HIStory

Note from the Author.

When I first did a draft of this story and I handed it in my teacher said it was really good, level three .. Though I was happy I am perfectionist when it comes to writing. So I went back three times over and the outcome is this. I am really happy with my final piece. This story is dedicated to all the wonderful people I have met through these difficult times. Whom I look upon as my extended family. Through listening to your thoughts, feelings and also my own this is the outcome. This is also dedicated to my idol Michael .. As Akon said " I want to thank you for showing me the man in the mirror" <3 you Michael, always and forever.

Keisha Jackson Ellis-Taylor <3 's DKJ, SMJ, MLJ, TDJ, TJ, JD ..





His frail body lays there on the unfurnished floor. Without a top on, his rib cage is on display as if it were art being shown in an exhibition. The colouring of his skin lighter than usual, so pale you could mistake him for a porcelain doll. There he lay still like a statue as the lethal combination of alcohol and drugs work vigorously like a nine to five. His boyfriend looks on from the window ledge in concern as Ashley spirals even further into oblivion.

“Ashley?” The dark skin boy calls out. The room so bare his voice echoes. He repeats several more times until he finally hears a breakthrough.

“Y-yes” Ashley whispers. His voice laced with no emotion. He stands from the window and makes his way to the middle of the room and kneels down beside him. Although the journey was done in less than five seconds it felt like a trip around the world. His eyes travelled from Ashley’s feet to his hair knowing that the events of June were evident on his mind and body. Travis came eye to eye with Ashley. What he saw shattered his heart like brokenglass. His eyes which were once visible with love, happiness and ambition were now replaced with hollowed emptiness, sadness and pain.

For Travis he knows the feeling and he knows what Ashley is going through because too many times he has been there before. With one hand he places it gently on top of Ashley’s and immediately Goosebumps arise on his own body. Ashley was as cold as ice. Travis scans the room for something which could generate heat to stop his boyfriend’s body temperature dropping any lower but through the dark room with only a small glass window nothing was in sight.

“I ...” The teen averts back to the figure that lay before him, his eyes grew big as he anxiously waits for more. A few more minutes pass and not another word was uttered not even a sound. He flung his head back and closed his eyes as the tears descended.

Travis jolts at the sudden contact, quickly opening his eyes he looks down to his hands and saw they were covered. A smile spreads across his face and with that the sad tears soon turn to happy tears. With a free hand he covers his mouth and blinks his eyes as he couldn’t stop the waterfall of tears.

“I … love you” Ashley mouthed and follows with a weak smile.

And just as quickly as his demeanour changed to hope and happiness with that small gesture, in a blink of an eye it changes to horror. Like watching a movie he was not registering what was transpiring, and that in front of him was real, Ashley leaving him, leaving this world. In the presence of the dark for the first time a light shone upon them, a white glow illuminated. Travis looks up and sees a shining star piercing through. He looks down and in that moment with the brightness around them he watches Ashley and for the first time he sees something he had not seen in a long time, peace and calm. He cradles the lifeless body as if it was a child and begins to rock. He rocks and rocks until he falls asleep. The light fades as darkness falls covering them like a blanket.

* * *

Travis hears his name being called and enters the assembly. Like a song being composed the audience claps in union. He makes his way up the steps to the podium wearing a signature outfit worn by Ashley’s idol Michael Jackson. Travis wore the outfit which Michael revealed during the Bad era for his video Bad. He looks stunning from head to toe in a matching black jacket and trousers plastered with silver studs and belt buckles. He completes the look with the arm bands, cowboy boots and his hair in a curly perm. When at the podium he takes a moment to observe his surrounding. The room was beautifully decorated with pictures of Ashley. Multi coloured balloons and messages covering the walls from teachers and students. All eyes look to the stage as the teen speaks

“I would like to thank everyone in here today for being present. Today’s date marks one month since Ashley passing and not a day goes by where my heart doesn’t yearn for him. In front of me I have a letter which he wrote and on behalf I would like to share it with you all ...”

