Chapter 17,

****Author's note****

I know that I usually start off every chapter as the suivant an but; since I ended the précédant chapter in summer 2009, I thought I could just partition the rest of 2009 and all of 2010 in one chapter!

Enjoy, Alanna
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August 20, 2009,

I was sitting alone in my room at my grandmother's house when, I got a text message from Frank. He a dit the words I had been waiting so long to hear "get ready because I'm picking toi up and were going to the recording studio to lay down some tracks." I couldn't help but smile. This all seems unreal! I can't believe I'm actually going to start a chant career just like my father!

I ran downstairs and stopped at the table, tableau so I could tie my shoes. My grandmother a dit "well; it's nice to see that you've finally left your room!" I a dit "uncle Frank is coming to pick me up and were going to the recording studio!" She a dit "oh okay; how is Carter?" I a dit "I just put him down for a nap so; he shouldn't be up for a while! I know you're probably going to want to shut the fan off in my room but, keep it on because he's wrapped up in three blankets!" She asked with a confused look on her face "why three blankets? It's almost 95° outside." I a dit "he wouldn't let the blankets go and I didn't want to hear him cry."

Frank's car pulled up to the front gate at Havenhurst and I ran outside. I opened the passenger side door and a dit "this is going to be so awesome!" He a dit "I think we should focus on bringing your father's musique back to life for the younger generation that may not know how amazing he was." I a dit "I agree with you; it saddens me when kids today are listening to foul music! I don't really have a lot of room to talk when it comes to that because I'm just as guilty of listening to it as they are! I really want to focus on the age group of eight and up to montrer them what good musique is really like!" He a dit "that's how your dad would want toi to be with your career too."

We walked inside the recording studio and Frank put an instrumental CD of some of dad's songs. He passed me a set of headphones and motioned for me to go in the sound booth. I walked inside and could hear my voice echo as I jumped with excitement. Frank a dit "why don't we start with something with a strong hook.

I stood there as I sang "Annie are toi okay? Are toi okay Annie? You've been hit by, you've been struck by… A smooth criminal!" As I sang my cœur, coeur out, reality hit me! I thought to myself, wow this is really happening! I really am going to become a famous singer! I wonder if dad watching me right now wherever he is?"

I was snapped out of the trance I was in par Frank saying "that was absolutely amazing AJ; your dad wasn't kidding when he a dit toi could sing!" We need to put out an album as soon as possible because this thing is going to be a hit! We could even get some major stars of today to do collaborations with toi on some of your father's biggest hits! I still can't get over how awesome that was! This is going to be huge! I can feel it in my gut! Starting today you'll be in the studio six hours a day, after your schoolwork is done!" I smiled ear to ear and a dit "I forgot to tell toi that I have over 1 million Twitter followers already and I've only tweeted one thing! I think they know that I'm starting my own musical career!"

August 29, 2009,

I was in the studio working on my debut album when my cell phone rang:

Me: hello grandma! What do toi need? Is Carter okay?

Grandma: did toi forget what today is? toi better be on your way home!

Me: listen; I know it's dad's birthday but I'd rather stay here to keep my mind off of things!

Grandma: I understand that toi don't want to come accueil but; I think it's the right thing to do AJ! Everyone would appreciate it if toi came home!

Me: I don't want to because I'm not ready to deal with the fact that he's gone yet!

Grandma: it's not going to be a sad thing! I promise toi that AJ! We're just going to have some cake and celebrate your dad's life! Here, Paris wants to talk to you.

Paris: AJ; will toi please come home? Just for a few hours? We all miss toi because we hardly see much of toi since you've been in the studio recording your album!

Me: it's not that I don't want to celebrate with toi guys; I just can't bring myself to realize that he's actually gone! Do toi realize how different this birthday is compared to all the other ones we celebrated with dad over the years? He may be there in spirit but; he won't be there in person! I'm sorry but I just can't come home! Making this musique helps me connect with dad! It makes me cope with him being gone! Goodbye; I l’amour you!

September 3, 2009,

I was getting ready to leave because Frank and I are headed to the local radio station to promote my cover/single to 'pretty young thing.' The song debuted at number one on the fresh artists chart and it's been exploding ever since last week!

