Chapter 6,

March 15, 1999,

I woke up this morning and was so excited because today's my fifth birthday. I raced downstairs and कहा "wow; पोकेमोन everywhere!" There were balloons with the characters faces on them from the TV दिखाना and a big pile of presents sitting on the table. Dad wasn't up yet because he didn't expect me to be awake for at least another half an hour. I went into the living room and waited for him to wake up

I was amazed that dad was able to pull all this पोकेमोन stuff off because I wasn't into पोकेमोन until about a महीना पूर्व when I had come across an episode of the दिखाना on TV. For the past three years now all that I had been interested in was superheroes and the तारा, स्टार Wars movies, which made it easy on dad because he knew exactly what to get me for my birthday and Christmas. He sat through a couple episodes of पोकेमोन with me and I tried to explain the whole concept of the दिखाना to him but; he never understood why I liked it so much.

Finally; dad came downstairs and कहा "happy birthday AJ!" I hugged him and कहा "thanks for the पोकेमोन party decorations daddy!" He कहा "you're welcome; it took me forever to find them because I didn't know what I was looking for!" Grace followed behind him with Prince holding her hand and Paris in her other arm. Prince कहा "it's my birthday!" Dad कहा "no silly; it was your birthday last month!" Dad कहा "come on AJ; I want आप to see what gifts I got you!" I कहा "I hope आप got something that I will like because I know आप always get the पोकेमोन characters names wrong!" He laughed and कहा "I have a real strong feeling that you're going to like what I got you!"

We went into the रसोई, रसोईघर and sat at the तालिका, टेबल with my gifts on it. He grabbed the one off the चोटी, शीर्ष and passed it to me. I ripped it open and कहा "oh my gosh; आप kept telling me that I wouldn't get a Game Boy until I was 10 years old!" I started to tear open the other presents and I got three different पोकेमोन games. I कहा "thank आप so much daddy; I प्यार you!" He कहा "I प्यार आप more! Now there are some rules that go along with that Game Boy! First of all, I don't want आप playing that all दिन long. सेकंड of all, if आप don't listen to me that will be the first thing that I take away from you. Last of all, these games are small and आप better not lose any of them because they're really expensive!" I कहा "I'll try my best not to lose them!"

March 21, 1999,

I was sitting at the तालिका, टेबल in the रसोई, रसोईघर playing my game boy and dad was clearing the table. He कहा "I want आप to do something else, आप can playing with it some और tomorrow before आप have to do your school work!" I ignored him and he कहा "I know आप can hear me.” I continued to play the game with my eyes pretty much glued to the screen and he कहा "you better put that down!"

He walked over and took it out of my hands. I shot him a dirty look and कहा "give it back!" He कहा "don't talk to me like that; go play with your action figures या see what Prince is doing!" I tried to grab the game boy out of his hand and he put it on one of the high shelves that was mounted on the wall. I कहा "as soon as आप walk away I'm going to get a chair and grab it!" He sighed and कहा "you better not because if आप do I'm going to send आप to your room and आप won't be allowed to watch TV या do anything fun!" I laughed at him and कहा "yeah right!" He कहा with a serious look on his face "I'm not messing around and I don't think it's funny at all!"

I climbed on the chair and smiled as I reached for the Game Boy. He कहा "you have three सेकंड्स to put that back up there before I put आप on punishment." Putting me on punishment was the same thing as being grounded to other kids but dad didn't like the word grounded so he changed it to punishment!"

That didn't stop me from getting off the chair and as soon as he tried to take it from me I ran as fast as I could! He caught up to me though and took it out of my hands. I started laughing when he picked me up and कहा "you're going to your room!" When we got to my bedroom door he opened it up and gently tossed me on my bed. I looked up at him with a shocked look on my face and asked "wait; am I really on punishment?" He कहा as he looked at me "I told आप I was serious!" I कहा "I promise I won't do it again!" He कहा "it's too late for that now!"

He shut the door behind him and Grace कहा "for a five-year-old AJ is pretty strong! I'm glad that आप can still carry her while she's trying to kick आप because I know I can't do that anymore!" He कहा "yeah I know; I'm just glad that she thought I was joking because she made a little bit easier on me. She's easy to carry when she's not flipping out but when she is It makes her feel 20 pounds heavier! I have no idea what I plan on doing when she is nine years old because if I keep doing that I'll end up pulling my back out!"

