by Paul Watkins
CHAPTER 6
I have been with the Jacksons for almost four months now. That’s what the calendar says, but it seems almost impossible that much time could have passed so quickly. I guess that’s a good sign, as in time flies when you’re having fun. What I have been doing isn’t exactly fun, but there has been a lot going on and there is always satisfaction in doing any job well.
The grand budget project has taken on a life of its own. We have gone from everyone spending as much as they wanted, whenever they wanted, on whatever they wanted, to estimates and requisitions. I’m not one for needless paperwork, but with a place as big as this, there have to be some controls or spending will always be out of sight. A.J. doesn’t exactly care for the budget process but he likes the results. After all, he was the one complaining about the money flowing out with no idea where it was going.
Fortunately I haven’t experienced any more problems of the sort I encountered with Bear Street. The rest of the staff members have been cooperative and eager to do a good job. While A.J. is in and out, I have spent a lot of time with Sheri and I find her an absolute delight to work with. She’s a very bright lady and totally devoted to her family. I have never been around kids as young as Jeff-Jeff and Shana for any extended period of time, so that part is completely new to me. Their company is natural and very refreshing. Without children of my own, I had no idea of the different types and sheer number of questions a child could ask. It’s quite challenging. Even plain old everyday experiences take on a whole new dimension. Things may be old hat to an adult, but they often fill a child’s eyes with wonder.
I think I would have to say that while the job has been interesting, the family has been captivating. A few months ago I had never heard of the Jacksons as a family and now it would be difficult to imagine a life without them. It’s easy to see how domestic working relationships can become quite intense with so much time shared with one another. I have no way of knowing how the Jacksons feel about me at this point, but I find myself drawn to them simply because they are such terrific people. very genuine. A doctor would probably try to put some sort of sophisticated medical spin on it, but I think this situation is merely fulfilling some underlying need for me.
It’s nice to be doing something again … especially something that needs doing. I like the sense of purpose I have in the morning when I look at the list of things to do and I like the feeling I have in the evening when I see all that has been accomplished during the day.
The security staff is finally complete with everyone in position except Steve Marshall, who is still in training. Steve and I are getting along much better these days, but that’s another story. The search for the staff began to take shape when I was able to get in touch with one of my old Nam buddies, Jim Hudson, who was not exactly available, but more than willing tocome aboard. Jim had helped me out on one or two occasions in my old business, but that, too, is another story.
Jim was a part of my team in Nam for more than a year, which translates to a couple of lifetimes. I have always found him to be quiet and reliable. He is physically big and skilled in all the ways necessary to confront a human opponent and defeat him, big-boned, barrel-chested and gentle as they come until he decides to be otherwise. It turned out Jim had stayed in touch with some of our guys and we managed to get two of our staff from the old gang.
The first day we all got together it was pretty heavy. I don’t think there was a dry eye among us for the first hour or so. All the things that had happened, seemingly long forgotten, were remembered with incredible detail. It was quite amazing, but definitely one of those situations where you had to have been there. Someone listening in would have thought we were crazy and they would not have been far from the truth. Those were crazy days and we were in tune with the times. Perhaps even a little ahead of our time in some ways. We talked and laughed for hours until we got most of it out of our systems.
It was something that had to be done, I suppose. Whether we worked together or simply convened for a drink in a bar, we had to air out all the old memories. The victories, the fears… the lingering animosities towards ‘upper management’, who did not allow much leeway when it came to pursuit of the enemy, but left us plenty of ways to die. I don’t think it hurts to get some of that stuff out in the sunshine, but eventually it has to be put behind us so we can all move on.
It’s not the kind of thing you feel comfortable discussing with someone who wasn’t there with you. It must be someone who shared each day’s experiences, who was right there at your side, suffering as you were suffering, and now remembers as you remember… that’s the only way you can talk about it.
No matter what, there’s nothing that can be done about it now or ever again. I would like to think the country’s leaders might have learned a lesson from Viet Nam, but I don’t have much hope in that regard either. The government seems determined to repeat its mistakes over and over again. It’s the nature of the beast. People who have never heard a shot fired in anger always seem willing to send others to do the dirty work. But that was then and this is now, and those memories are best left in the box.
We filled out the rest of the staff from Jim’s contacts. In and around the security community for almost twenty years, he knew where to look. Jim made a few calls and found the people we needed within a matter of weeks. Although the men are all professionals, I told Jim I wanted a training program in place to make certain everyone is up to speed on every aspect of life around here. We cannot assume people are going to do the right thing by instinct. We have to be certain each person understands and is capable of doing what is expected of him. Great credentials are not enough. I want every skill to be verified in training and practice. Even more important, I want everyone tohave confidence in one another and to understand the skills available in the group.
Ultimately the value of all this talent is the ability to put it together and work as a team. Individuals can work and learn by themselves, but teamwork comes only when we learn and train as a team. And that’s what I’m after… a security staff that works as a team.
