literature

No More Lonely Nights- 50

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December 24, 1963.

Liverpool, England.

ALLIE: My sister is coming over here for Christmas this year. Oh joy. That means I will likely have to stay home and go through all the customary gift exchanging, dinner, all the things I really don't fancy having to do in the presence of my sister and my mother. I could deal with my brother-in-law, no problems there, but I didn't want to be around at all regardless. Why can't this be like last Christmas, with my parents taking off for New York, leaving me here to do as I pleased and spend the holiday with the only person I cared to be with. Maybe I should commit the ultimate sin in my mother's eyes- I should have Paul come over here for Christmas dinner. Yes, I will ask him to do so. Nothing much that my mother could do once I extended the invitation and it was accepted. I had the right to have my significant other over here. It wasn't against the law or anything.

I can't stop listening to their latest album, With The Beatles, mainly the first side. The side with All My Loving on it. It was released on the 22nd last month to rave reviews, almost more so than their first one. I can tell that they are maturing and becoming more confident as a band just by listening to it; there are fewer cover songs and George made his writing debut with Don't Bother Me. I love it all, every single song on it, but I can't really help being partial to Paul's songs, whether he wrote them or simply covered them (like Till There Was You).

The band is in London now for the last performance of their stage show, The Beatles' Christmas Show, in London. They'll be home late tonight and then on the 26th, I will be going down to London with them along with Vi for the remainder of the show's performance (until the 11th of January). My mother is going to die but none of her business. I'll be eighteen in a mere two months, then she officially can't do anything about what I do. What a blessed day that will be.


PAUL: I'm ready to go home. We've been in London since the 21st and I just want to be home, even if it is for a day. I miss Allie the most, but I also miss my apartment, my own bed, having time to myself when I most need it. I haven't had that since we got here. Much as I love my three bandmates, I am just ready for a break, even for twenty-four hours.

We left after the show wrapped, and I have never been so relieved in my life. I hate doing these ridiculous stage shows for nothing but screaming girls. Why are we even bothering? They're hollering so loudly, I doubt we can be heard. That's how it always seems to go when we perform; I don't know why we even get up on stage and sing. We could just stand there and mouth random things and mime playing our instruments and no one would notice. I doubt they'd much care, either.

I was worn out when I finally got home a little after three in the morning, ready to collapse in my bed and not move until late in the morning. I saw a note stuck to my door, and I pulled it off as I stepped inside my apartment, smiling to myself as I read it.

Paul,

I know you're getting in late so don't worry about answering this right now. I was just wondering if you wanted to come have dinner with us tomorrow afternoon. My sister and her husband will be there but oh well, we can ignore them. I hope you had good performances in London and I cannot wait to join you there in a couple days. Be safe getting in tonight and just call me when you wake up tomorrow. I love you!

Allie


I smiled to myself and tucked her note in the top drawer of my nightstand. Of course I would go to her house for dinner tomorrow. I didn't much care if her family would be there or not. It was Christmas, I wanted to spend at least a small part of the day with her. I sighed and laid down, pulling the blankets tightly around myself. One day of blessed freedom ahead of me… thank goodness.


ALLIE: I didn't feel like joining the rest of my family for the exchange of gifts, and I don't think my mother even noticed that I had spent all morning in my room; if she did notice, she didn't care. Her favorite, her little princess daughter was here. I was a nobody when Marion was around. No sense in even getting in the middle of it. I didn't feel like dealing with them until I absolutely had to do so.

My phone rang, and I picked it up, knowing already who was calling. "Hello?"

"Hello, love, it's me. Merry Christmas, first of all. I accept your invitation for dinner," Paul said. "How can I say no?"

"I don't know, maybe the knowledge that my sister and mother will be around makes accepting a bit harder?"

"Oh absolutely not. I don't care. I want to see you. Can I just give you everything I got for you tomorrow when we get back to London?"

"Of course, I'll just do the same." I twisted the phone cord around my free hand. "When did you get in last night?"

"A bit after three. I read your note and then fell straight to sleep. I just woke up, in fact. What time is dinner?"

"Around three," I said. "Come over whenever you're ready. I'm ready to see you. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." He sighed. "I hate performing this stage show. It's completely asinine. Anytime we get up on stage and do anything, it's a waste because no one can hear us over the screams. It is completely ridiculous."