March 23, 1999,

Well; because of the stunt I pulled with the Game Boy a few days पूर्व I'm stuck up in my room doing absolutely nothing. The only thing that I've been allowed to do for days is school work; which is obviously not fun! I'm allowed to come downstairs to eat but that's about it and it's driving me crazy! I must've really hit a raw nerve with dad because he doesn't want to listen to me when I try to convince them that I'm sorry and that I won't do it again! The only thing that he has कहा to me is that he would come and talk to me before he is going to let me off of my punishment!

I was sitting in my room filling out a worksheet when I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. My doorknob turned and dad stood there looking at me in complete silence. One thing he has definitely learned as a parent is how to make me feel guilty! Grace can't make me feel guilty but; just looking at dad after I've done something wrong makes my stomach turn! He definitely uses it to his advantage!

He came over and sat on my bed. I didn't say anything and just stared at him for a few minutes. He asked "so; have आप been having fun up here द्वारा yourself?" I कहा "NO! I'm so bored!" He कहा "that means that that was true punishment because you're supposed to be bored out of your mind!" He pulled out the chair I was sitting in and कहा "come here; sit अगला to me!" I walked over and ended up sitting on his lap instead. I कहा "I promise आप that I really am sorry for not listening to!" He kissed the चोटी, शीर्ष of my head and कहा "I told आप from the very beginning that I didn't want आप playing पोकेमोन all day! आप are getting to be very disrespectful to me and it's really starting to bother me!" I कहा "I truly don't remember what I'm doing when I get that irritated and I understand why I got in trouble!" He smiled and कहा "I know that and I also know that I can be a little annoying at times but; that's part of my job as a daddy!”

April 14, 1999,

For about five days now I've secretly been intimidated द्वारा Prince! When I say that I don't mean that I'm scared of him but; I'm worried that he is almost too good! This is the first time that I've felt jealous of him since he has been born. Most of the time; I think he knows that he is better behaved than I am. I know he's only two years old but; I think he's trying to almost rub it in my face! Dad doesn't notice that lately he has been constantly comparing me to Prince. I know he means well but; it kind of has been making me feel like I am the bad child! I don't want to bring that to dad's attention now because I know he will feel awful about it!

I was sitting in the living room and Prince was in the play room. Dad was in the रसोई, रसोईघर putting some things away when I came in to the room and sat at the table. Prince came running in and कहा "juice please daddy!" Dad reached for a bottle and Prince कहा "no; I want Spiderman cup!" I कहा "that's my cup; he's too little to use it." Dad poured the रस into the cup and passed it to Prince. Dad कहा "Alanna; he is not a little baby anymore! If he doesn't want the baby bottle anymore; he doesn't have to use it! I wish आप would've दिया up using bottles that easily! I remember that I had to argue with आप about giving them up and आप were screaming at the चोटी, शीर्ष of your lungs!"

I looked at dad and कहा "I'm sorry that I can't be as perfect as Prince is!" I ran upstairs and he कहा "wait AJ I didn't mean…" He followed me upstairs and got to my room just-in-time for me to slam my door! He opened it up and I had curled myself into a ball on my bed. I wasn't crying but; I was really upset! He कहा as he knelt down अगला to me "I didn't mean it like that AJ! What's wrong?" I looked up at him but; didn't say anything! Then out of nowhere; I कहा "I am a bad kid!" Dad scooped me up and sat down on my bed. He कहा "you're not a bad kid! I don't want to hear आप ever say that again! Don't let anyone tell आप that आप are because you're not!" I कहा "I never listen to आप and I know I don't! I wish I would listen to आप but; I just can't!"

Dad looked me in my eyes and कहा "stop saying that!!! God made आप exactly how आप are supposed to be and I know that's never going to change! To me I couldn't have ended up with better kids if I picked them myself! I कहा "all week long; the only thing आप have talked about is Prince! AJ; look at Prince… Isn't he cute? You're so good Prince! I प्यार आप Prince!" The look on his face कहा it all! He asked "what do आप mean? Give me an example!" I कहा "said all right; like yesterday!" He asked "what happened yesterday?" I कहा "well; आप made me feel like I didn't even exist because आप were spending so much time with him. I know that he listens to आप better than I do and that bothers me!" Dad कहा "oh; AJ if I had any idea I was doing that I would've stopped! I never want to make आप feel like आप aren't good enough! If आप catch me doing that again all आप have to do is remind me and I'll make sure not to say anything like that anymore!" He kissed me and कहा "by the way… You'll always be perfect me! आप don't have to try to be good enough… ever!"

April 28, 1999,

I'm so happy because one of dad's best फ्रेंड्स Mark Lester is coming for a visit all the way from the UK with his oldest son! His oldest son is from his पूर्व marriage and his name is Kyle. Kyle is only a few months older than I am and am excited to have someone to play with that is the same age as me! Mark has two other children with his current wife but; their only toddlers so they're not coming.

