Michael Jackson_ The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958-2009 Part 10

'I was always impressed by Michael,' Rob recalled. 'He struck me as being so polished, yet still pure. Plus, he could sing which Jimmie could not do and this was was a musical.' a musical.'

When Rob suggested to Diana that Michael might be right for the part, she agreed, whole-heartedly. It was she, then, who suggested it to Michael. Though he'd seen the Broadway play a half-dozen times and, obviously, loved it, Michael was reluctant. He felt that Berry Gordy might use his influence to have him rejected because of the bad blood that still existed between Motown and the Jackson family. Diana rea.s.sured him that he would be given a fair chance. A few days after Michael auditioned, Sidney Lumet telephoned him at the Encino estate to tell him that he had the job.

Joseph did not want Michael to have the kind of solo attention a major movie would generate for him. Since family prosperity through unity had always been Joseph's goal, he was never one to encourage individuality within the group. When Michael recorded solo alb.u.ms at Motown, it was with the understanding that Jermaine and Jackie have the same opportunity. (t.i.to and Marlon also worked on solo alb.u.m projects for Motown, though the records were never released.) Of course, Joseph knew that without Michael's voice, personality and charisma, The Jacksons would be a completely different kind of act, and maybe not a good one, either especially now that Jermaine was gone. Working with his brothers had never been a problem for Michael in the past; he was always group-minded. However, now that he was older, he was beginning to feel constricted by the group's democratic mentality. And, the fact that they were all so unsupportive of his solo dreams made him feel that, at the core, they were just being selfish.

Though Joseph had been trying for years to find a property that would star all all of The Jacksons, the brothers didn't really care about making movies as much as Michael. 'I watch movies constantly and envision how it would have been if I could have been the star,' he recalled. 'I wanted nothing more than to be a movie star.' As much as he wanted the role of the Scarecrow, accepting it was not easy for him. In order to do so, Michael had to defy Joseph and risk the disapproval of his entire family. Also, he was going to have to perform in a strange medium. A weekly TV variety show that he loathed doing was insufficient preparation for a major movie role. Michael, always the perfectionist, wondered if he would be up to the challenge. Though he agonized over what to do, in the end he decided to follow his heart. 'I'm doing the movie,' he told Joseph. 'I hope you'll support me.' of The Jacksons, the brothers didn't really care about making movies as much as Michael. 'I watch movies constantly and envision how it would have been if I could have been the star,' he recalled. 'I wanted nothing more than to be a movie star.' As much as he wanted the role of the Scarecrow, accepting it was not easy for him. In order to do so, Michael had to defy Joseph and risk the disapproval of his entire family. Also, he was going to have to perform in a strange medium. A weekly TV variety show that he loathed doing was insufficient preparation for a major movie role. Michael, always the perfectionist, wondered if he would be up to the challenge. Though he agonized over what to do, in the end he decided to follow his heart. 'I'm doing the movie,' he told Joseph. 'I hope you'll support me.'

'Well, if I can't talk you out of it, then go ahead and do it,' Joseph said. 'But don't say I didn't warn you. It's a big mistake.'

Michael became upset. 'You're the one always telling us about winners and losers,' he said, according to his later recollection. 'Now you're telling me not to do this thing when I know know I can be a winner at it.' I can be a winner at it.'

Joseph had to think about that comment for a moment. 'It's a gamble, Michael.'

'Sure,' Michael said. 'Just like all the gambles you took, Joseph. Just like the one when you brought us out here.'

'You're right,' Joseph said with a smile. 'Do the movie, Michael. Take a shot. You're the man. But always remember one thing?'

'Winners and losers?' Michael asked, referring to his father's credo.

'No,' Joseph said. 'Remember that you are a member of this family, and a part of a singing group with your brothers, no matter what you do. Family, Michael, that's everything.'

The two men smiled at each other. If things had been different between them, perhaps they would have embraced but that wasn't how their relationship worked. Michael gave his father a thumbs-up and dashed off.

The brothers did not share Joseph's benevolence where Michael and The Wiz The Wiz was concerned. was concerned.

'To tell you the truth, we thought he was biting off more than he could chew,' recalled Jackie. 'We didn't think it was right for him, or good for the group. So, yeah, we kinda wished he wouldn't have done it.'