Getting the security people in place has been well timed since business started picking up as soon as neighbors and fans alike learned about the great Himself living here. Predictably, the reaction to A.J.’s new residence has had mixed reviews among the neighbors and townsfolk. So far, however, the intruders have been harmless and the neighbors practically invisible, since no one is that close to begin with.
Many of the uninvited visitors are the types of people who seem to pester stars from all galaxies, whether it’s sports, entertainment, or the media. Some of them seem to think it’s their constitutional right to go anywhere they please for the autograph, picture, piece of clothing, or whatever it is they treasure. Intrusions to the property have occurred frequently. Knock on wood, to date there have been no real problems and no one has come close to getting in the house.
While our security is tight, we try not to overreact and do more than the occasion calls for. We have to remember that our A.J. is a star and these people are his fans… no matter how weird, so the gloves are always on. Usually we give them an autographed picture of A.J. along with a stern lecture informing them of the probable outcome should they trespass again. To make our point, we photograph and take fingerprints of every ‘fan’ we apprehend. It’s probably illegal as hell, but so far no one has complained. Only the people from other planets would not realize they have crossed a line they would cross again with far more serious consequences.
The point we try to make is that it simply would not be worth it. While the trespassers have not been that many or that frequent, it would take only one person with the wrong intentions to do serious damage, so we take every situation seriously until we know otherwise. While it’s not a numbers game, we do focus on a number and that particular number is one. All it would take is one, if it’s the wrong one. That one doesn’t have to be evil, crazy or even unbalanced
. He just has to be in the wrong place at the right time. He would be sorry with tears streaming down his face, vowing it would never happen again, explaining how he didn’t know what came over him, etc. … all too little, too late. We aim to see that ‘one’ doesn’t happen.
Over time A.J. and his family have grown more used to the security staff around them. Hudson says good security people are like furniture… not exactly in the way, but always there in case you need them. The men themselves like working with the family. That’s considered easy duty. The tough duty is covering A.J. when he leaves the estate. The moment he passes through the gates, he’s ‘on’, and as a result, hebecomes an instant security nightmare. While the guys know they’re not guarding the president of the United States, which a couple of them have actually done at one time or another in their careers, we have a man who presents a similar set of problems. In each case, their man’s livelihood depends on getting up close and personal with the public. Things might never go wrong, but if they ever did, they could go real wrong in a hurry.
When it comes to cooperation, the kids are the easiest. Jeff-Jeff usually does what he’s told without an argument and certainly Shana is no problem. Sheri is the next best client. At first she was tough to handle, but we talked and I was able to get her to understand that she was being inconsiderate to people whose jobs depend on keeping her and the kids safe. That’s all it took. I think Sheri always has thought of herself as considerate, but she simply had not thought of security in terms of other people’s jobs and their sense of duty. But the boss makes up for all of them when it comes to control problems. Although he is the main security concern, he is the least concerned and the least considerate. In short, he’s a pain in the ass, but everyone just smiles when it comes to A.J. It’s difficult not to like him.
As time passes, operations here at the estate are slowly falling into a routine. When A.J. is away the place is quiet and serene… even when the kids are acting up. But when he’s here, a cyclone-like wind seems to blow through the house. The air sort of crackles with electricity, as though there is a large transformer in the basement. Since A.J. has become his own manager the phone never stops ringing. During the last several weeks I have been fielding a lot of his calls. Actually it’s a good way to spend my time as more and more of the daily chores around the estate go on autopilot.
I don’t know much about A.J.’s former business manager other than his name, Monte James, and the fact that he was fired a day or two before I was hired. I suppose it might have had something to do in some way with my getting the job in the first place. Having dipped into the money pot without telling the boss, A.J. found him out and told him to hit the road.
Since I’m here all the time, many of the people trying to reach A.J. simply call me when looking for answers. The nature of the problem is usually far more organizational than technical. I have to admit, however, as I learn about A.J.’s various activities, it does get more and more interesting.
Basically, A.J. has two main enterprises: music and restaurants. The restaurant business is easily explained. A couple of years ago he opened a restaurant on a lark. Apparently it was something he had always wanted to do. He serves very good food at modest prices. Cleanliness is an absolute fetish. Good food and his hot name became another hit and a business was born. Since the first restaurant opened a little over two years ago, he has opened four more, each as successful as the first. So far he has been able to keep all this going by himself, but he’s running out of hours in the day. It really hits the fan when he’s onthe road because his mind is elsewhere and he’s virtually out of touch with his managers for extended periods of time. Not a good thing.
A.J. has been traveling about the country on a series of what he calls mini-tours. He packages a group of his fellow entertainers into a full show. They take it on the road and do two or three cities in ten days to two weeks and then head home. The process tends to feed on itself since the financial success of these tours has created tremendous pressure for him to spend more and more time on the road. CD sales go through the roof after every concert.
