Chapter 11,

February 1, 2004,

I was sitting in our huge four-bedroom hotel room when dad woke up and came into the sitting area. He took a piece of gum out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. Prince and Paris walked over and sat down in between the two of us. Dad कहा "there's going to be someone coming here today to talk to आप guys about some things." I कहा "I already know what they are going to talk to us about and I think it is so stupid!" He कहा "I know आप do but; आप have to talk to them… There's no way around it, trust me… I tried to negotiate a deal but it didn't work." Prince asked "what's AJ talking about daddy?" Dad कहा "nothing Prince; just make sure that आप tell this man या woman the truth, no matter what सवालों he या she asks you!" I कहा "you don't have to worry about that; even if we wanted too, we have no reason to lie!"

About 20 मिनटों later, a woman walked into the room wearing a badge that कहा "Child protective services" on it. She looked around the hotel room and कहा "okay; I think I will सवाल the two younger children first and then come back to सवाल the oldest one." I arrogantly asked "you do know that I have a name; right?" Dad gave me a look of shock because he couldn't believe what had just come out of my mouth. The woman didn't say anything as she directed Prince and Paris into a separate room. Dad कहा as the woman shut the door "don't talk like that to anyone! Especially; someone with a job like hers!" I कहा with my arms crossed and feet propped up on the coffee तालिका, टेबल "I'm just trying to make it very clear that I don't want her here!" He कहा "I don't care! आप are digging me into a deeper and deeper hole that's going to be really hard for me to get out of!"

The woman came back a half an घंटा later and कहा "all right it's your turn." I कहा as I got up and followed her into the other room "alright; I just want to get this over with!" She shut the door and sat down. She कहा "my name is Andrea; what's yours?" I कहा "AJ" and sat down in the chair across from her." She asked "do आप know why I'm here today?" I कहा "because someone lied." She कहा "how do आप know that they lied?" I कहा "because my father would never ever do anything like that!" She कहा "I'm not here to get your dad in trouble in any way; I just want to make sure that आप kids are सुरक्षित here!" I कहा "yeah; that's what आप say now but; I know what all of आप are really after… Don't act like you're not either! I know और than आप think I do!"

She asked me a series of absolutely disgusting सवालों and I answered each one with a "no." As time went by; the सवालों got harder and harder to listen to. At one point, I कहा "every answer to these सवालों will be a no so; can I be done here!" She wouldn't let me leave and it was getting point where I couldn't handle listening to anything coming out of her mouth anymore. She kept me in the longest; I'm assuming because I am the oldest and she could asked me और detailed types of questions.

Almost an घंटा later she कहा "okay I think I've asked आप everything that I need to know. I'll give आप my number and आप call it if आप ever feel in danger!" I took it and the two of us walked out room. She कहा "alright Mr. Jackson; I have all the information that I need and I'd like to thank आप for allowing me to interview her children!" He कहा as he shook her hand "you're welcome and I hope this clears everything up!" She shut the door and I felt so relieved that she was finally gone!

Dad looked at me and I was all shaken up. He asked "how did it go?" Before I could answer him; I ran to the bathroom and started violently throwing up. He ran after me and asked "are आप okay?" I stood up and कहा "daddy; आप can't ever make me be interviewed like that again!" He कहा as we walked into one of the bedrooms that were in our hotel room "let's talk about it then." We both sat down in the recliners and I कहा "it was so gross daddy! The सवालों she asked me are things I hope I never hear again for as long as I live!" He कहा "I knew that they would ask आप the hardest सवालों because आप understand और than Prince and Paris do! That's why I tried to get all three of आप out of it! I only went along with it because I had no other choice! I'm sorry that आप had to go through all of that and I don't think anyone will have to सवाल आप again." I कहा "I hope you're right because that made me physically sick… Hearing her ask me if I ever saw anything wrong going on between आप and Gavin. I tried to get her to stop going into so much detail about specifics but; she wouldn't listen to me!" He hugged me and कहा while trying not to cry "I'm so sorry!!!"

February 13, 2004,

Today is Prince's 7th birthday and I'm curious to see what dad has planned since we are not at home. I woke up this morning and went out to Prince's bedroom in our hotel room and woke him up. When he opened his eyes I कहा "happy birthday Prince!" He कहा "thanks; is daddy awake yet?" I कहा "yeah; he just woke up about five मिनटों ago." Prince got out of बिस्तर and walked into the corner kitchen. He looked at the pancake batter and चॉकलेट chips on the counter and कहा "yes!" I कहा while laughing "I know; I कहा the same thing when I saw that!"