"I hate you having to be in London to perform it," I said. "I want you here."

"Well you'll be with me for the rest of the performances, don't worry," he said reassuringly, his voice taking on that tender tone that I loved so much. "Then I'll be home until… well, I would rather tell you in person. I'll tell you when I see you."

"Thanks a lot, Paul, now my curiosity is peaked!" I said with a laugh.

"Give me an hour and you shall know," he replied. "All right? Love you. I'll be over soon."


PAUL: Of course Allie's mum and sister weren't thrilled that I was joining the family for dinner, but her father and brother-in-law were kind to me as always, so I didn't much care what the other two thought. Allie met me at the door, wearing a rich dark-green velvet dress, her hair swept back in a loose chignon, the necklace I had given her last Christmas resting against the soft material of her dress. "Don't you look lovely," I said quietly, gathering her in an embrace. "I have missed you so much."

"I missed you too," she said. "I'm glad you're here. My mother and sister are in the kitchen and my dad and brother-in-law in the living room. It might be safer to go in there."

"Before we do, I have to tell you something," I said. I took her hands in my mine and took a deep breath. "We're going to America."

Allie gasped. "As in… the band?"

"Yes," I said. "In February. February 7th through the 22nd. We're going to be on the Ed Sullivan Show on the 9th- national American television!- and then tour around the country." I stopped for a moment. "I want you to come with me," I continued. "I don't want to do this without you there. Cynthia is going to come with John and I think Vi is going too. Please say you'll come with me, Allie. I don't want to leave you here. You have to be there."

She was crying softly, and I knew it was because she was happy. "Of course I'll come," she said quietly. "I wouldn't miss being there with you for anything in the world. I can't believe it… the Beatles are going to America." She smiled and put her hands on my shoulders. "I'm so proud of you."

"I'm really excited," I said. "Brian told us yesterday. I just cannot believe that we're going to get even more exposure in the States." I sighed. "Seems like forever ago we were playing in the Cavern and in Hamburg, doing whatever we could to get a bit of recognition. Now we're Britain's most popular music group and will be touring around America and performing on live television over there. Where has the time gone?"

"I couldn't say," was her response. "You all are moving up in the world. I just can't believe it. America… you'll be touring America. I always told you that the band would probably be a hit over there. Seems I am about to be proven correct."

"I certainly hope so!" I exclaimed. "I hope they like us. They've liked the music we've released over there, but the question is will they like us four individually as people. We're from a different culture, after all."

Allie looked at me a long minute. "Think about what you just said," she replied. "And what nationality I am."

"I don't mean you, silly girl, I mean America in general. I know you like us."

"I love you in particular," she said, smiling. "And I know what you are saying. I think they will. What's not to love about you four? You're all absolutely amazing, and you especially are such a sweetheart."

"But I'm your sweetheart, so they don't need to think of me in that way," I pointed out.

"True," Allie said. "But still… you get what I'm saying."

I nodded. "So that's what I wanted to tell you in person. I couldn't say it over the phone. News like this requires face-to-face sharing."

"I'm so happy. And so excited! Just around six weeks to go." Allie threw her arms around me and held me in a long, tight embrace. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."


ALLIE: The actual meal went surprisingly well, thank God. My mother thankfully kept her mouth shut, and Marion actually exchanged a few neutral words with Paul, much to my relief. I didn't have to worry about my brother-in-law Andy saying anything stupid, he had a good head on his shoulders. My father was my father, warm and kind as always, and I was glad that we were able to eat together without having any problems. My father must have put the word on my mother and sister, because there is no way that they would keep quiet voluntarily. Regardless, everything went smoothly. Thank goodness.

I went back to Paul's apartment that night, as we were leaving early in the morning to head down to London for the next couple weeks. I was ready for February so that we could be in America together. I was so ready for the Beatles to be over there and perform in my home country. I couldn't think of anything they as a band could do that would be more amazing than that. 1964 was going to be the year everything happened, I just knew it- the year they achieved a fame and recognition like no other. I just have a feeling that this is the year when they'll finally reach the "toppermost of the poppermost," in the words of dear John. They deserve it. It's time.
Goodbye 1963... hello 1964 in the next chapter!

Paul has a bit of news in this chapter... :iconsqueeeplz:
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mellieissogreen's avatar
Ugh stupid screaming girls... 1964 here we come! :iconexcitedplz: