Michael McKellar

Michael McKellar (1)

I

It was abnormally quiet.

For the many years Michael had lived there, the Hayvenhurst household never held such a subtle atmosphere, especially since the news of his father's illegitimate child back in '79. Walking through his home Michael sensed neither tension nor joy. He called it peace.

"Hey, stranger." His loving mother, Katherine, piped up a smile that expressed how happy she was to see him back home. "Come here."

Michael walked into his mother's open arms and gave her a longing hug. He missed her just as much. "How are you?"

She pulled back to look into his eyes. "Better now that you've come walking through the doors." She turned and limped back into the kitchen.

Michael watched his mother falter and take a deep breath as she leaned on the counter. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said waving him off. "I'm just a little tired."

The limp didn't worry him. He had never actually seen his mother walk in any other way. Katherine was diagnosed with polio when she was only a baby. She survived, but in the end it caused a permanent limp. "You don't seem like yourself, Mother." He took two steps towards her. "Why are you cleaning? Where's Mrs.—"

"Oh, your father and I gave her time off," she fibbed. She and Joseph didn't want the children or anyone else in Encino to know they could no longer afford certain luxuries. "Are you hungry?" she asked standing up straight.

"No, I'm fine."

"Well go on upstairs. Your mail is piling up."

"Oh, I can imagine," he snickered. He hadn't been home for three weeks.

"You know how loving and persistent your fans are."

"And others," he said turning around.

Michael spiraled with the staircase up to his bedroom. Nothing seemed out of place once he entered and scanned the perimeter. His clutter was all in their appropriate spots. The only thing that stood out to him was the fallen stack of envelopes in the center of his bed. Some were yellow, some were blue, but mostly were paper white.

He shoved them aside as he sat down and blindly grabbed one. It was from a younger fan. He could tell by the red crayon scribbled on the front. He slid his finger beneath the seal and tore the envelope open before taking the letter out and pursuing it.

An 11-year-old girl named Sally was a huge fan and could not wait to meet him someday. Michael smiled to himself when he read that her favorite song was Billie Jean. Once he was done reading Sally's letter he sifted through the pile next to him. Majority of it was fan mail. Katherine always kept business related mail on his dresser. Most of the time his management were the ones to receive such things but occasionally an "Open Immediately" found its way to Hayvenhurst.

If he could, Michael would sit there and read each one, the fun ones from his fans. He'd open them all up, staple them together and read it like one big book. But of course his schedule would hinder his wish.

After placing Sally's letter back in its envelope, he stood up to get ready for his busy day. However, right when he went to push the mail out of the way, something caught his eye.  He grabbed hold of it and brought it closer to his view. It was an envelope addressed to a Michael McKellar.

"Michael?" Katherine rapped at his door.

Disregarding the envelope, he threw it on the bed and responded to his mother's call. When he opened the door, she informed him that he had a telephone call from his manager, Frank, while handing him the phone. His busy day was already in motion.