I woke up this morning and ran downstairs. Dad was sitting in the living room and I asked "when are they going to get here?" He कहा "in a couple और hours. Are आप excited to see Kyle?" I कहा "I can't wait to दिखाना him my room; we haven't seen them since we traveled all the way to see them last year!" He कहा "speaking of your room; आप need to go clean it before they get here." I कहा "why? It's not a mess!" He कहा "if आप don't think that room is a mess then आप must be blind because it looks like a tornado destroyed it!" I कहा "I hate cleaning my room! Do I really have to?" He कहा "yes आप do." I threw my hands up in the air and complained as I walked up the stairs."

It took me almost 3 hours to finish cleaning my room because I kept getting distracted द्वारा the TV. Dad walked down the hallway and into my room. He stood there in shock then कहा "wow; I don't think your room has been this clean since आप are learning how to walk! I'm impressed! He hugged me and कहा "Mark was just on the phone; they'll be here in about five minutes!" I कहा "I'll get dressed for the दिन so I'm ready when Kyle gets here!"

I quickly put on a pair of jeans and a पोकेमोन T-shirt. When I walked downstairs Mark and his son were just coming inside. Kyle was behind him and I कहा "hi!" He ran up to me and कहा "hi; I was so excited when I found out we were coming here for a whole week to see आप guys!" I कहा "I know; come on I want to दिखाना आप my room!" Dad smiled as I grab Kyle's hand and took him upstairs. Dad कहा "that's the cutest thing I've ever seen!" Mark looked over at dad and jokingly asked "how much आप want to bet the two of them will be married someday?" Dad chuckled and कहा "that would be so funny if that actually played out that way!"

When we got to my bedroom, Kyle कहा "wow; आप have so many boys’ toys in here!" I कहा "I don't like girly toys, my प्रिय thing is Pokémon!" He asked "do आप like watching the Power Rangers on TV?" I कहा "sometimes if it's on I will watch it! I like the blue Ranger the best!" He कहा "I like the red one the most!" I asked "do आप like Pokémon?" He कहा "yeah; I like it when there is a gym battle on the show!" I pulled a big binder out of a drawer in my room and put it on the floor in front of Kyle. He opened it up and कहा "you have so many of the पोकेमोन cards!"

Almost an घंटा later dad and Mark laughed as the two of us came running down the stairs. Mark कहा "here comes the stampede!" We were having so much fun running around that our light up sneakers started having problems! I walked up to dad and कहा "thank आप so much daddy for letting my friend come visit me!" He कहा "oh how sweet; you're welcome!" I कहा "I want to have a sleepover downstairs with Kyle tonight; can we?" Dad कहा "yeah that's fine; आप guys can watch डिज़्नी फिल्में in the living room on the flatscreen!" Kyle कहा "wow; thanks Michael!"

Later on after we had dinner; Kyle and I got dressed in our pajamas. We went into the living room and there was a huge blanket spread out across the floor. Mark brought over a stack of DVDs and put them in front of the two of us. We went through them and picked out तारा, स्टार Wars episode one. Dad कहा "all right; don't stay up really late आप guys!" Dad and Mark laughed out on the porch while they were talking to each other because they could hear the goofy conversations Kyle and I were having with each other! The funny thing was that we didn't think they could hear us!


May 8, 1999,

I came running downstairs and noticed that dad wasn't there. Grace कहा "your dad's working on his new album so; he won't be back till dinnertime." It had been a long time since dad had left us with the nanny and I was really not looking आगे to it. Grace and I are always butting heads because she doesn't let me do most of the things that dad lets me do. She doesn't want me to break anything या she doesn't want to have to punish me. That's why she doesn't let me do anything and it drives me nuts. Every time I go to go outside she's like "oh AJ; I don't want आप to go outside! Wait for your dad to get back and आप can go out with him!

I was in the play room most of the दिन playing video games या watching TV because there was nothing better to do. I was bored out of my mind! I think the worst thing about being the oldest child is that I don't have any interest in doing the things that Prince and Paris do because they're younger than I am. द्वारा the time dad gets घर I'm usually a ball of energy.

August 17, 1999,

I woke up this morning and could hear barking coming from downstairs. I hopped out of बिस्तर and put on my Spiderman slippers and walked down to the living room. I looked at dad and asked "did आप hear that?" He कहा "I didn't hear anything!" I heard the noise again and dad कहा "I heard something that time!" The two us walked to the back door and there was a dog laying on the porch. The dog was a reddish colored golden retriever from what I could tell because he was so dirty and matted.