However, Michael refused to deny his dream simply because his brothers did not share it. He's a born gambler, though few thought of him in that way at the time. Exhilarated by his imagination, he wanted to take chances. '"I have to make this film for personal reasons," he told me,' Rob Cohen recalled. '"There are things I have to prove to myself, and to a few others."'

The Wiz offered Michael a temporary avenue of escape from the negativity of his male siblings and father. When he moved to New York in July 1977 to begin the film, he asked LaToya to accompany him. The two resided in an exclusive two-thousand-dollars-per-month, thirty-seventh-floor apartment located in Manhattan's expensive Sutton Place. These few months would be the first time the two Jacksons had ever been away from the rest of the family. Katherine was nervous about her children being off on their own, but she decided that it would be best if someone could be with Michael, 'and LaToya's being there was as close to me being there as possible. She and I were so much alike back then.' offered Michael a temporary avenue of escape from the negativity of his male siblings and father. When he moved to New York in July 1977 to begin the film, he asked LaToya to accompany him. The two resided in an exclusive two-thousand-dollars-per-month, thirty-seventh-floor apartment located in Manhattan's expensive Sutton Place. These few months would be the first time the two Jacksons had ever been away from the rest of the family. Katherine was nervous about her children being off on their own, but she decided that it would be best if someone could be with Michael, 'and LaToya's being there was as close to me being there as possible. She and I were so much alike back then.'

Because LaToya was anxious about her time away, she turned to chocolate for comfort. 'She ate chocolate the whole time she was in New York,' Susie Jackson said. 'She became addicted. She told me that it got so bad, she had such chocolate fits, that she would take Hershey's cocoa and just mix water with it and drink it, that's how addicted she was to it. By the time she came back, she had gained twenty pounds.'

Though LaToya was apprehensive about being away from home, Michael basked in his new independence. 'He was nothing like the odd Michael Jackson you hear about nowadays,' Rob Cohen remembered. 'Back then, he was great fun; we had the best time. He, LaToya, me and some of the others involved with the project would go to clubs every night to dance. He was not fearful of going out in public, then. He was excited, like a little kid in a playground. The only thing on his mind was work during the day and I've seldom seen anyone work as hard other than, perhaps, Diana Ross and play at night.'

Filming the $24-million movie at the time one of the most expensive films ever produced took place from 3 October through 30 December 1977, at Astoria Studios. It was hard work, six days a week. Michael would awake at four in the morning in order to leave for the studio by 5:30. Following her mother's instructions, LaToya would prepare an early breakfast for her brother, usually consisting of orange juice, bacon, b.u.t.tered toast, herb tea and oatmeal. Michael's makeup for his role as Scarecrow took cosmetologist Stan Wilson five hours to apply.

'I loved it,' Michael told me after the film was done. 'I was the Scarecrow from the time the makeup was put on until the time it came off, which I hated.' Sometimes, he said, he would even go home at night wearing the makeup. It was a welcome cover for his acne, he said. Once it was applied, and his phony nose and fright wig of steel-wool pads were in place, Michael could walk around and not be recognized though, of course, he drew more attention in that get-up than he would have without it.

'Manhattan was full of excitement for Michael,' Rob Cohen recalled. 'He met Jacqueline Ona.s.sis at the Rainbow Grill. He talked about her for days afterwards, how glamorous and sophisticated she was, how he hoped one day to know her better. He met Caroline and John Kennedy at the Robert Kennedy Tennis Tournament. He did more socializing then than he does today, sometimes with Diana.'

There was actually a bit of tension between Michael and Diana during production. In July, the cast began rehearsing their musical numbers at the St George Hotel in Brooklyn. Michael was an accomplished dancer; however, Diana had to work at it. Whereas, Michael could remember the ch.o.r.eographer's direction immediately and execute the step with precision, Diana would have to rehea.r.s.e for hours and would still have some trouble with it. During one particularly trying session, she pulled Michael aside. 'You're embarra.s.sing me,' she said, urgently.

'What do you mean?' Michael asked. His surprise was genuine.

'You're learning the dances too quickly.'