One night, not long ago, I talked with A.J. about his touring company and he revealed a deep-seated concern over what every entertainer must fear… that tomorrow or the next day it might all be over… his fifteen minutes of fame would have passed. He feels he has to make the money while it’s there. He said he knows he’s a bit paranoid on the subject, but he’s seen too many of yesterday’s ‘stars’ reduced to working in small clubs. basically back to their beginnings. or worse than small clubs… not working at all. He told me he has been good with his money and if things ended tomorrow he would be all right, but in the meantime, he intends to make all the hay he can. A.J.’s no dummy. He’s got his head on tight and right.
A.J. is leaving this afternoon on another one of his tours. We have been trying to have a meeting for the last two days, but something always gets in the way. Now, thirty minutes before he is due to leave, it looks like we are finally going to get it done. I’m sitting in the library when he comes sailing in ten minutes late. He looks a little pissed. It’s his meeting, so I’ll let him start.
He has a bunch of stuff on the house and grounds and the big party on the fifteenth of next month. There’s always a lot of work to having a party come off right. He dumps a long list of things to do, regarding the restaurants, on me… all phone calls and other low-level tasks, and then it’s my turn. I only have about ten minutes worth and from my side of the fence, and it’s a wrap. The agenda is finished, but A.J. remains seated. Something, obviously, is on his mind. We both have to get going, so I decide to prod him.
“Anything else?”
“Yeah, I guess there is.” Long pause. “I’ve been thinking about your work here and your pay… “ He looks at me like I’m supposed to know what he’s talking about. But I don’t, so I decide to wait and hear what else he has to say. “I’ve been thinking that perhaps it’s time to recognize all you have been doing here… shit, Phil, I’m not very good at this. I want to give you a raise. What do you think about another five grand.”
So that’s what this is all about. Hell, I’m not here for the money, so five grand one way or the other doesn’t mean anything. On the other hand, I want to be polite. Unfortunately my initial silence is misinterpreted.
“I mean ten grand… that’s what I meant to say… ten grand… what do you say?”
A.J. never has a problem when he wants to voice his displeasure about something, but he seems to have more difficulty throwing bouquets. This is getting funny and I’m having a little trouble keeping a straight face. I can’t believe he’s in such a dither over this. My guess is Sheri has been on his ass about my pay for some reason or other. Once again I’m about to respond when…
“What’s wrong? You think I’m a cheapskate, don’t you?” He’s pointing his finger at me like a prosecutor during a cross-examination. “No, don’t deny it. I know you are probably thinking I paid that skunk, Monte, a hell of a lot more for a hell of a lot less… but it’s more complicated than that.”
Well, I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort, but maybe I should have been. Now I know Sheri’s been chewing on his ass. He’s on his feet. Here we go again.
“All right, it’s a good point. I’ll give you that much. I know you are doing a lot more than we had originally discussed, but that’s not entirely my fault. I mean. it’s not as though I am trying to take advantage of you… which to listen to my wife, I am… but I’m not. Dammit, you have to remember, with the travel and all. I’ve got a lot on my mind. I mean, shit… give me a break. To listen to you two, all I do is sit on my ass trying to think of ways I can make you do more for less money. That’s bullshit. It’s just that I haven’t thought about it… that’s all. I mean. I don’t spend all my time thinking about how much money people make.”
Suspicions confirmed. Well, I don’t want any more money and I’ll tell him that. But
again he cuts me off before I can say anything.
“All right!”
Oops, here we go again.
“Okay! Dammit, nobody cares if I go broke. I’ll pay you the same as Monte. We’ll discuss this thing when I get back, but then that’s it! No more money or talk about money until next year! In fact, one more word out of you on this subject and I will get really pissed. I think you will find I have acted more than fairly. That’s what you are always talking about, isn’t it? Being fair? All right, in my view, this is a fair approach and if you don’t like it, then take a hike! That’s it, not another word!”
So I’m to be paid the same as Monte, whatever that means. I guess I probably saw what he was making somewhere, but it slipped my mind. It really doesn’t make any difference. I never made any comparisons or even thought about it for that matter. I wonder if I am now expected to manage A.J.’s affairs as well. That could be interesting although I have no clue when it comes to show business. Anything I do for the restaurants is all low-level administrative stuff, including today’s list. Ah well, everything in its own time.
“There is one thing I would like to say, if I may.” A.J. is looking daggers at me right now… he has really worked himself into a state. “I would like to say, thank you.” What the hell, my sainted grandmother alwaystold me to take the cash, so I’ll let him think that’s what I’m going to do.
The words no sooner leave my mouth than there’s a knock at the door and Sheri walks in, all smiles.
“How’s everything going, guys?”
As if she didn’t know. My guess is she was outside the door the entire time. My relationship with Sheri these days is more like having an impish kid sister. I never forget the fact that she’s my boss every bit as much as A.J., but she is always hatching some plot and it’s hard not to be drawn in to the next scheme. She’s full of energy and has a playful personality. Her mind is always going, so unless she’s directed into something positive, she’s quite likely to be into some mischief. She’s always harmless, but generally conjuring up some sort of stormy weather for her husband to sail through.