Travis pauses to compose himself. After a few seconds which felt like minutes he continues

“It has been over two months now and I am still trying to come to terms with the event that took place on June twenty fifth. I am trying to engineer my mind to accept that physically he is no longer here but I am finding it difficult. As long as I can remember I have loved Michael Jackson. As a child it was solely his music, but as I got older I began to look beyond that and uncover the man himself. I had tickets to go see him this summer. It was going to be the best summer holiday ever. I remember back in March my boyfriend and I went to go see him announce his concerts which were to be held at the 02. Never had I cried so much because one of my many dreams was to come true. I was on such a high telling everyone I, Ashley Joe was going to see my idol Michael Jackson live. I assume people didn’t understand the totality of it. I was not going to see just any artist; I was going to see Michael Jackson the artist of artists. Travis and I had planned from the moment the announcement was made what we were going to wear and what our movements were for the first three months he was down here. Travis surprised me with purchasing five tickets for July thirteenth, sixthteenth, twenty second, August third and thirtieth.”

He pauses again. He looks up and closes his eyes for a moment feeling Ashley’s presence with him. Opening his eyes again he looks out to the audience and then back to the letter. The letter which has his heart and soul smeared all over. His eyes well up as he continues once again.

“Being a Michael fan is never easy. You are ridiculed constantly and I cannot understand why. People are constantly questioning his fans by asking how you can like him. All you hear is he is a freak, he’s ugly, he is a paedophile, he’s plastic, blah, blah, and blah the list is endless. First off beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to me he is the most beautiful man in the world. He is not a paedophile June 13th 2005 cleared of all ten charges. And before you bring up the first case in 93 ask yourself this. If your child accused some one of abusing them would you take a settlement? No matter if the person was an artist, celebrity or your average Jo would you? You talk about him being plastic. Why how much surgery he has had relevant? In America most notably Los Angeles famous figures have plastic surgery all the time, why single out Michael Jackson? I understand that during the years his skin has gotten lighter but that was down to a skin condition called Vitiligo which he has mentioned many times before. It is a condition which causes loss of pigmentation to the skin. When it first started to appear during the Thriller Era he tried to cover up with dark make up. When that wasn’t working and the condition worsened he used light makeup to even out the tone of his skin. I still do not understand why people call him strange? I think during the memorial Rev Al Sharpton said it best

“Was nothing strange about your daddy; it was strange what your daddy had to deal with”

And just like on the day when Al Sharpton delivered that line the Staple Centre burst into a crescendo of claps and cheers. The audience in front of Travis replicated the same gesture. As the noise dies down he continues on


“I think people have allowed the media’s voice to act as an excuse to hate on this man. I mean I have no problem with anyone saying they do not like the man or even enjoying his music but when you judge and it’s based on things like “he is strange, he is a freak,” you start to question their judgement. They tell you “I heard.” It’s all very typical isn’t it? The media feed you and you eat it, you believe it. Don’t believe everything you hear printed or told in the media. What he was about, and still is till this day was giving continuous love to the world and helping millions of people through his humanitarian work, and giving pleasure through his singing and dancing.”

Travis stops briefly. The room fall so silent it feels like morning where you can hear nothing but the cool breeze and the birds chirping and singing.

“I sit in my room writing this as I have tried, but failed miserably, to go on. I feel like I am no longer living but just existing. It is like I am going through the motions without substance. Many people have tried to help me but have given up on me because I have not made any progress. A lot of people do not understand. They are quite perplexed when they see my behaviour but you have to know, for so many of us Michael was more than an artist. He has touched my life in so many ways and I feel that even though I didn’t get to meet him, I know him on a personal level through his music and dance, and for that I feel like I have lost one of my own. He is a gifted musical genius, wonderful father and beautiful man. Travis, I would like to thank you for being there for me through everything. My love for you is eternal and though I will not be here physically, spiritually I am forever with you
- Love AJ



When Travis finishes the letter there is not a dry eye in the room. Everyone gets up and claps as he stands and looks out to the sea of faces. As the tears finally fall he looks up and smiles knowing that Ashley is with him the whole time. The dark skin teen takes a bow then walks off stage proud that he told his boyfriend’s story, and that it touches other people. He also hopes that it gives the people here today a little more insight into people’s love for Michael Jackson. Upon his exit a selection of Michael Jackson songs began to play.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you Wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
- Man in the mirror (Bad)

Heal the world, make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying if you care enough for the living
So make a better place for you and for me
- Heal the world (Dangerous)


Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
have you seen my Childhood?
People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
it’s been my fate to compensate,
For the Childhood I've never known...
- Childhood (History)