"One, two, three, four, keep up Michael! Tito, keep the rhythm steady on that guitar! Jackie, keep up!" barked Joe from across the dance studio.
The time was 9:30 at night; the Jackson 5 had been practicing since 7:00 in the morning. It was a usual Saturday routine. Each of the 5 was dressed in their bright shiny costumes, panting and exhausted from the amount of rehearsals put on them.
Jackie, the tallest, was behind the rest of the boys so not to upstage any of them, dancing like the professional he was. Tito took the left of the stage slightly with his prized gitara in his hands, struggling to keep in time of the rhythm slightly. Jermaine stood on the other side of the group with his bass guitar, also playing proudly.
Stood susunod to Jackie was Marlon, who was slightly struggling to keep in time with his older brother whilst dancing the difficult dances that they practiced araw after day. However the real bituin of the group stood in front of the rest. The youngest of the group; Michael.
"No no no! It's all wrong! Start again, and I want it right!" Joe Jackson yelled from the other side of the room. Suddenly, the group burst into song in front of their father, with Michael pag-awit the main vocals of 'I want you back'. After pag-awit part of the song, the beat changed and Michael sang the first few notes of 'ABC', and after pag-awit part of that, went into 'I'll be there'.
After they finished, their father clapped slightly.
"Brilliant. You are finally set for TV tomorrow night. I swear, if any of you screw up, you'll answer to me, ok?" he growled. The group immediately nodded, Michael looking the most scared.
"Great. I'll leave you boys to clear up and I'll see you at 7:00AM sharp for a final run through before the show. Goodnight" sinabi Joe, before leaving the studio.
As soon as the door shut, the boys all collapsed into a heap of exhaustion on the floor.
"Jeez man, when is he gonna act like a real father?" Tito asked, holding his gitara to his chest.
"Soon, I hope" Jermaine sighed.
"I don't think it'll happen. The other araw I called him 'dad', and he shouted at me, saying 'it's Joseph to you!" Michael told them, trying to imitate his dad as best as he could. The others looked shocked. Jackie put his arm around Michael.
"Hey, no worries bro. Once we finish the ipakita tomorrow, he'll be fine with us! He's just convinced that it won't go to plan. He's paranoid like that" Jackie reassured him. Michael sighed and nodded; then remembered something.
"Hey, how's mom anyway?" Michael asked the group. Catherine Jackson was heavily pregnant with the ninth baby of the Jackson family, and as far as they knew, the Jackson 5 was getting a third sister.
"Mom's doing fine apparently. Rebbie called us before to ask about the show, and she sinabi the baby should be due in about three weeks." Jackie answered.
"I can't wait, man. Our little sis is gonna be so sweet!" Marlon cooed, whilst the others exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"I'm sure she'll follow our talent. Now come on, we've got work tomorrow!" Jackie ordered, pulling the others to their feet. The five soon left the studio for home, and once they returned to their hotel rooms, all were soon asleep except for Michael, who lay awake for most of the night dreaming about his little sister, and how much he wanted to ipakita her everything.
He'd always wanted a little sister.
The susunod day…
"Same old practice" Jermaine moaned, blowing a prambuwesas afterwards, making Joseph glare.
"Don't 'same old practice' me! Do as you're told! You guys are on in eight hours! Now, once again; go!" Joe ordered. The boys wearily shuffled into position groaning. The boys were just about to start when the phone rang. Jackie sighed and answered it, much to his father's annoyance.
"What? Rebs, is she ok? Listen, we'll be there" Jackie sounded worried.
"What's up bro?" Tito asked.
"It's mom. She's gone into labour; the baby is three weeks early!" Jackie told them, starting to pace the floor.
"Hey, we've got to go and see her, now!" Jermaine suggested. The others agreed and began to ilipat out of the door, only to be stopped sa pamamagitan ng Joe.
"Nobody's going anywhere. You guys need to practice!" Joe ordered.
Michael took a deep breath.
"No, dad. We've practiced enough, and we're tired. We know all the steps and moves; we need to be there for mother!" Michael tried to reason with Joe.
Joe suddenly gripped Michael and slammed him against the wall. Michael cried out whilst his brothers tried to release him from Joe's grip.
"Practice, ok?" Joe yelled.
"Yes! Yes! I'm sorry!" Michael pleaded. Joe let go of him and Michael curled up into a ball on the floor. Joe's cell phone began vibrating in his pocket.
"Won't be a minute" Joe promised them, whilst walking off to answer the call.
