter with joy. “Please come in, make yourself comfortable.” He ushers her into the coolness of his nyumbani and shuts the California heat behind them. holly looks quickly around the living room and turns back to look at Michael, “Is it ok that I’m here?” “Of course it’s alright, I invited you. I actually wasn’t expecting you. Wanna sit down?” “Well my mom dropped me off today since I had some time today. She is going to pick me up around 5, will that be too late?” Michael shifts slightly towards her “No that’s fine! wewe can stay here and have chajio, chakula cha jioni if wewe would like.” holly looks toward the rug; drawing the patterns on it with her shoe “I’m not sure if my mom would allow that.” “Well since wewe are here, is there anything wewe would like to do?” Michael is trying desperately hard not to sound too anxious. “I’m not sure…really.” holly seems different than the other siku – zaidi quiet and reserved. It makes Michael nervous wondering if he is making her uncomfortable. “Ok, well what do wewe usually do at your Marafiki place?” “I can’t remember. I haven’t been over at my Marafiki house for a long time with imba and all.”

Boy does that take Michael back to his childhood the part he usually tries to forget. He remembers being in the studio and seeing the kids play at the park across the mitaani, mtaa laughing and having a good time. Meanwhile, he was told to play the role of adult. While she is here at his house, he wants to give her the ultimate kid experience. holly seems to be holding back and remain proper, hopefully, he can break her out of her shell. “How about we go swimming? The weather is perfect for a swim and I never have anybody to swim with me.” holly looks down at her purple maua, ua juu than back at Michael. “But I don’t have a swimsuit.” “I’m sure wewe can borrow one of Latoya’s swimsuits, she has enough for the whole state of California. holly puts her hand up to her mouth to stifle her giggle.

“I heard that!” Latoya shouts leaning over the railing looking down at them. “Who’s your friend, Michael?” “Latoya, I’d like wewe to meet holly Williams, holly this is my sister Latoya.” Latoya nods her head and smiles at Holly. “Nice to meet you, Holly. Now, what do wewe want, Mike?” “Can wewe give holly a swimsuit of yours? We want to go swimming.” “Hmmm, I’m not sure she will fit.” “Latoya, wewe never get rid of anything, I’m sure wewe have something from back in the day.” “Oh alright. Holly, follow me.” holly walks up the twisted stairs of the Jackson residence and follows Latoya in her bedroom. When she enters her room, holly is overcome kwa its coziness of pink everywhere. “Wow, I upendo your room!” holly exclaims as she walks further in and sees stuffed wanyama lining her bed.

“Thanks, I never get rid of anything as Michael mentioned so things have been accumulating into this.” “I’d never leave this room if it was mine.” “Don’t wewe have a nice room?” Latoya asks she rummages through a dresser drawer. holly shrugs as she picks up a stuffed Snoopy and pets his soft black ear. “Not really. Since we moved here my mom doesn’t encourage these types of things.” “What, stuffed animals?” “Yeah, and other things.” “A-ha!” Latoya exclaims as she holds up a one-piece coal swimsuit. “This should fit wewe perfectly.” She hands it over to holly and steps back to analyze holly holding the Snoopy. “I’ll let Michael know wewe are changing.” As she steps out, holly can feel pangs in her moyo as she continues to hold the Snoopy in her hand. She used to have one too – before the songesha that is. When they moved from Long Island to California her mom told her everything had to go, a fresh start is what she called it. Her mom alisema that stuffed wanyama were for children and she wasn’t a child anymore but a young singer who had no business with “child play.”