'I was sort of shocked,' Michael told me. 'I didn't mean to embarra.s.s her, that's for sure. So I tried to act like I didn't always know what I was doing, so I could make her feel better.'

Michael had only happy memories to share with the press where Diana and The Wiz The Wiz are concerned. 'She would come into my dressing room every day and ask what she could do to make things more comfortable,' he said. 'She was like a mother to me. I love her very much.' are concerned. 'She would come into my dressing room every day and ask what she could do to make things more comfortable,' he said. 'She was like a mother to me. I love her very much.'

At this time, a nineteen-year-old friend of Michael's, Theresa Gonsalves (whom he first met in November 1974 when she went to Las Vegas to see the group for her sixteenth birthday), telephoned him to say she was going to New York for a visit. They made plans to see each other in New York.

'When I got to the apartment building, he told the doorman to send me up,' Theresa recalled. ''Toya answered the door. She was irritated. "Michael didn't tell me me that the two of you made plans," she said. It was as if he was supposed to check with her before he made plans, and he hadn't. that the two of you made plans," she said. It was as if he was supposed to check with her before he made plans, and he hadn't.

'So I asked 'Toya where he was, and she said that he was in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies. After Michael and I talked and ate the cookies, I took a look around. The suite had a balcony. Michael used to like to hang over it like he was going to jump. He loved acting like a fool to upset his sister. 'Toya had the most wonderful room, a real showplace with a huge bed and a mirror above it, a penthouse bedroom befitting a star. Michael had a small, simple bedroom with a twin-sized bed in it and a desk. I asked myself, Why does she have such a great room and he's stuck with this? this?'

One day, Michael returned from the studio very excited about a new structure that had been built for his character at the studio. 'Follow me,' he told Theresa. She followed him into his modest bedroom. As the two of them stood at his desk, he started showing her a sc.r.a.pbook of photographs of the movie set.

'So what do you think? Great, huh?' Michael asked.

'Yes, you're so lucky,' Theresa enthused.

Michael closed the book and looked into Theresa's eyes, thoughtfully. He tilted his head and leaned over to her, awkwardly. At that moment, LaToya walked into the room. 'What's going on in here?' she wanted to know. Michael pulled back nervously.

'So anyway, I uh...' he stammered.

Years later, Theresa would recall, 'I wanted him to kiss me so badly. And I know he would have if 'Toya hadn't surprised us.'

A Rendezvous with Destiny.

After The Wiz The Wiz was filmed and before the movie was released, it was back to business as usual for The Jacksons. However, Michael now felt differently about his family and his career. Satisfied with his work in New York, and having been praised by people whose opinions mattered to him, he was filled with a new confidence in himself as an individual artist. He wanted to begin work on the solo alb.u.m he had been promised by Epic as soon as possible, even though the rest of the family wanted to concentrate on the third Jacksons group alb.u.m for the label. The family won again. was filmed and before the movie was released, it was back to business as usual for The Jacksons. However, Michael now felt differently about his family and his career. Satisfied with his work in New York, and having been praised by people whose opinions mattered to him, he was filled with a new confidence in himself as an individual artist. He wanted to begin work on the solo alb.u.m he had been promised by Epic as soon as possible, even though the rest of the family wanted to concentrate on the third Jacksons group alb.u.m for the label. The family won again.

The group went into the studio to record Destiny, Destiny, the first Jacksons alb.u.m said to be written and produced by the group itself. Although the Jacksons did, indeed, write all but one of the songs, executive producer Bobby Colomby and Mike Atkinson did most of the production work. When there was some disagreement as to what credit they should receive, Michael was the only one of the brothers who felt that Colomby and Atkinson should be credited as executive producers. the first Jacksons alb.u.m said to be written and produced by the group itself. Although the Jacksons did, indeed, write all but one of the songs, executive producer Bobby Colomby and Mike Atkinson did most of the production work. When there was some disagreement as to what credit they should receive, Michael was the only one of the brothers who felt that Colomby and Atkinson should be credited as executive producers.

Destiny was, by far, the most exciting Jacksons alb.u.m to date, including all of those recorded at Motown. For the first time, the group put together a cohesively structured alb.u.m. There were no filler songs; all eight songs were noteworthy. was, by far, the most exciting Jacksons alb.u.m to date, including all of those recorded at Motown. For the first time, the group put together a cohesively structured alb.u.m. There were no filler songs; all eight songs were noteworthy.