"You ok Mike?" Jackie asked, bending over him.
"Yeah I'm fine. But I'm not staying here. I'm going to the hospital; it's only down the road. Who's with me?" Michael asked. The others hesitated, but soon agreed that their mom needed them. The five crept out of the studio building, hoping that nobody was about seen as it was already early.
5 Hours Later
"She's beautiful. She's the most beautiful sister in the world" Jackie cooed over Janet. The Jackson Five, Rebbie and Latoya were now together in the hospital, surrounding their mother who was holding Janet; a tiny but beautiful baby.
"Ahem!" Rebbie and Latoya glared at their brother, hands on hips, but managed to laugh when he gave them a cheeky expression.
"Finally, I'm not the youngest anymore!" Randy yelled triumphantly, as the rest of his family laughed.
"She really is beautiful…our little Janet" Catherine said, halik her new daughter on the head. Janet was gently sleeping as she was rocked sa pamamagitan ng her mother. The rest of her family gathered round her and watched her sleep. Suddenly the door of the hospital ward swung open violently as Joe stormed in, his face full of thunder.
"You boys have really done it this time! You really have! How dare you leave my rehearsal! You have a ipakita tonight!" Joe yelled furiously. Janet was awakened sa pamamagitan ng the new noise and began to cry softly.
"Dad, please be quiet, you're scaring Janet!" Michael whispered.
"I told you, it's Joseph to you! And I don't care if I'll wake Janet! She can cry all she wants, because she's not stopping you from performing, now come on!" their father ordered. The boys thought it best not to argue with him in fear of being yelled at further. The boys trudged out of the ward, saying their goodbyes to their mother, sisters and Randy.
All left except for Michael.
"Mother, I don't want to perform. I want to stay here with Janet!" Michael whined.
"I know, love. But just think, it'll make your father happy" Catherine said. Michael didn't seem satisfied.
"But he never shows it! He never encourages us or tells us 'well done'. He doesn't even smile!" Michael moaned at his mum. Catherine thought for a minuto as to what would make him happy.
"Here Michael, will holding your baby sister make a difference?" Catherine asked him. Michael smiled and took Janet in his arms, being very careful. Janet stopped crying immediately and smiled at Michael with a wide grin.
"She's so beautiful. I'll always protect you, Janet." Michael said, nearly in tears.
"She has your eyes. And I can tell she's blessed with your talents. She's going to be brilliant."
Michael smiled and handed Janet back to Catherine.
"Off you go now, love. I'll be watching you on TV" Catherine encouraged him.
"Ok mother" Michael grinned, before running out to sumali his brothers.
Sixteen Months Later
Michael was spending the araw at tahanan in the small house in Gary. Joe, Rebbie, Latoya and the rest of the Jackson Five had gone out, and Michael was left alone with Janet whilst their mother was ironing in the other room.
Janet was seated in her high chair, giggling as she watched Michael sing and dance for her. He sang 'ABC' in the hope that it would teach her well, and he also read stories to her, picked her up and spun her round, dancing in time to the rhythm, and fed her hapunan seen as Catherine had been busy.
As Michael shouted 'I think I pag-ibig ya!' from the song, Janet squealed in delight, and Michael ran to her and picked her up, also giggling.
"You really are something special, my Janet. You're gonna be a huge star, and you're gonna make me proud, I can see it coming" Michael hugged her. Suddenly Catherine shouted Michael's name from the other room.
"Michael!" Janet repeated. Michael gasped.
"Janet! You talked!" Michael beamed, just as his mother ran in to hear Janet repeat Michael's name again.
"Oh that's wonderful! Clever girl Janet!" Catherine cooed, halik her cheek.
"What's going on?" Joe asked, as he walked in with the others.
"Janet's first word was Michael!" Catherine beamed. Everyone cheered except for Joe. Joe walked up to Michael who was still holding Janet, and stood over him.
"If Janet can say your name, then that means you've been spending too much time with her! Get to the dance studio now, and practice!" Joe yelled, taking Janet off Michael and handing her to Rebbie. The others gasped and Michael looked heartbroken.
"Please Dad, just let me- -"
"No! You get there now! You too boys! We have eight shows in two weeks! Get moving!" Joe growled, whilst the boys sighed and trudged out of the house. Michael planed a halik on Janet's cheek.
"Don't worry sis, we'll play again tomorrow" he smiled. Janet smiled back and grabbed his small, frizzy afro. Michael laughed and he moved her hand away, halik it and leaving the house