I ran out the door and dad कहा "wait; आप don't know whether he is mean या not. I don't want him to bite you!" The dog got up and dad slowly walked backwards with his hand on my shoulder. I asked "how did he get in here anyway?" The dog walked up to dad and started licking his hand and I कहा "I think he likes you!" Dad कहा "he looks like he's only about a साल old! I got down on my knees and he started to lick my face. I looked at dad and I think he knew what was about to ask him. He कहा "if we keep him you're going to have to help me take care of him." I कहा "I will; he can be my dog!" Dad smiled and कहा "all right let's get him inside and clean him up because he's a mess!"

He followed us upstairs and to our surprise just jumped in the bathtub with his tail wagging. I got a T-shirt and swim trunks on so I could help give him a bath. Dad कहा "so what do आप want to name him?" I कहा "Drake!" He कहा "that's a cool name!" After मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक was all clean he jumped out of the tub and shook himself dry. I कहा "thanks for letting me keep him daddy!" He कहा "you're welcome!" I still have मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक today plus the other two कुत्ता Jackson and Kenya. We used to have a dog named shadow when I was a newborn baby but, he passed away the दिन after my third birthday.


September 3, 1999,

I think मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक is getting used to living here with us. He usually lays अगला to me in बिस्तर every night but this morning I was woken up द्वारा the sound of dad saying "gross; I can't believe आप would lick my face!" I jumped out of बिस्तर and ran into dad's bedroom. मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक was casually laying on the बिस्तर and dad was wiping his mouth with a washcloth. I started laughing and कहा "what… He just loves you!" Dad chuckled and कहा "I just didn't expect for a dog's tongue to be the first thing I see when I opened my eyes in the morning!"

मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक jumped off the बिस्तर and I chased him down the stairs. Dad was about to come down with us when Prince yelled "daddy" from his bedroom. Dad कहा “hang on AJ; stay up here until I get Prince out of his room. Then I'll make आप something to eat." I walked back upstairs and followed dad into Prince's room. Dad had just gotten rid of Prince's पालना last week and I'm glad because since then Prince doesn't seem so perfect compared to me. He's definitely in his terrible twos now! They're nothing like they were with me but, it does make me look little bit better behaved now.

After breakfast all of us went into the living room to spend time together because dad has been working on his new album lately. This is the first time we will be able to spend the whole दिन with him since the beginning of the week and I'm so excited! I कहा "I'm so happy your घर all दिन today daddy!" He sat down on the floor अगला to Prince and I. He कहा "I can't wait spend time with आप guys… I actually have a surprise to tell you!" I asked "what?" He कहा "I sent Grace on a vacation to see her family so; it's just going to be the 4 of us for the अगला two weeks!" I asked "but don't आप need to work?" He कहा "I really needed to take a break and I really miss आप guys when I'm working on the new CD!" I कहा as I climbed onto his back "yes; two weeks with just you!"

Most two-year-olds like Prince go through a biting phase; thankfully I missed out on that phase because I was too busy kicking people when I was his age! Prince is definitely now a biter but; I'm hoping now that dad is going to be the only adult here watching us for the अगला two weeks that he will be able to break Prince of that habit!



September 4, 1999,

I woke up this morning to Paris jumping up and down on my बिस्तर saying "AJ!" I opened my eyes and dad, Prince, and Paris were in my room. I asked "what are we going to do today daddy?" He कहा "anything आप want; within reason of course, nothing too crazy!" I got up and dad कहा "guess what I'm going to make for breakfast!" I asked "what?" He asked "what's your प्रिय thing that I cook every once in a while?" I कहा "chocolate chip pancakes!!!" He कहा "Yes!!! After I change Prince and Paris's diapers आप can help me make the pancakes!"

I was about to walk out of the room and go downstairs when dad कहा "hang on; I don't want आप to go down there yet because I have the stove heating up! I don't want आप to fall द्वारा accident and get burned! Come with me; it's only going to take a few minutes!" I followed him as he carried Prince and Paris into Prince's bedroom. Dad sat down on the floor and I passed him the wipes. He looked at Prince and कहा "you know what Prince? I think you're getting too old for diapers." Prince playfully कहा "no, no, no!" Dad chuckled and कहा as he tickled him "yes, yes, yes! Maybe we'll start working on getting rid of them this week!"

