Aya.

My first meaning in life was art, art was what made me whole without art I probably wouldn't be here. When I was in school I was a failure especially in the arts of literature. I was dyslexic and to make things worse I was left handed and back then in the 1960s and 70s being left handed wasn't a good thing, my grandmother once told me just because a man has a gun, doesn't make him any stronger than a man who doesn't carry a gun. As a youngster of course I didn't understand what she was trying to tell me, I just didn't want to be left handed and dyslexic. Later in my life when I enter my second beginning, the big wide world. What my grandmother told me back then became my most important moral, my creed in life.

The new year was going good my exams went well and my teaching in the art building nearby was going great so really I couldn't complain "HELLO, HELLO RISE AND SHINE THE SUN IS UP AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING!" yelled my cousin Ephie as she walked in my room pushing the curtain to the side. The sun shined on my face I covered my face with my hands to get the sun out of my eyes.

"Ephie what are you doing", I said annoyed.

"You have been stressed all week and it's time for you to go out, get some fresh air make some friends". Ephie ordered.

When I refused Ephie grabbed my leg and tried to pull me out of bed, I was hanging on to the edge of the bed but Ephie was too strong.

"Ephie, it's too early", I complained.

"it's 2pm", Ephie added.

"It's Sunday, it's god's day". Ephie didn't care she still wanted me out of my apartment. so I got dressed, grabbed my bag and dragged my ass around town. I was at the busiest part of Encino California with the shops in every corner and steady traffic, as I was wandering around I looked up and saw a huge billboard of Michael Jackson album thriller BUY NOW ! on the billboard, as a bus drove by I saw him again a picture of him on the side of the bus Michael Jackson best artist can't get better than him.

I love Michael Jackson ever since the Jackson 5 days he was my favorite, I have his album thriller and all the other solo albums. He is so kind and has this sweet gentle voice that makes your heart skip a beat and he is so handsome that it kind of makes your eyes hurt... yeah I'm a fan. While drifting in my thoughts a voice called out to me "HEY AYA!" and foot steps came closer I reconnected myself to reality and saw it was Cecil a boy in my art class.

"Oh hey Cecil , what are you up too". I asked.

"Nothing really just came out of church now, I'm going to the comic book store wanna come" he asked in his squeaky voice.

I followed Cecil to the comic book store we bought a few comic books and head off somewhere else. "Hey I think the comic book guy likes you" he said, I looked at him and shook my head Cecil was certain that the comic book guy was 'checking me out'. It's not the first time someone has told me someone was checking me out or being told I'm beautiful, my cousin always told me I should ditch the art thing and become a model, I have been offered modeling opportunities in the streets by complete strangers of course I turned them down. If someone gave me a positive compliment about my appearance I'd shake it off or say nothing, I guess I just don't see what they see.

Myself and Cecil hung out for the whole day then I took him home. When I came home I stared through the window watching the stars in the sky, I turned my attention to my shelf filled with records I got it out as I was searching through it I stumble upon the thriller album, I grabbed it and stuck it on and I danced around the place like a moron.

The next day after finishing my classes at the college, I went to work my part time job at the art building nearby, it's a great place to teach kids of all ages the wonders of art. I work with little kids 6-11 years old, they're the best. In the class I was teaching the children how to make paper bags so they can design them and give them to their love ones at home.

"Aya I still can't do this folding thing with the paper can you help me", Justine asked helplessly . I helped Justine with her bag she gave me a hug and went back to her chair, I walked around every table to see how the children were doing with their bags. " Aya my bag ripped in half", Cecil said holding the ripped paper in both hands. I went to the back room to get more paper but for some reason the paper was hard to find, I searched for paper everywhere " ah there it is" I found the bundle of paper, until I heard one of my students say something that entered my ears like a bolt of lightning.

" HEY IT'S MICHAEL JACKSON!".

I grabbed the piece of paper but before I could exit  the back room Justine came in "Aya come on you can't believe who's here", Justine dragged me out of the back room she pointed I looked at the direction she was pointing at and there he was standing there with Johnny, I gave myself a moment to realize what my eyes just captured.