Paul hoped the subject of names wouldn't come up again; the whole thing was making him very uncomfortable. He didn't like having to pretend like this, but he didn't see what else he could do. He steered the conversation to anything else that popped into his head as he, Ringo, and Winston took their adjoining seats on the plane. Winston grinned at these increasingly random topics with a teasing expression, and Paul, hastily casting his mind around for a topic that would be completely natural to bring up, said, "Do you like rock-and-roll music, Ringo?"
Ringo perked up. "I love it! That's what I'm going over to America for; I'm tryin' to get started as a drummer over there!"
It was almost too amazing to be true. "Us, too!" cried Paul. "Well, only we play guitar, Winston and me..."
"Yeah, James and me play guitar," Winston put in helpfully. "James is good at guitar, aren't you, James? He's written a bunch of James songs, that James...."
Paul blushed at the way Winston repeated his name so many times, each time with a certain mocking tone that said quite plainly that he knew "James" was usually called something else. Fortunately, Ringo just laughed.
"Gear," he said happily. "I've tried to write a few songs meself. They don't turn out well, though."
"Maybe they do!" Paul told him. "What's the matter with your songs, then? Maybe there's no problem!"
Ringo shrugged and smiled. "Well, they always sound exactly like someone else's."
"Oh." Well, that really was a problem....
Winston grinned. "Let's have you play drums for me songs and for James here's songs," he suggested, "and see how you do with those."
"Gear!" Ringo said again. "We can all jam."
"We'll all jam together where people can hear us," Winston said decisively, enthusiasm building in his voice as he talked. "That's so's someone can discover us."
"Like a band?" Ringo seemed surprised. "You mean you and me and James - in a band?"
"Of course!" Winston beamed. "How about it, James?"
Paul was beginning to get used to hearing his first name said by Winston in that mocking tone, and was glad it wasn't the name he used normally. He didn't know if he would ever be able to get the sound of Winston making fun of it out of his head after this. But this new idea excited him too much to care about that. "Yeah!" he agreed happily. This was working better than he'd hoped. He hadn't even reached America yet, and already he had a band.
Ringo perked up. "I love it! That's what I'm going over to America for; I'm tryin' to get started as a drummer over there!"
It was almost too amazing to be true. "Us, too!" cried Paul. "Well, only we play guitar, Winston and me..."
"Yeah, James and me play guitar," Winston put in helpfully. "James is good at guitar, aren't you, James? He's written a bunch of James songs, that James...."
Paul blushed at the way Winston repeated his name so many times, each time with a certain mocking tone that said quite plainly that he knew "James" was usually called something else. Fortunately, Ringo just laughed.
"Gear," he said happily. "I've tried to write a few songs meself. They don't turn out well, though."
"Maybe they do!" Paul told him. "What's the matter with your songs, then? Maybe there's no problem!"
Ringo shrugged and smiled. "Well, they always sound exactly like someone else's."
"Oh." Well, that really was a problem....
Winston grinned. "Let's have you play drums for me songs and for James here's songs," he suggested, "and see how you do with those."
"Gear!" Ringo said again. "We can all jam."
"We'll all jam together where people can hear us," Winston said decisively, enthusiasm building in his voice as he talked. "That's so's someone can discover us."
"Like a band?" Ringo seemed surprised. "You mean you and me and James - in a band?"
"Of course!" Winston beamed. "How about it, James?"
Paul was beginning to get used to hearing his first name said by Winston in that mocking tone, and was glad it wasn't the name he used normally. He didn't know if he would ever be able to get the sound of Winston making fun of it out of his head after this. But this new idea excited him too much to care about that. "Yeah!" he agreed happily. This was working better than he'd hoped. He hadn't even reached America yet, and already he had a band.
"So, what do you think, darling?", asked George as he and his mates finished rehearsing their message. Laura replied, "Well, it was fun and hilarious at the same time! I think you all did a fantastic job." George said, "Why, thank you, love! I'm glad you like it." The other Beatles smiled and nodded in agreement. Laura winked in return. John remarked, "Okay! This rehearsal was a success. Are ye ready to go and grab some lunch?" Ringo replied, "You bet we are! All that speaking has made me hungry." It was snowing again when they left the Studios and went to look for a place to eat. While walking, George gave Laura yet another ride on his shoulders as they stuck their tongues out to catch some snowflakes. John, Paul, and Ringo did the same. The group then found a diner offering holiday-themed meals and beverages and had a delicious lunch there. Afterwards, the rest of the day was spent with window shopping in one of the city's Christmas marketplaces.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
As George and Laura drove through downtown London, they passed by the giant Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Upon seeing it, Laura couldn't help but stare with awe. She thought, "Wow...Gorgeous." They soon arrived at the Studios and went inside to meet with the other Beatles in the recording room. Once they made it there, John saw them and said, "Oh, look who's here!" George replied, "Hello, chaps! I hope we're not too late." John responded, "Not at all, Geo! You're just in time." Paul added, "I see you brought Laura along, too! That's great." George said, "Yep!" He then turned to his daughter and asked her, "Darling, would you like to provide us with feedback on our message after we complete it?" Laura replied, "Sure, daddy George! I'm all for that." "Jolly good!", responded George. Ringo said, "All right! Let's begin!" The lads then started rehearsing their lines, and Laura got a chair to sit on as she listened to them.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
December 23, 1964
With Christmas just around the corner, George and Laura kicked the day off by having a fun snowball fight in the yard of their house. The latter was super excited as she will get to happily celebrate this special holiday again after escaping the dreaded orphanage. Laura said, "Catch me if you can, daddy George!" He replied cheekily while rolling up another ball in his hands, "Oh, you're not getting away from me, Laura, darling!" With that, he threw the ball towards her, and she laughed in response. They continued playing until George looked at his watch and said, "We better get going to Abbey Road Studios now. I need to rehearse my lines for the Christmas message with me mates." Laura replied, "A Christmas message? That sounds lovely!" George remarked, "Yes, indeed! This is our gift for the fans." "Very nice!", exclaimed Laura. They then proceeded to his car and were on their way to the Studios.
TO BE CONTINUED
With Christmas just around the corner, George and Laura kicked the day off by having a fun snowball fight in the yard of their house. The latter was super excited as she will get to happily celebrate this special holiday again after escaping the dreaded orphanage. Laura said, "Catch me if you can, daddy George!" He replied cheekily while rolling up another ball in his hands, "Oh, you're not getting away from me, Laura, darling!" With that, he threw the ball towards her, and she laughed in response. They continued playing until George looked at his watch and said, "We better get going to Abbey Road Studios now. I need to rehearse my lines for the Christmas message with me mates." Laura replied, "A Christmas message? That sounds lovely!" George remarked, "Yes, indeed! This is our gift for the fans." "Very nice!", exclaimed Laura. They then proceeded to his car and were on their way to the Studios.
TO BE CONTINUED