I ran out to the car after s’embrasser Carter's head and sat in the drivers seat. As we made our way onto the Main Rd., Frank turned on the radio and we heard "she's his PYT, pretty young thing!" I looked at Frank and a dit "it's so weird hearing my voice on the radio! I'm so glad toi let me change the lyrics a little bit so it was altered for a girl to sing!" He a dit "yeah me too! It would be awkward for toi saying 'she's my pretty young thing.’ “The voice on the radio a dit "that was Alanna Jackson with her new single PYT! Check back in 25 minutes for my exclusive interview with the King of Pop's daughter! This is your man Mac Maze and we'll be back after this word from our sponsors! Don't touch that dial!"


As Frank and I walked into the radio station, he a dit "since this will be your first ever interview let me give toi some tips. First, answer them as honestly as possible and don't be afraid to throw some humor in there! Second, just be as natural as possible, and lastly if there's any questions that toi don't feel comfortable answering ou don't know if toi should answer I'll handle it!" I a dit "okay; I don't think it's going to be as bad as toi think it is!"

We entered a big room and a heavyset African-American man with a goatee stood up from his chair to greet us. He a dit "nice to finally meet toi AJ!" He stared at my fauxhawk hairstyle, bright red hightop sneakers, T-shirt with a chimpanzee wearing headphones on it, and sunglasses I had sticking out of my pocket. He a dit "I hear that you're not the most feminine girl out there!" I laughed and a dit "glitter, ponies, and nail polish are definitely not my thing!" He laughed and a dit "yeah; I can see that! Alright, the commercial break is almost over and you'll be ready to go on air!"

As I was about to sit down in the chair opposite of him, Frank whispered in my ear "pull your pants up! Your boxers are hanging out!" I hiked my baggy jeans up and sat down. Mac a dit "welcome back to the most listened to radio station in all of Los Angeles! This is a Mac and as promised I'm now sitting here with Alanna Jackson! What's it feel like to have your first single 'PYT, pretty young thing be the number one requested song this week?” I spoke into the microphone that was attached to the table, tableau and a dit "oh; it's awesome man! I didn't expect it to do so well right off the bat!" He a dit "I just have to point out that your dad's talent has definitely rubbed off on you!" I a dit "thanks but; my dad will forever be the best and that's exactly how I want it to stay!" He asked "do toi hope to one jour match the successes your father has achieved?" I a dit "I mean if it happens; it happens! I never want to outshine my dad though! My dad is the King and that is his crown, not mine!" Mac a dit "we have some fans on the line that have questions for you! toi down with that?" I a dit "fan questions? I didn't realize that I had legit fans yet; yeah go ahead! I can't wait to hear them!"

Mac opened up the phone lines and a dit "here's our first caller, go ahead." The voice a dit "hi; my name is Becky and I was wondering if toi are working on an official album?" I a dit "yeah I am!" She asked "do toi know when it will be released?" I a dit while thinking "January of suivant an for sure! We just haven't settled on a specific rendez-vous amoureux, date yet." Mac put the suivant caller through and she asked "will toi be going on tour soon either as an opening act for other artists ou will toi be going on your own headlining tour?" I a dit "well; after a few plus singles drop I'll be having promotional shows all over California and if all goes well a tour of my own will definitely be in the near future!" Mac let someone else through and it sounded like a 13-year-old girl who asked "besides your father, who are some of your musical inspirations?" I a dit "I really like Chris Brown, Drake, Ke$ha, toi know people like that." Mac a dit "we have time for one more; go ahead caller." This time it was a teenage boy who asked "are toi single?" I looked up at Frank while wondering if I should lie ou not and he whispered "you can tell the truth AJ." I a dit "yeah I am." The boy responded "what do toi look for in a guy?" I a dit "let's see; I really like a guy who accepts the fact that I'm a tomboy and that he will never see me wearing a dress ou makeup! I also like a guy who puts me first before his Friends and partying!" Mac a dit "alright; that's all we have time for today. I'd like to thank toi AJ for stopping par today and making us the place where toi conducted your first interview!" I a dit "thank toi guys!" He asked "is there anything that you’d like to say before we call it a jour here?" I a dit "PYT, pretty young thing is now available on iTunes. Don't forget to buy that and request! The official Alanna Jackson website and online store will be up suivant week! toi can follow me on twitter @officialAlannaJackson! Thank toi for all your support!"

After we had signed off the air, Frank a dit as he patted me on the back "you did a great job kid!" Mac a dit "I had a great time with toi here today! toi better come back and visit! I can already tell toi going to be the suivant musical sensation!" I a dit "of course I will be back!"

