The kids finished school on Tuesday but today was the day we had to go and get Hania’s report. Although I don’t really agree with an over-emphasis on grades at this time – I mean she is only seven! – I was still thrilled with her great marks  especially as she is studying in a second language. The teacher couldn’t say enough good things about my daughter while I sat there and wondered who it was she was getting her confused with.

As a prize for doing so well I took Hania to a toyshop and bought a present for her and her brother but first we went into the bank. I’d recently got a junior account in her name and this was her first time to put money in.  While we waited our turn, I gave her €10 and her bright yellow bank book and told her the lady behind the counter would put the money in her book.

“But is she going to give me it back”, asked Hania.

“No. You give her the money and she puts it in the bank and you’ll see the amount you’ve given her written up in your bank book.”

She looked at me in total disbelief and asked, “Are you mad?”

Ha.

Poor Michael Jackson. An amazing talent but a deeply unhappy soul. For years he has flinched through the public eye after maiming his own face and shrouding his children in scarfs, mystery and bodyguards, each public appearance being more bizarre than the last.

The public display of grief is overwhelming but in my opinion MJ didn’t die last night he died 16 years ago when those charges came out and he paid to make them go away. As vulnerable as he was I am quite prepared to believe that Michael was innocent at that time and his obsession with all things infantile just a naive expression of a Peter Pan complex. Unfortunately because he didn’t fight hard enough, the bad smell of what he might have done just never went away.

Even now, because I have no proof of his innocence, I am conflicted about his death. As a mother, I would dance on the grave of any child molester but as a human I am deeply sorry for a soul who has already gone through hell on earth – whether he was innocent or not.

MJ played in Tenerife to 45,000 people as part of the Dangerous tour. Here is a little video of him doing what he did best right here in Santa Cruz.