Dad walked over to us and put his hands on each of our shoulders. We turned around and dad कहा "happy birthday सेब head!" Prince कहा "thank आप daddy!" Dad कहा "that pancake batter on the counter is extra just in case we need it. I had Grace start making पेनकेक्स and their almost done! I'm going to wake up Paris and Blanket, I'll be right back!"


Dad came back into the room carrying Blanket in one arm and holding hands with Paris with the other arm. Blanket stared at me and started laughing. Dad asked while smiling at him "what's so funny?" I कहा "I just think it's one of those days where everything is funny; right Blanket?" Blanket कहा "I get down?" Dad कहा "no buddy; we're going to eat breakfast!" Dad put Blanket in his high chair and set the table. All of us sat down and started eating. Dad asked "Prince what आप want to do today for your birthday?" Prince कहा "I want to ride go carts!" Dad कहा "alright; I'll try to find a place. If I can't; what else would आप want to do?" I asked "why would we not be able to go to the go गाड़ी track?" Dad कहा "it's not that we can't go but; it would be hard to find a place that is willing to shut their doors so I could go with आप guys without anyone else finding out."

Unfortunately, dad was unable to find a go kart track that would shut their doors so he could go with us. Prince had कहा that he would want to go to the फिल्में to see "are we there yet?" Dad was able to go in disguise and he surprisingly pulled it off!"

February, 19, 2004,

I was watching my new प्रिय दिखाना on TV called "this suite life of Zack and Cody" on डिज़्नी channel. Dad came into my hotel bedroom and looked at the TV. He कहा "oh my gosh… I can't believe you're watching this again!" I कहा "this is a new episode; I haven't seen it yet!" He sat down अगला to me and कहा "after this, आप have to take a शावर, शॉवर and go to bed." I asked "can I watch TV until I fall asleep?" He कहा "as long as you're not up until three in the morning and आप take your ADHD medication!" I कहा "I promise that I'll do what आप say."

During the episode a boy came on screen and started singing. I tried my hardest not to blush but; dad caught me." He started laughing and asked "what's wrong?" I कहा "nothing; nothing at all!" He asked "who is that guy?" I कहा "Jesse McCartney!" I started blushing even worse than before and dad asked "you'll like him; don't you?" I didn't answer him at first because I was trying to come up with an excuse. I कहा "no… I don't know where आप got that idea from!" He कहा "I don't know, maybe it's because your bright red and आप can't even say his name without smiling! I think my tomboys got a little celebrity crush on this Jesse kid!" I covered my face with a throw तकिया and कहा "I do not have a crush on him!" He कहा "yes आप do! I can tell because आप can't even look at him without blushing!" I कहा "okay; maybe I have a crush on him but; that doesn't mean I'm going to be a girlie girl; I'm tomboy all the way!" He कहा "I know that and I don't think that will ever change! I think I worked with that boy on "what और can I give?” When he was still in Dream Street!"

April 9, 2004,

I'm starting to get sick of living in one hotel room to the अगला and that's how it's been for a while now. The boredom is driving me insane and I think dad is starting to notice it as well. He has no clue where to live because he has not bought a permanent residence since Neverland Ranch back in the 1980s. I can definitely tell that dad is really stressed out because all he has done since the दिन after Paris's six birthday; all he has done is sleep and every once in a while come into the रसोई, रसोईघर area to eat something.

It was the middle of the दिन and I was sitting at the तालिका, टेबल in our hotel room doing my schoolwork. Grace was playing with Blanket, Prince, and Paris when dad finally came out of his bedroom. He was dressed in his pajamas and his hair wasn't brushed yet. One of the things that I've always loved about him is that he never let us see how much he was struggling but; I'm old enough now to where it harder for him to hide it from me. He came over and sat down अगला to me. He asked "how's it going?" I कहा "it's going alright; why do आप ask?" He कहा as he rubbed his eyes "I know you're not happy with the fact that we are staying in a hotel for so long! I just want आप to know that I really am trying to get us out of here." I कहा "I know आप are daddy and I'm not mad at you! I just can't take being stuck in here were too much longer!" He कहा "well; I'm going to check out some rental houses for us to use until after the trial ends. Do आप want to go with me? It will get आप out of this hotel for a while!" I कहा "okay… Is it just going to be the two of us?" He कहा "yes; we will be able to see और houses that way.”

After I finished my last page of school work, dad and I headed out into central Los Angeles to look at rental houses. A realtor brought us to house after house but; nothing seemed like a perfect fit. He always made sure wherever we were that each of us has our own bedrooms no matter what. Either the houses we visited were too small या dad thought that the rent was way too high.