My phone started ringing frantically and I put it on speaker so Frank could hear. Blanket shouted "OH MY GOD THAT WAS AWESOME AJ!" Prince a dit "I can't believe toi were on the radio!" Grandma a dit "you did so well!" I a dit "okay; I'm headed accueil toi guys so I'll see toi when I get there!" An ambush of "goodbyes" screamed back at us and I hung up the phone. I still can't believe that this is all really happening to me! I wonder how long it'll be before this whole being famous thing hits me.

October 4, 2009,

I officially finished my album which I named "Legacy" and it will be released on January 23, 2010. I released three plus singles of my versions of dad's songs, wanna be starting something, working jour and night, they don't care about us, and another part of me. They've been playing the songs on the radio like crazy!

Frank and I wish sitting in the gym at Havenhurst when he a dit "okay; toi can tweet something about the tickets for the five Californian promotional concerts!" I went on to my twitter account and typed @officialAlannaJackson: tickets go on sale for my five California concerts go on sale in 15 minutes!

A tall man of Mexican descent walked into the room and a dit "hi; my name is Tony and I'll be your choreographer for your concerts!" I bent down to tie my shoe and Frank a dit "I know toi can sing but; can toi dance?" I smiled as I adjusted the hat on my head and Tony started walking me through dance moves. Frank stood there with a stunned look on his face and a dit "you are so much like your father it amazes me!"

October 9, 2009,

Today is my first concert on my five montrer promotional tour and I'm so excited! I was downstairs at the house when my siblings came running into the room. Prince a dit "we can't wait to see toi perform today AJ!" Blanket asked "how many plus hours?" I a dit "an heure and a half! Frank is on his way here to pick me up and take me to Universal Studios where the concert will be."

After I got in the car, Frank a dit "today's the jour kid! Are toi ready for this?" I a dit "more than ready!" He a dit "don't be nervous! You'll do just fine!" I a dit "don't worry; I'm not nervous! I'm excited!" He a dit "we're almost there! I wonder how big the turnout will be."

We pulled onto the rue that leads to Universal Studios and I a dit "I wonder what's going on because there's a whole bunch of people lined down the street!" He a dit "I don't know; maybe there's a rue performer outside!" We pulled up to one of the private buildings on the Universal Studios lot and Frank a dit "go on in there and I'll be in after I see what all these people are doing crowding the streets!"

I walked into what appeared to be a large dressing room with a flatscreen TV and black leather couch. My stylist Karen Faye (Michael's personal stylist when he was alive) started to touch up some skin tone make up on my face. I had to turn the volume up on the TV several times because of the commotion going on outside.

Frank came into the room with a huge smile on his face and I asked "what's your problem?" He asked "you know all those people that were lining the streets?" I a dit "yeah!" He a dit as he sat down suivant to me "you're not going to believe this!" I looked at him confused and asked "what?" He a dit as he stuttered "th – those people are waiting to see you!!!" I a dit as I chuckled in disbelief "yeah right; there's no way!" He a dit "I'm not kidding!!! I just talked to the owner of the park and the 250 tickets that went on sale sold-out in an hour!" My mouth dropped and I asked "so what's with the hundreds and hundreds of people standing outside the park?" He a dit "those are people that weren't able to get tickets! I'm assuming they're hoping that they would catch a glimpse of toi at some point!"

I got up and looked out the window at the hundreds of fans outside. Frank put his hand on my shoulder and asked "do toi feel famous yet?" I whispered "yeah; I can't believe all these people showed up to hear me sing 4 songs!" He a dit "this is only a small promotional tour! Think about when you're a headliner!"

A few minutes later, I was introduced par the DJ and stepped out onto the stage wearing just my typical everyday clothes! I put my ear piece in so I could hear myself chant and started the set list. Beginning with PYT, working jour and night, they don't care about us, and lastly wanna be starting something. I could see my family standing on the side of the stage as I sang and they smiled.

Afterwards, Frank and I went back to the large dressing room. I sat down on the canapé and drank from a water bottle. Blanket, Prince, Paris, and grandma came into the room and started chanting my name! I chuckled as I took Carter from Paris and adjusted the hat on my head. I really am famous!!!

October 13, 2009,

I was sitting at the table, tableau with my chemistry textbook as I scribbled réponses on a worksheet. Carter crawled around on the floor as I looked up every so often to see if he was okay. Prince came downstairs and picked him up. Prince walked over and looked over my shoulder to see what I was doing. Carter pointed at me and a dit "mommy." I looked at Prince and he smiled at Carter. I asked with excitement in my voice "did he just say his first word?" Prince a dit "say it again Carter!" Carter a dit "mommy, mommy, mommy!"