What's more Michael had never sounded better than he did on this alb.u.m. His performance on the dreamy ballad 'Push Me Away', with its orchestral sweep and rapturous melody, is carefree and effortless. Yet upon closer inspection, it becomes obvious that Michael's delivery is tightly measured and precise. He knows exactly how to settle his mind on the heart and story of a song in order to create the proper mood. As a result of years in the studio and in front of audiences, and a genuine love for singing, he had become an intuitively brilliant stylist.

Though off to a bad start with the high-flash pop of 'Blame It on the Boogie' (a single that didn't even make the Top 40 in the US, but sailed into the Top 10 in Britain), Destiny Destiny would fare much better than would fare much better than Goin' Places. Goin' Places. The real showcase was the mesmerizing 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)', written by Michael and Randy. Released in February 1979, it was the biggest hit of the alb.u.m, peaking at number seven on the pop charts and selling two million copies globally. 'Shake Your Body' personified the contemporary disco trend with its crackling lead vocal by Michael, whip-snapping chorus from the brothers and insistent, persistent backbeat. It is still regarded by many music critics as the perfect dance record and one of The Jacksons' strongest efforts. The real showcase was the mesmerizing 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)', written by Michael and Randy. Released in February 1979, it was the biggest hit of the alb.u.m, peaking at number seven on the pop charts and selling two million copies globally. 'Shake Your Body' personified the contemporary disco trend with its crackling lead vocal by Michael, whip-snapping chorus from the brothers and insistent, persistent backbeat. It is still regarded by many music critics as the perfect dance record and one of The Jacksons' strongest efforts.

The Jacksons did many interviews with the press to discuss their new alb.u.m, often emphasizing that they had been writing songs for years, but Destiny Destiny marked the first time they'd been able to dominate an alb.u.m with their own compositions. They had left Motown to do just this and had good reason to feel triumphant. They certainly could not be criticized in terms of their ability to write songs; they proved themselves with marked the first time they'd been able to dominate an alb.u.m with their own compositions. They had left Motown to do just this and had good reason to feel triumphant. They certainly could not be criticized in terms of their ability to write songs; they proved themselves with Destiny. Destiny. However, what was striking about the brothers at this time is how they were still unable to discuss their music with authority. Rather, the brothers Jackie, twenty-seven; t.i.to, twenty-five; Marlon, twenty-one; Michael, twenty, and Randy, sixteen were ambiguous in their comments, merely serving up heaps of plat.i.tudes about how 'wonderful' it was to write and produce their own music. Because of their early training at Motown to say only what they were told to say, now that The Jacksons could express themselves freely to the press, they didn't know how to do it. However, what was striking about the brothers at this time is how they were still unable to discuss their music with authority. Rather, the brothers Jackie, twenty-seven; t.i.to, twenty-five; Marlon, twenty-one; Michael, twenty, and Randy, sixteen were ambiguous in their comments, merely serving up heaps of plat.i.tudes about how 'wonderful' it was to write and produce their own music. Because of their early training at Motown to say only what they were told to say, now that The Jacksons could express themselves freely to the press, they didn't know how to do it.

I was one of the reporters the Jacksons spoke to when they were promoting Destiny. Destiny. Since I had interviewed them so many times in the past, I knew to stay clear of in-depth musical discussions. Still, my time with them that August day in 1978 was memorable, not so much as for what they said about their work as for what I observed about their relationships with one another. Since I had interviewed them so many times in the past, I knew to stay clear of in-depth musical discussions. Still, my time with them that August day in 1978 was memorable, not so much as for what they said about their work as for what I observed about their relationships with one another.

When I pulled up to the Jacksons' Encino estate with my photographer, the ominous, black wrought-iron gate was open so we were able to drive right through, into the circular driveway, upon which was parked a cache of Cadillacs, Rolls-Royces and Mercedes-Benzes. Three sentry dogs, penned up at the end of the drive, hurled themselves against the chain-link fence, their ferocious barks in stark contrast to the high-pitched cries of three large peac.o.c.ks also caged, nearby.