April 10, 2004,

After not being able to find a temporary place for us to rent, dad is obviously frustrated and hates the fact we have to हटाइए in the first place. I was sitting in my hotel room and could hear dad cheering down the hall. I opened the door and asked "what the heck are आप so happy for?" He कहा "we have a place to live!" I कहा while smiling "where?" He कहा "the Prince of Bahrain who is a good friend of mine just offered to let us use one of his mansions for as long as we need to." I looked at him confused and asked "so we're moving to Bahrain?" He कहा "yes; right on the समुद्र तट too!" I कहा "that's going to be so awesome daddy! How are आप going to be back here in Los Angeles for the trial when it starts अगला year?" He कहा "I will just travel back and forth until it's over and आप guys will come with me! Oh my gosh; I'm so excited! I'll help आप pack your bags because were leaving in a few hours on a private jet."

Prince and Paris came running into my room and कहा "we are moving to the beach!" Grace came into and asked "what is this rolled up piece of paper that was in your room Michael?" Dad कहा "oh yeah; I forgot to give that to आप AJ! I meant to give आप on your birthday but; I लॉस्ट it when we were switching hotels!" I took it from Grace and unraveled it. It was a poster of Jesse McCartney and I कहा "thank आप daddy; even though I told आप that I only have a little crush on him!" Dad कहा "you've been listening to his CD that I got आप for your birthday over and over again. For someone that only has only has a little crush on him; आप sure do talk about him a lot!" Grace started laughing and कहा "I never thought I would see Alanna blushing over a boy!"

April 11, 2004,

We are finally here in Bahrain and it is और amazing than I could have ever imagined! Our bedrooms are three times as big as the ones we had back in Neverland. I woke up this morning and just lay in बिस्तर looking around my new bedroom. My प्रिय part द्वारा far is that I have my own bathroom for the first time! Then when आप look out the खाड़ी, बे window आप can see the perfect view of the shore. My room is pretty much a disaster because I haven't had time to decorate या put things away due to the fact that we got here so late last night.

I got out of बिस्तर and decided to put my new Jesse McCartney poster up on the दीवार because I knew it would make dad happy. I grabbed a roll of tape out of one of the cardboard boxes in my room hung the poster on the wall. Dad walked in and कहा "I knew आप would put it up!" Blanket came into my room with my dog मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक (yes, I am aware that I haven't talked about the dog in a long time!) And मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक climbed on my bed. Dad कहा "after we eat, Prince Al-KhalifaI coming over to welcome us to Bahrain. Don't worry, आप don't have to call him that; just call him Al. That's what I call him because I always forget his name."

Just as dad said; Prince Al showed up मिनटों after we had finished eating breakfast and he seemed like such a nice person. He took the time to get to know each of us and he actually told me a few jokes that were really funny. He passed a set of keys to me and I asked "what are these for?" He कहा "they are for the gate to the outdoor बास्केटबाल, बास्केटबॉल, बास्केट बॉल court! Your father told me that that's your प्रिय American sport." I कहा "that's so cool; I didn't even notice that there was a बास्केटबाल, बास्केटबॉल, बास्केट बॉल court outside! Daddy; can I go play basketball?" Dad कहा "sure आप can; just make sure that आप lock the door when आप leave so Blanket can't get out! “Al laughed at how excited I was and dad कहा "I can't even begin to tell आप how thankful I am to आप for letting us stay here!" Al कहा "of course Michael; I enjoy having आप here and I hope this will be the first place आप perform when आप stage आप come back!" Dad कहा "without a doubt; I will! I am loving it here already and as आप can tell, so are the children! Maybe if all goes well; I will stay here and live here permanently after the trial is over!"

May 7, 2004

I'm definitely getting और comfortable here in Bahrain and my typical attitude is getting back to normal. I'm not the only one who seems back to themselves because dad hasn't been depressed since we moved here and he's back to laughing and having fun. Whenever we need something, Prince Al is always willing to get it for us and for the first time in a long time I finally feel like we have our घर again!

I was chasing Prince around and pinned him down on the ground. Dad कहा "Alanna; be careful because आप are stronger than he is!" I looked down at Prince and कहा "say uncle, say it, say it!" He कहा "okay; uncle! Please let me go now!" Dad कहा "AJ; that's enough now!" I got up and Paris came into the kitchen. She asked "daddy; I want to find my Princess dress!" He asked "where was the last place आप saw it?" Paris कहा as she shrugged her shoulders "I don't know." He कहा "that doesn't help me out at all; are आप sure आप don't know where it is? Did आप even look for it?" Paris कहा "yes; all over my room!" Dad कहा "as soon as I'm done making lunch for everyone I will help आप look for it." She कहा "I need it now though!" Dad looked at me and smiled. I कहा "oh no; if आप think I'm helping her look for that आप are out of your mind!" He laughed and asked "please Alanna, for me?" I would my eyes and went upstairs with Paris to her bedroom.

