The first thing Kiki remembered about the Jackson house was the sound of laughter.
Not the kind that came from television.
Not the polite laughter adults gave when they were trying to be nice.
Real laughter.
The kind that travelled through the walls and somehow made you smile before you even knew what everyone was laughing about.
Kiki had been eight years old the first time her father brought her there.
She sat quietly in the back seat of his car, her knees pressed against the edge of her little dress, watching the streets of Gary disappear behind them.
Her father had spent most of the drive talking about business.
Music.
Contracts.
People Kiki had never heard of.
She understood almost none of it.
She didn't particularly care, either.
She was much more interested in the paper bag sitting beside her.
Inside was a small present.
She had picked it out herself.
A little toy microphone.
Because the boy she was going to meet loved singing.
At least, that's what her father had told her.
The car finally stopped.
Kiki looked through the window.
There were children everywhere.
One was running across the yard.
Another was chasing him.
Someone shouted something from inside the house.
Then the front door opened.
A woman stepped outside.
She had a gentle smile.
"Kiki?"
Kiki nodded.
The woman's smile grew.
"Come here, sweetheart."
Kiki climbed out of the car.
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Be polite."
"I will."
"And don't bother them while they're working."
Kiki looked toward the house.
"But you said there were kids."
Her father sighed.
"I said they were here."
That was when another voice called from the doorway.
"Mom!"
The woman turned.
A boy stood behind her.
He was around Kiki's age.
His hair was dark and curly, and he had an expression that looked halfway between curiosity and shyness.
The woman looked at him.
"Michael, come say hello."
He stepped forward.
Kiki stared at him.
Michael stared back.
Neither said anything.
YOU ARE READING
The boy I never forgot (1)
FanfictionThey were just kids when they promised they'd never forget each other. Then Kiki disappeared. Years later, she walks back into Michael Jackson's life and suddenly, the memories they buried begin coming back. But Kiki's return brings more than old fe...