Looking around, I noticed the custom-made street sign, JACKSON JACKSON 5 5 BOULEVARD, BOULEVARD, on a nearby tree trunk. I remembered the barbecue I had attended a year earlier during which Michael and Jermaine proudly nailed the sign, made for them as part of 'Jackson 5 Day' in Gary, to the tree. To my left was the court where I and a few other weakling reporters stood on the sidelines with Michael, Janet and LaToya while the brothers and members of the Temptations played ball. When I glanced up at the two-storey house, I noticed four people looking down at me: Michael, LaToya, Randy and Katherine had their solemn faces pressed against the gla.s.s panes, almost as if prisoners in a compound. on a nearby tree trunk. I remembered the barbecue I had attended a year earlier during which Michael and Jermaine proudly nailed the sign, made for them as part of 'Jackson 5 Day' in Gary, to the tree. To my left was the court where I and a few other weakling reporters stood on the sidelines with Michael, Janet and LaToya while the brothers and members of the Temptations played ball. When I glanced up at the two-storey house, I noticed four people looking down at me: Michael, LaToya, Randy and Katherine had their solemn faces pressed against the gla.s.s panes, almost as if prisoners in a compound.

Twenty-two-year-old LaToya, looking fresh and young in a white tennis outfit, answered the front door to us. When Michael approached seconds later, she excused herself, dashed out into the driveway, got into a sporty red Mercedes convertible, and sped off, the brakes screeching.

'Glad you could make it,' Michael said as we shook hands. 'Good to see you, again.' He was wearing a yellow Jaws Jaws T-shirt, black jeans and a safari hat, around which his Afro billowed. His feet were bare. He spoke in an odd falsetto whisper, which seemed even softer than it had the last time we talked. In exactly a week, he would turn twenty. T-shirt, black jeans and a safari hat, around which his Afro billowed. His feet were bare. He spoke in an odd falsetto whisper, which seemed even softer than it had the last time we talked. In exactly a week, he would turn twenty.

Michael led us through the house towards the living room. A huge yellow and green parrot sat perched on a ledge outside the window, shucking peanuts. A red, blue and yellow c.o.c.katoo-eyed us warily through another window. It let out an ear-piercing screech as we sat down.

'How come you're not getting your guests lemonade?' Katherine asked Michael when she came into the room. Though she had a limp, she walked into the room with total self-a.s.surance and a bearing that could only be described as regal. She was forty-nine.

'Oh, sorry,' Michael murmured. He dashed off to the kitchen, giving me an opportunity to catch up with Katherine while the photographer set up his equipment.

The living room's decor was a mixture of pale yellows, soft greens and stark white splashed with pink. It was a bit on the garish side. Katherine told me that she had designed the motif herself, an a.s.signment for a home-decorating cla.s.s. She was getting ready to redecorate their kitchen, she said. She then mentioned that Michael's favourite foods at that time were hot apple turnovers and sweet-potato pies. 'Lately, I can't get him to eat anything. anything. I try and try,' she said, dismayed. 'I keep thinking he'll eat when he gets hungry, but the boy never gets hungry. Have you noticed how skinny he is? It worries me.' I try and try,' she said, dismayed. 'I keep thinking he'll eat when he gets hungry, but the boy never gets hungry. Have you noticed how skinny he is? It worries me.'

I looked around. 'These last few years have sure been good ones,' I observed. 'Maybe the best of your life?'

'Not really,' she answered. 'The best years were back in Gary,' she said, her eyes now reflective. 'We had one bedroom for the boys and they all slept together in triple bunk beds. Before going to sleep, I'd sing folk songs to them. I'd always wanted to be a country star,' she said, 'but who'd ever heard of a black country star, back then?'

Katherine rose and walked to a small, antique writing desk in a corner. She opened a drawer and pulled out a photograph. 'We were so happy, then,' she said, showing me the dog-eared picture. It was of the entire family in Gary, posing in front of the house on Jackson Street. 'I'd give up all that we have now for just one of those days back in Gary when it simpler. When we first came to California, I don't know how many times I said, "I wish things were the way they used to be in Gary." But things have never been the same,' she added, fingering the picture. 'It's all changed now.'

Michael came back into the room with two gla.s.ses of lemonade. After handing one to me and the other to the photographer, he sat in a chair in a lotus position. Katherine excused herself.

During our two-hour interview, Michael shared his thoughts on a wide range of subjects. 'I don't know much about politics,' he admitted at one point. 'Someone told me recently that Gerald Ford was President.' He chuckled; he was in good spirits, not at all the shy, reclusive superstar he would become in a few years. I laughed with him, thinking we were sharing a joke, but we weren't. He was serious. 'I remember when he was Vice-President,' Michael continued thoughtfully. 'That I remember. But, President?' He shrugged his shoulders helplessly. 'That I missed.' I remember. But, President?' He shrugged his shoulders helplessly. 'That I missed.'

Surprised by his uninformed nature, I asked, 'How do you keep up with current events? Do you read newspapers? Watch TV?'

'I watch cartoons,' he told me, his eyes lighting up. 'I love love cartoons. I love Disney. The Magic Kingdom. Disneyland. It's such a magical place. Walt Disney was a dreamer, like me. And he made his dreams come true, like me. I hope.' cartoons. I love Disney. The Magic Kingdom. Disneyland. It's such a magical place. Walt Disney was a dreamer, like me. And he made his dreams come true, like me. I hope.'

'What about current events?'

Michael looked at me blankly. 'Current events?'

'Do you read the newspaper?' I asked.

He shook his head. 'See, I like show business. I listen to music all the time. I watch old movies. Fred Astaire movies. Gene Kelly, I love. And Sammy [Davis]. I can watch these guys all day, twenty-four hours a day. That's what I love the most.'

We talked about old movies for a while, and about his involvement in The Wiz. The Wiz. I then asked what he saw as his biggest professional challenge. I then asked what he saw as his biggest professional challenge.

'To live up to what Joseph expects of me.'

'Living up to what your father expects of you is a professional professional challenge?' I asked. challenge?' I asked.

Michael mulled over my question. 'Yes,' he decided. 'A professional challenge.'

'What about the personal challenges?'

'My professional challenges and personal challenges are the same thing,' he said uneasily. 'I just want to entertain. See, when I was in the second grade, the teacher asked me what I wished for. I asked for a mansion, peace in the world, and to be able to entertain... Can we talk about something else?'

'Do you have any friends that you can really confide in?'

Michael squirmed. 'No, not really. I'm pretty lonely.'

'How about Tatum?' I wondered.

Michael considered the question. 'She's nice,' he said. 'She was happy for me when I got the part in The Wiz. The Wiz. She and Ryan were on my side, helping me with my lines. Tatum understands me. She's gonna teach me to drive a car. She introduces me to people, famous, She and Ryan were on my side, helping me with my lines. Tatum understands me. She's gonna teach me to drive a car. She introduces me to people, famous, famous famous people.' people.'

'Any other friends?'

'Well, I do have one friend,' he said. 'A very dear, close friend that I can tell my deepest, darkest secrets to because I know she won't tell anyone else. Her name is...' He paused for dramatic effect. 'Miss Diana Ross.'

'You have deep, dark secrets, Michael?'

He laughed. 'Everybody has deep, dark secrets.' has deep, dark secrets.'

At this point, Michael was joined by Jackie, t.i.to, Marlon and Randy. We talked about the group's success at Motown and about the fanatical hysteria generated by their fame.

'Once at a record store in San Francisco, over a thousand kids showed up,' Michael said in a hushed tone. 'They pushed forward and broke a window. A big piece of gla.s.s fell on top of this girl. And the girl's throat was slit. slit.' Michael swiftly ran his index finger across his neck.

'Michael, don't do that. That's gross,' Randy, said.

Michael ignored his youngest brother and continued with his story. 'She just got slit. slit. And I remember there was blood everywhere. Oh G.o.d, so much blood. And she grabbed her throat and was bleeding and everyone just ignored her. Why? Because And I remember there was blood everywhere. Oh G.o.d, so much blood. And she grabbed her throat and was bleeding and everyone just ignored her. Why? Because I I was there and they wanted to grab at was there and they wanted to grab at me me and get and get my my autograph.' Michael sighed. 'I wonder whatever happened to that girl.' autograph.' Michael sighed. 'I wonder whatever happened to that girl.'

'Probably dead,' t.i.to muttered, deadpan.

Fans were as much a curse as a blessing. 'We got these three guard dogs. One is named Heavy, one is Black Girl, and the other one don't got no name,' Michael said. 'We have have to have them,' he insisted. 'Once, a lady jumped over the gate and into the house and sat down in the den. We came home, and she looked at us and what did she say?' He turned to Marlon for help. 'What'd that lady say?' to have them,' he insisted. 'Once, a lady jumped over the gate and into the house and sat down in the den. We came home, and she looked at us and what did she say?' He turned to Marlon for help. 'What'd that lady say?'

'She said, "I'm here 'cause G.o.d sent me,"' Marlon recalled.

'G.o.d sent her,' Michael repeated.

Jackie laughed. 'Yeah, G.o.d sent her to sit in The Jackson 5's den and wait for them to get home so she can get their autograph, and maybe her picture with them, too. She was on a divine mission.'

'And then once, a whole family managed to get into the estate somehow, and they toured the house,' Michael continued. 'Lookin' at all our stuff. Findin' all our most private private things. And Janet was here all by herself. It was scary. And sometimes, fans ask weird questions. They don't think you're real. Once a fan asked me the most embarra.s.sing question and in front of everyone. She said, "Do you go to the bathroom?" I was so embarra.s.sed.' things. And Janet was here all by herself. It was scary. And sometimes, fans ask weird questions. They don't think you're real. Once a fan asked me the most embarra.s.sing question and in front of everyone. She said, "Do you go to the bathroom?" I was so embarra.s.sed.'

In the middle of the interview, good-natured ribbing among the brothers turned nasty when someone brought up the subject of nicknames.

'Mike has a nickname,' Jackie mentioned, his eyes teasing. 'It's a good one.'

Michael's smiling face turned serious. 'Don't, Jackie,' he warned. He looked away.

'We call him '

'Please, you guys!' Michael pleaded.

'Big Nose,' Jackie finished.

The brothers laughed among themselves. Michael shifted in his chair.

'Yeah, Big Nose,' Marlon repeated, grinning. He reached over and punched Michael on his arm, playfully. 'What's happenin', Big Nose?' Michael threw Marlon a scathing look. His mouth parted, but no words came out. He would say little more as long as his brothers were present.

After the interview, we walked outside to take photographs in the warm California sunlight. Joseph, a hulking six-footer with a mole on his face, a pencil-thin moustache, and a diamond pinky ring the size of a marble, approached me. 'You see, I have a philosophy about raising children,' he said, engaging me. 'My father was strict. He was a schoolteacher, and he treated me like I was one of his students, not like I was his son. I never got any special treatment. I'm glad that happened. I got a strict raising when I was young, and I've been able to accomplish a lot because of that. And my kids have gotten a strict raising, and look at what they've they've accomplished. I think children accomplished. I think children should should fear their parents. It's good when they fear you. It's good for them, and it's good for the parents too. I did my best with those boys,' he said, pointing to them as they posed for pictures. fear their parents. It's good when they fear you. It's good for them, and it's good for the parents too. I did my best with those boys,' he said, pointing to them as they posed for pictures.

'Have they ever disappointed you?' I asked.

A sober expression crossed his face. 'Lots of times,' he answered. 'Jermaine's with Berry at Motown, instead of with us. He chose Berry over me. Do you know how that makes me feel? It hurts right here.' Joseph thumped the left side of his chest with his fist. 'I've been disappointed other times too,' he continued. 'But I don't think I have ever once let my boys down. If I did, too bad for them. You do the best you can do, raising kids,' he said, smiling. 'It helped that they had something to look forward to. They always had entertainment, and me to rehea.r.s.e them. And they also play character-building sports like football and baseball.

'Jackie could have been a baseball player if he wanted to, in the majors with the Chicago White Sox. They're all good at sports, except for Michael who never picked up a bat in his whole life.' Joseph smiled. It was an unexpected moment of gentleness from him. 'Wouldn't know what to do with a baseball bat, I think. We tease him about it, but he doesn't like it. Michael has always been sensitive,' he observed.