I grabbed him from Prince and jumped with excitement. He started giggling at my reaction as he a dit "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!" Paris came running into the room and asked "what's all the screaming going on in here for? I a dit "HE CALLED ME MOMMY!" She clapped her hands with excitement and a dit "that's so cute! If daddy was here he would be freaking out right now!" I looked at Paris and stared at her in silence for a few minutes. Then I a dit "thanks for ruining the moment par saying something like that!" I passed Carter back to Prince and ran up the stairs as Paris begged "wait AJ; I didn't mean to bring up daddy!"

I slammed my bedroom door and sat down on the bed. Anytime anyone talks about dad I just can't handle it! I'm not really mad at Paris; I'm mad at the fact that dad's gone forever and there's nothing I can do about it to bring him back! It wasn't supposed to be like this! I looked up at the sky and a dit "I wish toi were here daddy! It just isn't fair!"
October 17, 2009,

Frank and I sat in the living room and he a dit "I have some bad news! Then I have some good news! Here's the bad news, toi know how toi have two plus concerts left in your promotional tour?" I shook my head in agreement and he a dit "the record label canceled them." I asked with anger in my voice "what! Why would they do something like that?" He a dit "before toi get angry, let me explain! The reason why they canceled them is because of how well you've done and how in demand the tickets to your shows were!" I a dit "well; if the tickets were in such demand then it would be stupid of them to annuler the remaining dates!" He a dit "let me finish. As I was saying, they canceled them because they want toi to go on your own headlining tour starting February 1 of 2010!"

I smiled and a dit "oh okay; I'm not mad anymore! He a dit "I had a meeting with the record label executives yesterday and they a dit that they want to call the tour the 'Legacy Tour.'" I asked "how many dates are scheduled for the tour?" He a dit "87; America, Canada, and the United Kingdom!" I a dit "wow; I didn't know that I was populaire in other countries besides the US! I kind of wish that I could do a concert in Japon though. I loved going there when I was a little kid!" He a dit "you're still young; there's plenty of time to conquer Japan!"

November 18, 2009,

I was woken up par the sound of Carter saying "mommy" over and over again. I got out of lit and a dit "happy first birthday buddy!" I changed him and took him downstairs to start setting up for the party. My cell phone rang as I passed him a baby bottle with chocolat milk. I answered it and Damien's mother Kate a dit "hi AJ; how's the birthday boy?" I a dit "he's good!" She a dit "I'm sorry that I couldn't afford to make it out there to help celebrate!" I a dit "it's okay; there's plenty of family coming over today!" She a dit "the go Diego go DVDs I bought him for his birthday should be there any jour now." I a dit "okay; did toi want to talk to him?"

I tried passing Carter my iPhone and he pushed it away while saying "no mommy no!" I a dit as I put the phone up to his ear "it's grandma Kate! She wants to talk to you; talk to grandma!" He pushed it away and I put the phone back up to my ear. I a dit "his eyes are glued to the TV right now! He doesn't want anything to do with the phone! Sorry, I tried!" She a dit "that's alright; I can't expect too much from a one-year-old! Have a good time at the party today!" I a dit "we will and I will take lots of pictures so toi can see! Goodbye!"

I stood up on the cuisine table, tableau as Prince passed me the blue and red streamers. Grandma walked into the room and a dit "don't fall AJ!" I a dit "don't worry; even if I did it wouldn't be that bad because the ground is only a few feet away!" Uncle Jermaine opened the front door and a dit "I picked up that blue cake toi ordered Alanna!" He put the box down on the counter and I hopped off of the table, tableau to look at it. It was simple but perfect at the same time. It had blue frosting with the words "happy first birthday Carter" written in green frosting.

Other family members started to arrive and Aunt Latoya came in carrying three boxes of pizza with a gift bag resting on the top. I ran over and a dit "let me help toi with that!" I took this stack of boxes from her and set them on the table. She hugged me and asked "how are you?" I a dit "I'm okay I guess."

The two of us walked into the tanière, den and sat down on the canapé alone. She a dit "your grandmother told me that toi haven't been expressing your feelings about your dad!" I a dit "it's not that I don't care because I do! It's just hard for me; for the first 15 years of my life the only person that ever saw me cry was dad!" She a dit "I think out of all our extended family I've been the closest of you! If toi ever need to cry I'm here!" I started to well up with tears and a dit "I just wish Dr. Murray didn't call Prince and I into the room when he performed CPR on dad! I could tell that he was already dead and I knew from the moment we sat down in that room with grandma that she was going to tell us that he was!" She looked at me sympathetically and she herself tried to picture what I must've been feeling.

She hugged me and a dit "cheer up; today is Carter's birthday! toi have to try to be happy for him!" I wiped the tears away and stood up as I a dit "it's so hard but I'll try!" I opened the door to the tanière, den as my dog canard, drake jumped up at us.

I sat down at the table, tableau with everyone else as they were getting ready to bring Carter's birthday cake out. We all sang happy birthday and I cut him a huge piece of cake. I put it on his high chair tray and he was kind of afraid of it. I a dit while laughing “it’s just food; go ahead buddy!" Prince a dit as he walked up to me "I think there's something on the piece of cake AJ! I looked at him confused and a dit "I don't see anything!" He pointed "see it right there!" I a dit "no; I don't know what you're talking about Prince!" I leaned my face in to get a closer look and he a dit "right here" as he smashed my face into the cake.

Everyone started cracking up as I lifted my face off of the cake and wiped the frosting away from my eyes. My face was completely covered with green and blue frosting and Carter started laughing. I a dit "he's supposed to be the one covered in frosting; not me!" I knelt down suivant to Carter and he puckered his lips for a Kiss and I a dit "I think he knows it's frosting now!" I pecked his lips and he took a handful of frosting off my face. He started licking his fingers and we all continued to laugh as I smeared some frosting on the side of Prince's face.
November 19, 2009,

It was midnight and I was just finishing cleaning up the last things from Carter's birthday party. I walked into the living room and found Prince was asleep on the canapé sitting with Carter snoring on his chest. I smiled as I covered them with a blanket and walked upstairs.

I walked into my room and heard something hitting my window. I walked up to the window and saw little pebbles being pelted at the glass. I opened the window and looked down to see who it was. Damien was standing there wearing a white tank haut, retour au début and camo cargo shorts. I yelled "what the hell are toi doing here?" He asked "can I come in?" I a dit reluctantly "fine but; toi better not be an ass!" I walked downstairs and let him inside as we quietly made our way up to my room.

I shut my bedroom door and asked "what are toi doing here Damien?" He asked "isn't today Carter's birthday?" I a dit "you would think toi would know that his birthday was yesterday because you're his dad!" He a dit "oh; well I'm sorry!" I asked irritated "sorry? You're sorry? That's all toi have to say?" He a dit "I don't know what else toi want from me AJ!" I a dit "you left me without even saying anything! If it wasn't for my dad I would've been doing everything on my own! That's not how it's supposed to be! You're lucky that I had just had the baby when toi showed up at the hospital because if I had gotten to toi instead of my dad I would've donné toi a whole hell of a lot worse than a black eye!"

He sat down suivant to me on the lit and a dit "I can't really do anything about that now except for apologize and promise toi that things will be different!" I a dit "if you're going to be a part of his life then be a part of it! I don't want toi around him if you're just going to abandon him one jour just like toi did with me! Before toi ask, we're never going to be boyfriend and girlfriend again. I tried that once and I'm not willing to try again because my first priority is our son. It's yet to be seen if toi feel the same way!" He looked down seemingly disappointed and a dit "I was kind of hoping…" I looked at him waiting for an answer and he tossed a condom in my lap I looked at him and a dit "fine; but only because toi came all the way here from Las Vegas to apologize!" I whispered in his ear "by the way; your new mustache is sexy!"

November 20, 2009,

Knowing that the family would be away until this afternoon Damien stayed the night again. He's only been here at night and I have no idea what he's been doing during the day. He's going back to Vegas today and hasn't spent much time with Carter since he's been here. That definitely gets on my nerves and I won't put up with it for long.

Damien came into my room and I a dit "my family will be here in an heure so toi have to leave soon because I don't want them to know that toi were here!" He stripped down to his boxers and asked "can I use your douche before I leave?" I a dit "just try to be fast because toi have to get out of here before they get back!" He a dit "I will" as he shut the door to the bathroom that was in my bedroom.

