Enjoy...
Prologue, present time
I was going through some old boxes in the attic when I stumbled across a piece of paper I didn’t even remember having anymore. I figured it had mysteriously disappeared over time as things have a habit of doing, but there it was. It was a bit wrinkled and in one corner it was a bit ripped, but the image on the paper was still intact. I felt distant memories and emotions resurfacing as I studied the drawing. I remember the day I found it on the floor of my classroom. It was the day my very first crush announced to our classmates that this would be his last day. I remembered being heartbroken and I remembered crying in the bathroom afterwards.
I had never actually talked to the boy at that time; only studied him from a distance. I was so shy and completely certain that he would never give me the time of day. That’s what it seemed like to me anyway. He never looked my way or talked to me, so I wondered if he even knew I existed.
He was not like the other boys in our class. He seemed to be somewhere else; like his mind was in another place than ours; a place that seemed much more fun and magical than an English class with Mrs. Peterson. He was always tapping his foot or his finger to the music playing in his head, and always painting pictures or writing something. I don’t know what he was writing, but I’m sure it had nothing to do with school.
He did ask me what time it was once, in the schoolyard. Now I would have my chance to find out more about the boy with the big brown eyes. I had already practiced an entire speech in my head, but all I managed to get out was a few syllables that made absolutely no sense and definitely didn’t tell him the time. I was sure he was going to laugh at me, but instead he just gave me the sweetest smile that I in my young life had ever experienced. It was so warm and sincere and not teasing at all. It immediately made me calm down and I was able to get my act together long enough to tell him that it was . He thanked me and told me to have a great day, and then he was off. I stood there for a few minutes and followed him with my eyes as he ran towards the parking lot. I felt all warm inside as I remembered that smile, and all these years later it still had that effect on me.
When I walked home from school that day I decided that tomorrow would be the day where I would talk to him and find out more about who he was as a person. In my bed later that evening, I had the conversation with him out loud and it went really well. If only the next day would be that easy.
But then the announcement came. Mrs. Peterson said that my crush had something he wanted to share with the class and that is when my young heart broke. He was leaving and today would be his last. Very exciting things were happening to him and his family and he was obviously thrilled; but I wasn’t! The planned conversation never took place. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk over to him because I was sure I would cry and I didn’t want him to think that I was weird. So I just stayed in the background and moped. And by the end of that day, he was gone. I was the last person to leave the classroom and when I looked back at his desk, I noticed something on the floor underneath it. It was a drawing he made; a drawing of his animals at home. I decided to keep it and it became a much treasured item of mine. It hung on my wall right next to my bed, and for a long time it was the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes at night.
Time went by and I began to realise that I would probably never see him again. Not in person anyway. I saw him occasionally on TV and in magazines; he was really going somewhere in life and I was proud of him. I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t know how to get in touch with him.
As I got older, my crush faded and was replaced by many others, but none of those boys had a smile like him. That smile remained sealed in my memory from that afternoon in the schoolyard and to this very day in the dusty attic.
I became more and more certain that I would never get the chance to talk to him again, and my life started taking me places that made those innocent years in high school seem far, far away. I didn’t think about him as much anymore and the drawing had been replaced by a poster of Andy Gibb. But life takes some funny turns once in a while and suddenly, once again, there he was…
”Would you STOP sulking, dammit! You have been cooped up in your room for a week now. I thought you were comin’ here to have some fun and get away from it all?”
By “all” my sister meant Ted, my ex-boyfriend, and by ”here” she meant her apartment in New York New York
But my mood was still horrible. Ted obviously didn’t want to get out of my head and I had spent my first week in the city sulking in my room. But apparently my sister was having no more of that. I was laying on my bed, having a nice relaxing time staring at the ceiling thinking about how many ways Ted might have an ”accident”, when she barged in.
”Look, there are so many things you can do here besides staring out the window, the ceiling or whatever the surface of the day is. You can go shopping… Go to Central Park … Go clubbing…. Hey, why don’t you come with me and my friend to Studio 54 tonight? It will be a blast!”
”If I go, will you get off my case?” I sighed.
”I promise! And I promise you, you will have fun, ok? Now, dinner is in a few minutes so go wash your hands!”
”Yes MOM!”
My sister bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. ”That’s my girl!”
I rolled my eyes and went to the bathroom to do as I was told.
”Seriously, how are we ever gonna get in? There’s like a million people here! And I’m cold!”
I looked around at the hordes of people gathered outside the club and I was in no mood to wrestle to get in.
”Would you stop being so negative?” You’re killing my buzz! You complained over dinner, you complained over your outfit, you complained over your hair, you complained over the cab driver and now this! I spent good money on this shit and I don’t want your sour mood to ruin it. Sure you don’t want some?”
My sister handed me the joint.
”Uhm, no thanks… I prefer to keep my brain cells intact!!”
She just shrugged her shoulders and took a deep inhalation.
”Besides, I know the doorman and we will get right in… Are you gonna complain about that too?”
”You’re so NOT funny!”
She signalled the doorman and he waved us forward. The club was filled with dancing, drinking, smoking and laughing people. The heavy, and loud, beats of the disco rhythms hit me like a thunder storm. I looked up and saw several mirror balls hanging from the high ceiling and I saw a big balcony above the dance floor. It was quite an impressive club and by far the biggest I had ever set foot in, but I feared that at this point it would take no less than a miracle to impress me and get me out of my foul mood.
”Hey, we’re gonna hit the dance floor. Wanna come??”
My sister asked, trying to make sense through the loud music.
”Nah, maybe later… I need a drink!”
”Suit yourself…” She disappeared into the crowds and I made my way to the bar across the room.
Getting there was not easy. People kept bumping into me and I could feel my temper rise to an unhealthy level. One woman even spilled her drink down my leg and I just about had enough. I just wanted to go home and hide under the covers.
Finally I made it to the bar and I was glad to find an empty stool. I sat down and sighed, looking at all the happy, careless people around me. I snorted in disgust.
”What can I get ya?” The bartender asked.
”Vodka tonic, please.”
I got the drink, gulped it down and ordered another. This was going to be a long night!
About half an hour later I needed to go to the bathroom. Damn it! I didn’t feel like crossing the dance floor and getting hit left and right by stupid dancing, happy morons! I guess the two drinks hadn’t turned my frown upside down.
As soon as I stepped on to the lit floor I got elbowed in the rib by some man with too much grease in his hair. A few steps later, a woman’s hand slapped me in the face. I tried my best to take deep breaths and stay calm. Then I felt someone pinch my butt and to top it all off, someone kicked me over the shin.
”I swear, the next person who even touches me is gonna get their ass kicked!” I mumbled under my breath.
I walked a bit further and so far so good. The bathroom sign was only a few feet away now, but before I could reach it, I noticed out of the corner of my eye something coming towards me. It was someone spinning out of control and before I had the chance to move, I was pummelled to the floor. It all happened in a matter of seconds.
I landed on the floor with a big thud. Oh boy, this was gonna get ugly! I saw a hand extended towards me, but I didn’t look up and just slapped it away. No way was this jerk gonna help me!
I got up and started brushing my dress all the while scolding the person who knocked me over. I never looked up, so I had no idea who it was.
”What the hell is you god damn problem? You’re what, king of the fucking dance floor?”
I looked up and my mouth dropped.
”Michael!!!”
There they were; those big brown eyes that used to melt my teen heart, although this time they weren’t smiling, but instead filled with concern. I couldn’t believe he was standing right there. All the ill thoughts I had sent towards him before I knew who he was, had dispersed like clouds.
”Michael is that really you? Do you remember me?”
He squinted his eyes, searching his memory.
”Didn’t we go to school together?”
”Yes, Montclair
”I’m feeling sorry for knocking you over. Are you ok?”
”Oh yes, don’t worry about it! It’s water under the bridge.”
Finally his eyes were smiling again.
”Well, I’m still sorry… Uhm, can I get you anything? We could go sit down somewhere if you’d like?”
”I would love to!” I enthused.
We went upstairs and sat in the sofas. The music was still a bit loud, but it was much easier to have a conversation up there.
Michael looked so hansom. He was dressed in a black corduroy suit with a white shirt underneath and he had matured into a sexy, tall young man. I couldn’t stop smiling at him and he must have noticed because he suddenly blushed. I had to make him more comfortable.
”So how are you and what are you doing in New York
”I’m in a movie!” He beamed. ”I’m just stayin’ here with my sister until it’s done.”
”Oh my god! That’s great! What’s it about if you don’t mind me asking?”
He turned towards me and I could see he was excited.
”Well, you know The Wizard of Oz, right?”
I nodded.
”Ok, so this is like a modern version of that. Very urban and kinda wild too, with like a lotta dancin’ and singin’ and stuff.”
”Must be fun to be in a movie. What character do you play?”
He straightened his back and looked very proud. ”I’m the Scarecrow!”
The smile across his face was huge.
”You’re kidding? That’s like my favourite one!”
”Really?”
”Yeah! I loved how he didn’t think he was smart, but then it turned out he was. He was so misunderstood but he proved to everyone that he was worth something.”
”That’s why I like him too!” Michael almost yelled. We both started laughing.
We continued talking for while until someone came and tapped Michael on the shoulder. It was his sister and she didn’t seem all that happy.
”Michael, I think it’s time we go home now. Remember, you gotta work tomorrow? I’ll go get our coats.”
Before he had the chance to introduce me to her, she turned her back and waltzed down the stairs to the coat check.
”Sorry, that was my sister, Latoya… Uhm, I guess I have to go then.”
We both stood up at the same time and almost knocked our heads together.
”Oh, so uhm… Maybe we could get together one day and just talk about old times? I mean, if you’re not to busy with your movie and all?”