We all went downstairs and into the kitchen. I grabbed a stepstool and dragged it over to the stove so I could help dad make pancakes. Prince and Paris were in dad's eyesight playing in the play room and watching a movie. He कहा "I'll do the stuff with the रंग, लेपनी just because I don't want आप to get hurt but; आप can put the चॉकलेट chips in and help me figure out how big to make the पेनकेक्स okay?" I कहा "okay! I'm going to put a lot of चॉकलेट chips in them!" He कहा "okay then!" When it was my turn to put them in I dumped the whole entire bag into the one batch of pancakes. Dad कहा "oh my gosh! All of us are going to have a sugar rush… But that's okay! It's daddy's rules for the two weeks so; if आप want to go crazy आप can!" I कहा "I thought that Grace goes द्वारा your rules when आप aren't here?" He कहा "she does but; I know she can be really strict specifically with आप when I'm not here!" I कहा "yeah she can be; I know she is trying to keep me from getting into trouble या getting hurt but, she can take it a little too far sometimes!" Dad कहा "well she loves आप and she know आप can be better behaved than आप are most of the time; am I right?" I कहा "I guess I can try a little bit और to listen to her!" He कहा "maybe if आप showed her that आप can listen to her she would let आप do some of the stuff that I let आप do when I'm here!"

Dad brought our plates to the तालिका, टेबल and put Prince and Paris in their highchairs. He cut their खाना and when he got to me I asked "can I cut it myself?" द्वारा the look on his face I don't think he wanted to let me but; I think he knew that I'm growing up and that there's nothing he can do to stop that from happening!" He passed me a चाकू and कहा "be careful!!!" I struggled for the first few मिनटों and he कहा "here; let me दिखाना आप how to cut it! You're freaking me out; आप come so close to cutting your finger!" He took the plate and started to cut the पेनकेक्स and if I didn't tell him to stop I think आप would of cut the entire thing without giving me the chance to try again. After watching him, I easily cut the last few pieces on my plate and he took a sigh of relief!

September 5, 1999,

We were watching TV in the living room when I कहा "daddy; I'm bored! Can we do something?" He asked "what did आप have in mind?" I कहा "slip and slide!" He कहा "I’ll tell आप what; after I put Prince and Paris down for their nap because they're too young to use that the two of us can!" I asked "but what if one of them wakes up and wants you! You'll be outside with me so आप won't be able to hear them!" He कहा "every once in a while I'll go inside and check on them to see if they are awake."

After lunch, dad put Prince and Paris down for their nap. I was outside playing with मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक when he started dragging the slip and slide across the lawn. He hooked up the hose and water started to spray everywhere. I ran down the side but; was having some trouble with sticking to the plastic. I looked at dad and कहा "this thing isn't slippery enough!" He ran inside and came back out with something in his hand. He कहा "cooking oil should make it slippery enough AJ!" He poured a small amount onto the plastic part of the slide but, all the oil began to pour out really fast and before we knew it the slide was drenched.

Before he could stop me, I ran down the slide and when I went down on my stomach towards the end I shot halfway across the yard because it was so slippery. Dad was worried that my knees had gotten hurt and walked up to me. He asked "are आप okay Alanna?" I lifted my head off the ground and started laughing because there were घास stains all over my face. Dad couldn't help but laugh to because of how hilarious I thought it was!" Then all of a sudden we both look over our shoulders and we see मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक coming right towards us because he was sniffing the slide. Dad, the dog, and I ended up piled on चोटी, शीर्ष of each other with the two of us laughing our butts off!


September 10, 1999,

Grace will be back from her vacation in a couple और days and dad will be back in the studio working on his new album. Dad is trying to spend as much time with us before he has to start working again! I don't know why he calls this a break because he's probably working twice as hard taking care of the three of us द्वारा himself than he ever would standing in a sound booth recording a song! Now that Prince is talking really well, he likes to try and get me in trouble; which आप all know I don't need any help with that! I'm just waiting for dad to catch Prince in the act of doing something he doesn't approve of!

Prince, Paris, and I were playing in the play room when dad decided to come in and spend time with us. I climbed into his lap and Prince must've been jealous because he decided to hit me. Dad looked at him and कहा "that wasn't very nice at all! Say you're sorry to AJ! We don't hit in this house!" I कहा "it's okay; he doesn't have to apologize!" Dad कहा "yes he does!" Prince कहा "I'm sorry" and gave me a hug!

The thing that kind of bothered me is that Prince just apologized and moved on. When I do something wrong I don't just admit it, I drag it out as long as possible. I was kind of hoping that Prince would get into some serious trouble; just as payback for all the times that I've gotten in trouble for something that he did!