I looked around Paris's bedroom and toys were scattered everywhere. I could barely see the carpet and कहा "no wonder why आप can't find it in here! It's a disaster!" She कहा "it's not my fault; I was looking all over for my सिंडरेला dress!" I कहा as I picked up a few T-shirts "yeah but; did आप really need to take all the clothes out of your dresser and closet? Why would it be in there? I've never seen any of your dress-up stuff in there!" She कहा "I've put it in there before because Prince कहा he was going to rip it when he was mad at me one time!" I asked "how do आप expect me to find it in all this mess?" She कहा "daddy always finds stuff when it's missing!" I कहा "yeah well; I'm not daddy. I'm a 10-year-old with a very short attention span! I don't know what he was thinking when he sent me up here to look for a dress!"

Dad yelled from downstairs "lunch is ready." Paris and I went downstairs and sat down at the तालिका, टेबल with everyone else. Dad asked as he took a bite of his सैंडविच "how did the खोजिए for the सिंडरेला dress go?" Paris कहा "AJ wouldn't help me find it!" I कहा "I tried to help you! Daddy; आप have to see her room! There has to be every one of her toys on the floor in there! There's no way I would be able to find that dress. I don't even think आप could find it in there! He कहा "Paris; if I go up there to help आप find your dress and your room is a mess आप will have to clean it!" She कहा "I don't think it's a mess in there at all." I कहा "you're kidding me Paris! I stepped on at least 50 of those little Polly pocket doll pieces!" Dad कहा "you're going to end up losing all of those if आप don't keep them all in the same place and picked up off the floor because they are so small." I कहा "I bet आप if आप clean your room आप would find that सिंडरेला dress!" Dad looked at Paris and कहा "AJ's right!"

After we all at lunch, I helped dad and Prince clear the table. Paris कहा "I don't need to find my सिंडरेला dress anymore daddy!" He कहा "okay; but that's not going to get आप out of cleaning your bedroom." Paris कहा "why do I have to clean it?" He कहा "because I saw it a few मिनटों पूर्व when I went upstairs to get something out of my bedroom and there is everything from puzzle pieces to videotapes all over the floor! आप need to go clean it; right now please!" Paris reluctantly went upstairs to clean her room and I went into the living room to watch TV.

मक्खी, ड्रैक, ड्रेक jumped on the सोफ़ा, सोफे and lay his head on my lap. I looked for the remote and found it underneath one of the सोफ़ा, सोफे cushions. I noticed something blue underneath the other one so; I lifted it up! It was the सिंडरेला dress that Paris wanted and just as I grabbed it dad कहा "you found it! I wonder what it was doing under there?" I कहा "Paris is lucky that I had to look for the remote-control." He कहा "please watch something other than that Zack and Cody दिखाना on the डिज़्नी channel. I कहा "that's my प्रिय दिखाना though!" He कहा "I know it is; practically everyone that knows आप knows that that's your प्रिय show! I know for a fact that आप have seen the episode that's on right now because I've seen it!" I asked "what if the episode with Jesse McCartney comes on after this one?" He कहा "you have seen that one about seven times! Why don't आप just buy the DVD with that episode on it?" I कहा while laughing "fine; if आप don't want to watch this then I will go to my room and watch it द्वारा myself on my TV!"

May 12, 2004,

I was listening to my Jesse McCartney CD in my room and गाना along to the words when dad came. He asked "is that आप singing? Wow; you've gotten really good at singing!" I asked "do आप really think that I'm a good singer या are आप just saying that because आप are my dad?" He कहा "no I mean it; you're really good AJ!" I कहा "thanks!" He कहा "you sound a lot like me when I sing! It's actually uncanny how much we sound alike!" I कहा "I still want to be a famous singer like आप when I grow up! Dad कहा "wow; आप कहा that when आप were only three years old and that's still what आप want to be when आप grow up!"

Blanket came into my room and dad picked him up. I walked up to him and कहा "look at his hair daddy; it's sticking up all over the place!" He कहा "I think we should go comb your hair Blanket!" Dad took him out of my room and I turned on the desktop सेब Computer that was in my room. I stared at my Jesse McCartney वॉलपेपर for a few मिनटों and then clicked on the "Firefox" icon. I went on YouTube.com and searched "Jesse McCartney संगीत कार्यक्रम 2004." Jesse has been performing a few concerts at city fairs and charity benefits. I obviously really want to go to one of his concerts but; I haven't कहा anything to dad about it and I don't plan to! I don't feel that now is the right time for me to ask for संगीत कार्यक्रम tickets because dad has his trial starting soon and I don't want him to be worried that he would not be able to take me to the संगीत कार्यक्रम due to a दिन in court!