”That would be great! I usually only have the evenings off if that’s ok?”
”Sure. Here, let me write down my number.”
I fetched a pen in my purse, took his hand and wrote it down in his palm. I couldn’t help but notice how soft and warm his hand was. And big for that matter, with long lean fingers that I was just dying to interlace my own with.
When I was done, he looked at his hand and smiled.
”Ok, so I’ll call ya then!”
He turned around and walked away, but before he went down the stairs he looked back and waved goodbye. I could feel the butterflies he once stirred, starting to stir again as I waved back.
I made my way downstairs and found my sister and her friend.
”Hey sis, what the hell are you smiling about? Did Ted finally have an aneurism?”
Both her and her friend bent over from laughing, the joint really working its magic.
”Ha, ha, very funny. I’ll tell you ’bout it later. Now, I’m in the mood for dancing, so let’s boogie!”
Days went by and no word from Michael. My sister was getting suspicious about my behaviour, because every time the phone rang, I knocked down everything in my path to get to it first; including her! I hadn’t told her yet about our meeting; I guess it just slipped my mind. And now I felt it was too late. I knew she would give me a hard time for thinking that someone like Michael Jackson would actually call. I was beginning to give myself a hard time as well; how could I have fooled myself to believing he would call me? He was probably just talking to me that night because he felt sorry for making me fall. Men! Couldn’t they just be honest for one freaggin’ moment?
On day four I was plotting his death; or at least wishing a plague on his house. I was in my room with my headphones on listening to, well, The Jacksons, while looking out the window. People were rushing to get places, couples were walking hand in hand like they had no care in the world (I rolled my eyes) and a homeless man was looking though a trash can and fished up a slice of pizza. I had to look away when he took a bite.
I jumped in my seat when I noticed my sister standing behind me looking annoyed. She was mouthing something to me and I removed the headphones.
”Are you def? I have been calling out for you like 5 times!”
”Sorry, I was pre-occupied.”
”Well, stop being pre-occupied! Now my yoga is totally ruined. It will take me a while to get back into zen-mode and I have to get my nails done in like an hour.”
I sighed. So yoga was her new thing then. Last month it was aerobics.
”So anyway, what do you want?”
”You’ve got a phone call.”
My heart skipped a beat.
”Who is it?”
”How the hell should I know? Some guy.”
I stood up so fast that my chair fell over and ran for the living room, pushing my sister rather hard against the door in the process.
”Sorry!” I yelled.
When I stood in front of the phone I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. I didn’t know exactly who was calling, but I didn’t expect any calls from guys other than him. As I picked up the receiver I noticed my hand was shaking.
”Gees, get a grip! He’s a man and men are evil, so calm down!” I thought to myself. I decided to sound cool, calm and collected.
”Hello?”
I heard someone clearing their throat on the other end, but no one answered so I repeated my question; a little louder this time.
”Hello!?”
”Hi… It’s Michael. We met the other night. Do you remember?”
”Oh Michael, I’m so glad you finally called! Of course I remember you! (My plan failed miserably. Could I have sounded more ecstatic?) How are you?”
”I’m a bit embarrassed actually. I washed my hand.”
”Huh?”
”Well, you wrote your number down on my hand… And I kinda washed it and when I realised what I had done, it was too late. All I could make out was the number 5. I’m sorry… I hope you didn’t think I just blew you off.”
”What? Nooo, don’t worry about it. It’s not like I was sitting by the phone waiting for you to call or anything.” (Talking about the understatement of the century!)
”Oh good… That’s good…Yeah…. So uhm…”
”Yes?”
”I’ve got the day off tomorrow. Maybe we could do something?”
”Sure, I’d love to. Do you want me to come over, or?”
”NO! Uhm, I mean… My sister will be home all day and, well, she’s nosy. How ’bout I come to your place and we’ll figure something out?”
”Sounds great!” I gave him my address.
”Hey Michael?”
”Yes?”
”How did you get my number if you washed your hand?”
”Oh, I know the manager at Studio 54 and, uhm, I remembered your full name and I asked him to ask around. Turns out the doorman knows you sister, and well… That’s how I got it.”
I couldn’t believe I actually had my sister to thank for this…
”Ok, that explains it then.”
I could hear someone in the background calling for Michael.
”Michael, who are you talking to?” A female voice asked.
”Shoot, my sister is home. I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow, bye.” He almost whispered in a panic.
He hung up before I got to say goodbye back.
When my cheeks started cramping I noticed I had been smiling like an insane person all through the conversation and to top it off, my sister was staring at me.
”What?” I asked, still smiling.
”You tell me? You’re the one looking all goofy. Now spill it! Who was on the phone?”
”You’ll find out tomorrow.” I said and waltzed past her to my room where I suddenly started to freak out. He was coming here tomorrow!! That was less than 24 hours away!! I looked in the mirror in horror as the question that always popped into women’s heads appeared in mine. The question of all questions. The question with the toughest answer in the world:
What should I wear??