Ten dakika later Michael knocks on the door to Latoya’s bedroom. “Holly, are wewe ready?” holly opens the door and stands there awkwardly in the swimsuit. She has her arms crossed in front of her chest to stop the inaonyesha of her budding breasts. Michael looks into her eyes, not once looking at her inappropriately but friendly. Internally it makes holly feel slightly comfortable. “Yep, all ready.” “Cool. Just follow me, the pool is in the back.” As they walk down the spiral staircase, holly can’t help but notice the colossal amounts of dhahabu and platinum records on the ukuta beside it. “Has your family always lived here?” Michael turns his head to look back at her and shakes it. “Nah, we’ve only been here for about seven years.” As they make it to the back of the house, Michael ushers holly out of the sliding door. “Have wewe always lived in California?” “Nope, just moved here about three months ago.” “Do wewe like it?” “Yeah it’s ok, it’s very hot here.” “Don’t worry you’ll get used to it. Well, here we are.” Michael gestures to the in-ground pool of their backyard. holly cannot help but gape at the size. “This is no pool, this is a lake!” Michael cannot help but chuckle. “Hey, I’ll race ya, the last one to the diving board is a rotten egg!” He laughs uncontrollably as holly joins in running after him. “Hey not fair!” She shouts after him. As Michael gets on the diving board and jumps off causing a major splash, holly stops abruptly. Michael surfaces and sees holly standing on the board looking down at the water. “Aren’t wewe coming in?” “Yeah…” “Can’t wewe swim?” “Yes, I just don’t know how to jump in the pool.” “Why?” “Too afraid, I only walk in.” Michael swims closer to the board and smiles up at her, squinting his eyes as the sun beats down on them. “No time like the present! Jump in and I’ll catch you.” “You promise?” “Promise.” He holds out his arms to give her security. “I’m right here, now jump!” holly squints her eyes shut, fists her hands tightly together and jumps towards him with a large splash. As she surfaces and begins to wade Michael laughs and smiles “You did it! See, now was that so bad?” “No…but I’d still be afraid to do it alone.”

“So tell me something,” Michael probes as he swims around Holly. “You alisema wewe don’t go to friend’s house’s and wewe don’t jump in the pool than what kind of fun do wewe have?” Michael jokes and splashes some water on her. “Hey!” holly whines. “Don’t wewe have any fun?” holly shrugs her shoulders “No time for it I suppose.” Michael can feel his moyo drop. “There is always time for fun, especially at your age.” “I don’t feel like my age tho.” holly swims out to the other side of the pool with Michael following her. “I can see that. wewe know Holly, wewe don’t have to act serious when wewe are on your off time. Just be a kid.” Holly’s face drops. “Then wewe don’t know my mom. She expects me to act serious, especially since I’m new to this industry.” “Well, what does your dad think?” She scoffs and swims to the side in fatigue of wading in the water. “He doesn’t get involved with my singing. “Why?” “Thinks it’s too grand for our family. Can we stop talking about this now?” “Sure, if wewe want…”

Hours later Michael and holly are sitting at the patio meza, jedwali underneath the umbrella. The sun is now beginning to shift into early evening. holly is sitting with a towel wrapped around her now dried body and is now enjoying the light breeze blowing through her blonde hair. Michael looks at the pool having ripples because of the wind. He looks over at Holly. “Did wewe have a nice day?” She looks up at him and smiles and for a mgawanyiko, baidisha moment, Michael can see a young girl and not a told to be a woman. “Yes, I did. Thank you.” “And you’re sure wewe can’t stay for dinner. Mother already welcomes wewe to come. She shakes her head as she looks off into the distance, “I can’t…mom will be here soon.” Deep down holly can feel the dread welling deep within her, as she knows her mom and her domineering attitude. In all honesty, holly wants to stay here because she feels comfortable here, but she can’t tell Michael that it would seem too weird.

“Well, I guess I should go get dressed before mom gets here.” Michael wants to sigh, but he knew the time was quickly approaching. “Alright, well wewe know wewe are welcome back anytime. And if wewe need to talk about anything siku au night, please call me. Promise me, Holly?” She looks back at him and weakly smiles. “I promise. Could I come back and visit wewe inayofuata week if wewe aren’t busy?” Michael perks up and smiles at the words, which to him are muziki to his ears. Another siku he won’t have to feel lonely. “Absolutely. I’ll call you.” holly smiles and gets up to walk inside. He watches her go in and can’t help but sigh and mumble under his breath, “Why do wewe tug so at my heart?”