Not madami than two minutos after the interview was over that Joseph began to push the boys off the stage into their dressing rooms so they could rush to the susunod event. It was always the susunod event for Joseph; no moment could ever be enjoyed. “I expect you boys to be out in that car in less than fifteen minutes, and if not, I will come looking for you.” From most fathers telling their teenage sons this it would be in a joking manner, but for Joseph Jackson – it was a promise. As soon as the dressing room door was shut, Michael felt like he could finally breathe. Away from the cameras, the lights, and the people he could just sit and think, especially about the way he was thinking of Holly.

Standing in front of the closet where his regular clothes were hanging, he began to disrobe – taking off his blazer first and hanging it nice and neat on a hanger that had a little piece of yellow paper sticking off of it that read Michael Jackson’s outfit. As he began to unbutton his sando he heads the door to the dressing room crack open, making him quickly turn around and hold tightly to the susunod to last button he was about to open. It was holly looking extremely embarrassed with a flushed face and wide eyes. “I am so sorry, I thought this was my room.” She begins to close the door. “No, wait!” Michael stops her cold, forcing her eyes to pop her head back in and take in the sight of Michael Jackson with a nearly bare chest. He looks down and realizes his sando and quickly begins to button his shirt. “I just want to tell you that your voice is amazing, I’ve never met someone with such a power.” “Except yourself,” she corrects with a small smile and that lingering blush on her mansanas cheeks. “No, not even myself. I think you may give my brothers and I a run for our money.” It breaks holly out in an uproar of laughter that makes Michael’s face to smile in happiness. Her laugh was adorable – sweet but load, and he absolutely loved it. “I don’t know about that, I just pag-ibig to sing that’s all.” Yes! Finally, somebody understood what he felt all these years, and of course, it is coming from a thirteen-year-old.

“Holly, are you in there?” A female voice calls out from the hallway. Like flipping a light switch, Holly’s bright smile went into a tight frown. “Yes, mom, I am in here.” A female woman stands sa pamamagitan ng the doorframe. She is tall in stature, nearly, if not an inch or two taller than Michael, same bold hair and blue eyes that holly possessed, except her eyes were encased sa pamamagitan ng many wrinkles. Although she was not an unpleasant looking woman she definitely was not someone you wanted to have words with from the tight-lipped expression and tightly done bun on tuktok of her head. Her eyes were quick, just like a mother’s; looking down at Holly, then Michael, then back to Holly. “What are you doing in here, this is not your dressing room.” “I’m sorry mom, I got confused and thought this was my room, then I ran into –“ “Please Holly, you think I don’t recognize who this is, why it is the beloved little Michael Jackson, Jane Williams, lovely to meet you.” She extends her long-fingered hand out. Her hand felt boney to Michael – almost too boney, it added to her unnerving aura, especially how he holly viably reacted towards her. Within the span of one minute, holly went from a relaxed and happy disposition to a nervous and unhappy one. Shifting back and forth on one foot she seemed mildly uncomfortable. “A pleasure Ms. Williams. I was just telling holly what an amazing performance she gave tonight.” He looks back at her and smiles, hoping to make her smile too; she looks up at him and only gives a nod. “Yes, she did well, but she was out of tune for that segundo part of the chorus,” she looks back at holly with a no-kidding voice, “We need to talk about that.” Holly’s face automatically drops more, making Michael’s face drop along with hers. He could see everything written on her face without uttering a word. It made him want to do something, but ultimately there was nothing; he was the outsider looking on the inside and had no place or position to comment otherwise. But there was one way he could protect her in his own way, and it always worked. “If holly ever needs any pointers or help I would be madami than willing to have her come over to my house.” Holly’s mom’s face illuminates with happiness at the prospect. “Oh, would you? That would absolutely be fantastic!” Mrs. William’s turns around to look down at her daughter, “What do you say, Holly?” holly looks up at Michael to give him a tight smile, “Thank you, Michael, I would appreciate it very much.”

It was as if Michael was transported back several years nakaraan when he was Holly’s age giving the same mechanical sagot too. Why did this cycle of abuse have to continue on with young entertainers? Deep down the thought angered Michael, especially with Holly. He could see everything plastered on her face as if she was speaking her feelings to him – the feelings of disillusionment and living in a grown-up world as a child. Michael knew that all too well. Michael smiles back at Mrs. Williams “Great, how about susunod week? I am relatively free all susunod week. We live in Encino – fifth house on the right, you cannot miss it. Just tell the security guard who you are and they will let you through.” Suddenly, Michael can hear the distinct sounds of Joseph’s shoes coming down the hallway. “Well, I better get going. Nice meeting you again Mrs. Williams,” he looks down at holly with a small smile. “Holly.”

Once Michael has left and the door is shut, Mrs. Williams cannot help but laugh and clap. “This is fantastic! One of the first major performances you give and you already have the attention of Michael Jackson!” holly walks over to the closet area and begins to grab her kalye clothes from her bag and setting them down on the chair. “Yeah, I guess. He seemed nice.” “Well, you certainly could have a little madami enthusiasm, Holly. Do you not understand that Michael Jackson can catapult you into stardom?” “So you want me to use him,” holly mutters as she takes off her performance tuktok and hangs it up on the nearby rack. Mrs. Williams comes up to her and grabs her arm to turn her around to face her. “I’m not saying use…however, if you want to get anywhere in this business we need to meet the right people. You are going over to Mr. Jackson’s house susunod week, whether you like it or not, young lady. Now get undressed, you have another interview scheduled for four p.m. today.” Mrs. Williams makes her way out of the dressing room as holly continues to undress. holly sits down on the floor to tie her Addis’s sneakers, feeling tears streaming down her cheeks.

holly cannot help but feel helpless at her future of work. Even though she loves to sing she hates the upcoming popularity she was receiving. Now she was told whom she should surround herself around just to gain even madami popularity. To her, it was not fair. When she knew she could sing well and her mom found out everything changed. Something that was once an enjoyable pastime is now a daily nuisance to her. Even though Michael seemed very nice to her she simply did not want to waste time going over to his house when they had nothing in common except for singing. But she would listen to her mom because she had no choice – besides, maybe it wouldn’t be a total waste. She may even like him as a friend.