While Carter took a nap, I heard Damien turn the douche on and I looked down at my bedroom floor. I saw Damien's cell phone sticking out of the pocket in his shorts and decided to go through it. I went to his boîte mail and started lire his text messages:

Damien: I'm leaving in a few hours :-)

Baby: okay! I miss toi so much and I hope you're getting along well with your baby's mother.

Damien: I got to go; I'll talk to toi later! I l’amour you! Hope toi have something special planned for when I get back

***

I was fuming with anger as I got up from my lit and used a paperclip to unlock the bathroom door. I opened the door and stormed in. I looked at Damien as he stood in the douche and pulled him out. I pushed him down on the lit and he asked "what the hell are toi doing? I wasn't done taking a douche yet!" I a dit "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME toi HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!" He looked up at me and asked "why the fuck do toi care?" I a dit "because we had sex yesterday toi jackass!" He a dit obviously unfazed "she's not going to find out anyway! Even if she did; the ladies can't resist me!" I a dit as I shoved him down the stairs and out the door "so toi were just going to hook up with me then leave!" He a dit "STOP BEING SUCH A chienne AJ!" I a dit as I slapped him across the face "DON'T toi EVER CALL ME A BITCH! toi CAN FORGET ABOUT EVER SEEING YOUR SON AGAIN! NOW I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING toi a dit TO ME ABOUT BEING THERE WAS ALL taureau, bull SHIT!!! He a dit "you think I give a damn if I see him again? I don't; I don't even know the kid!" I a dit "you're a pathetic excuse for a father! That's really sad! I'm glad I care about him enough to keep him away from you! DON'T toi GET IT? I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE THERE! THE ONLY ONE YOU'RE HURTING IS CARTER! IT'S GOING TO SUCK FOR toi WHEN HE'S CALLING SOMEONE ELSE DADDY! I'LL BE IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER BEFORE toi TREAT OUR SON LIKE HE'S WORTHLESS!" I threw him his clothes and a dit "get the hell out of here and don't come back!" He quickly put his clothes on and casually walked down the road like he didn't even care!

December 25, 2009,

It was 7 o'clock in the morning on Christmas jour and I lay in my lit looking at the ceiling. I talked to myself "I wish toi were here daddy. Christmas will never be the same without you! I know you'll be there in spirit but; I would do anything just to see toi one plus time! I know toi can hear me up there and my new musique video came out last week! It's really populaire and I hope I made toi proud! My album comes out in less than a mois and then I'm going on tour! I wish toi could give me a sigh that toi are supportive of everything that I've been working on lately!"

I was interrupted par Carter standing up in his lit de bébé crying and I walked over to pick him up. I a dit "Merry Christmas little guy!" Blanket came running into my room and a dit "Santa Claus came!" I asked trying to keep the magic alive for him "he did?" Before I got a response from him, he ran into Prince's room and yelled "PRINCE WAKE UP!" Paris and I looked at each other as we laughed at his excitement. My grandmother came out of her room and smiled as she asked "how late were toi up last night wrapping Carter's gifts?" I a dit "until two in the morning." I whispered in her ear "keep the kids up here for a few plus minutes because I have to go sneak his gift from Santa Claus downstairs, distract him for me!”

After I had put the gift downstairs I a dit "okay; toi guys can come downstairs now!” I took my iPhone out of the pocket on the red flannel pajama pants that I was wearing and started to take pictures. I smiled as Prince helped Carter walk down the stairs. Carter's been walking for about two months now and hasn't quite mastered the stairs yet.

I smiled as Blanket's mouth dropped as he saw the living room covered with gifts stacked 5 feet high. I knelt down to get a good picture of Carter's face as he saw the giant plastic play cuisine that I had bought him. He ran toward it stumbling on his feet and falling down a few times. He pulled himself up on it and I asked "oh my gosh Carter; what did Santa bring you?" Grandma smiled and winked down at me. I stood up and she whispered in my ear "is that where the $300 toi got from the promotional tour went?" I a dit "of course; I wanted my son to have a good Christmas and I wasn't about to spend my money on myself!" She sat down in the chair behind her and started to tear up. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked "what's wrong grandma?" She a dit "your father would be so proud of toi right now! I had no idea that toi spent the little money that toi got from those three shows on Carter." I a dit "well obviously; I may not make the best decisions most of the time but, when it comes to Carter I'll always put him first before anything else!" She a dit "I was about to confront toi and ask toi what stupid thing toi bought with your money; I guess I underestimated you!" I winked at her and a dit "have a little faith in me grandma, I have a good side too!"

Prince, Paris, and Blanket sat down on the canapé as I passed them stacks of gifts. As I sat down on the floor blanket a dit "pass me all of my gifts AJ!" I a dit "there's hundreds of gifts with your name on them; it would take me hours to find them! Just start with that and I'll grab plus later." I grabbed a present with Carter's name on it and a dit as I pulled him away from the play cuisine "come on buddy; let's open up some gifts!" He started screaming and reaching for the play cuisine and I tried to distract him par ripping a hole through the gift. He wasn't having any of it and I a dit "fine, I'll save your gifts for after everyone else is done!"

We passed out gifts and attacked them one after another. I saw as the gifts started to fade and my siblings had opened their expensive gifts. Paris and Prince both got their own cell phones and Blanket had gotten a laptop. I wasn't expecting much because the most important thing is that Carter got everything that he wanted. I started helping grandma clean up the paper that covered the floor and she a dit "I think there's something else for you."

I looked around and a dit confused "I don't see anything grandma; maybe you're getting it mixed up with something I already opened!" She a dit as she pointed at a little red box that was hanging from a branch on the Christmas arbre "what's that?" I untied the ribbon that was holding the box to the branch and took it off. I looked at grandma and let out a nervous laugh as I asked "why are toi staring at me with that creepy smile on your face like toi are going to explode?" She a dit "just open it up and you'll find out!" I asked worried par her anticipation "nothing living is going to jump out at me; right? Like a bug ou something!"

Prince shouted from the other room as he shoved syrup covered gaufres into his mouth and listened in on our conversation "just open it already AJ! I want to know what it is!" I a dit "alright, alright I'm opening it!" I untied the bow that was on haut, retour au début of the box and carefully removed the lid. I looked inside and then looked up as I a dit "you're joking grandma; toi didn't!" She a dit "you're right; I didn't because your dad did!" Prince tossed his plate in the sink and asked "what is it?" I looked at him shocked beyond belief and pulled out a set of car keys from the box!

I ran out the door barefoot wearing pajama pants and a étoile, star Wars T-shirt. Grandma was laughing so hard she barely got out of the words "PUT YOUR SHOES ON!" I was already out the door par that point and my jaw dropped when I saw what was sitting in the driveway. It was the black Ford F1 50 that dad saw me eyeing when I went with him last an to the car lot so he could trade-in his Rolls-Royce. I didn't even think he was watching me when I was looking at it!

Blanket and Prince climbed into the lit of the truck. I climbed up into the driver’s siège and started the engine. I asked as I looked out the window at grandma "can I take it down to the lake that's not too far from here?" She motioned for my brothers to get out of the truck and a dit "just don't get pulled over because toi only have your drivers permit!" I a dit "don't worry, I won't!"

When I pulled up in front of the lake I turned on the radio as I looked around still in shock. I a dit to myself "I can't believe dad was able to hide this from me for so long!" I opened up the gant compartment and was surprised to see a piece of paper inside. I took it out and opened it. It read:

Dated at the haut, retour au début of the paper: 6 – 23 – 09

Dear Alanna,

I don't know if you'll ever notice this note but, don't make me regret buying toi this truck! I l’amour toi so much even though toi make me want to rip my hair out because of how toi act! Drive sûr, sans danger kiddo and enjoy!

l’amour toi forever, no matter what!!! – Daddy

***

I paused in silence for about five secondes processing what I had just read and reread the date. I whispered "that was the jour before dad and I had that huge fight!" I couldn't fight back the tears anymore as I pounded my fist on the dashboard. I screamed "I'M SORRY! I DON'T KNOW WHY toi PUT UP WITH ME and I fought toi every step of the way! I DON'T KNOW WHY toi DIDN'T GIVE UP ON ME!" I sobbed uncontrollably for 10 minutes straight as I gripped the note tightly in my hand. I continue to cry and then suddenly I heard "I just can't stop lovin' you, I just can't stop lovin' you, and if I stop tell me just what will I do cause I just can't stop lovin' you!!!"

I looked up at the station and it a dit "jingle bells" was the song that was playing. I a dit to myself "that wasn't jingle bells! I thought this radio station was supposed to be playing Christmas musique all day!" As I drove back to Havenhurst, I couldn't help but wonder why the radio had a dit it was playing a Christmas song instead of what was actually playing. I know it wasn't just me hearing things because I heard that song like it was clear as day… That's so strange and aléatoire of that radio station!!!