Feels Like the First Time...Oh, It Is!

Persistance prevailed, for Beth found the perfect things. She first put on her regular jewelry: her class ring, and the ring and necklace Paul had given her. She picked out a new pair of glasses; they were silver, thin wire-rims, as she favoured. As a last minute detail, she fished out a package of peacock feathers and fastened them throughout her hair.

At last, the performers were herded up backstage. Beth came upon the guys, who were calm, and maybe a little bored. "Still nervous?" John asked her. "Do I look like I'm shaking because I'm cold?" Beth asked sarcastically. "Well, in that outfit, I might think so," John chuckled. "Yes, I'm nervous!" Beth laughed. "So, who's performed before we got back here?" "The Remains, Bobby Hebb, and the Cyrkle have already performed," John said. "The Ronettes just started, so the stage manager should be hunting for you soon." "Maybe I could hide," Beth joked.

"Oh, it's no big deal," John said. "You'll have fun with it. I mean, I was having a good time when I first started playing at the big venues with the guys. Sure, I was nervous for a second or two, but once you get out there, it's really easy. Of course, the screaming allowed room for us to fudge, but that's beside the point..." "I guess that's as close to a reassurance as I'll get, right?" Beth asked. "Seems so," John said. "But I wish you luck, any way. 'Here's lookin' at you, kid.' " "Casablanca. How appropriate," Beth said. "It's your first attempt at playing the game," John said. "The time is near. Try to be louder than the audience." "I'll do my best," Beth laughed.

The stage manager dragged Beth away from John, and out to the stage left curtain entrance. "Here's the plan," he said. "The announcer will say something about you, and you'll run out on stage with your best smile and start your set. The Hammond and piano are center stage, and the mic should be on at the piano. The roadies will move the Hammond away after the first song, and the piano to the side before your closer. Your electric will be center stage, as well as Mr.McCartney's and a microphone. As soon as you're done, take a bow, collect whatever fans throw onstage, and take that, and your guitar, off stage." Beth acknowledged him, and saw the Ronettes run offstage. This is the final hour. My time to prove myself. I hope they like me. No mess ups. Everything has got to run smoothly, so I'm going to have to keep it calm, keep it loose.

The announcer came over the PA system. "And now, please welcome Chicago's own-Elizabeth Anderson!" Beth ran onstage to a flurry of flashbulbs and a tower of applause. She sat down at the piano, and waited for the crowd to calm down. "Hey Chicago!" she said. Chicago answered back with a loud roar. "It's great to be back," she said. "Chicago's one of my favorite places God's green Earth has to offer. My family oughtta be in the audience here near the front...do me a favor, and don't drop nachos in their laps!" Laughter. "Enough with the talking. I'm gonna start off the set with one of the songs from my one and only album, The Dawn of the Sunset. It's one you might have heard called 'It's Not You'."

This was clearly a crowd pleaser. Maybe it was the Hammond Organ, or the way Beth pounded on the piano. Whatever it was, it was well liked. After that, Beth stepped into "You're Not The Same", with a more laid back, jazzy groove. She finished that one to applause, too, and went downstage for the last number. She picked up her plugged guitar, and introduced the song.

"My last song is one of my favorites," Beth said. "I'm sure many of you have worn the record out listening to this. Before I start, I'd like you all to make me a promise. I want you to listen to this song, really listen. I know that you're keen on screaming, but please, give your vocal cords a rest for a few minutes. Okay?" The audience agreed with a soft silence and head nods. "Alright! Keep your promise as I welcome my good friend and fellow musician, Paul McCartney!"

Paul ran onstage and picked up his guitar. A couple people screamed, but most clapped and kept their vows. "Hi," Paul said. "This is something I could get used to..." Laughter. "Beth and I are going to sing a very lovely song called 'The Only Thing To Hold On To'."

They sang sweet and strong, and filled the night air with perfect harmony. Their guitars matched every beat and suited the tour track tape in the background. The song ended. Beth smiled, and Paul kissed her. Here's one for TIME. Another there for The New Yorker. Oh, can't forget Newsweek! How fun is this? Beth and Paul bowed deeply. She gathered fan artifacts, unplugged her guitar, and took the mic. "Now, it is with great pleasure that I introduce some more very great and talented guys- John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. Combined with Paul, you know them as THE BEATLES!!" Beth ran offstage, while giving the guys a big smile.

She listened to the whole set intently. It was a little hard to hear, as the audience had once again resumed full stereo screaming, but Beth could usually tell which song they were playing. They finished the evening off with "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", which John dedicated to Beth in Paul's name. She laughed to no end, and was still in that state when they ran off stage. "Let's get outta here!" Beth laughed.

* * * * *

Everyone felt much better after cleaning up and changing. They met the fans at the barricade the police had set up backstage to sign autographs and make nice. As soon as they could, they hurried back, got their things, and escaped out the back door of the theater. Someone spotted them, so they all dashed madly to the Mustang Paul and Beth had rented, and Beth drove them to her mum's.

Beth pulled into the back alley behind her house, next to her Cadillac. (She had left it behind when she went to England, and opted for a cab to the airport.) Beth pulled her keys from her coat pocket, unlocked the back door, and flipped on a light.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Beth said. "Nice digs," John said. "Thanks," she said. "Looks like no one's home yet. Not surprised, with the mini riots, and all. Care to take the grand tour?" "Why not?" they all.

"Here's the kitchen, as you might figure," Beth said. "Through the door to your right is the dining room." She led them through the dining room entrance and turned left into a large room with a high ceiling, which was framed up high by a walkway built into the wall, which showed the second floor. "This is the living room," Beth said. There was a couch, a couple easy chairs, a coffee table and a television set assembled throughout the room. Several lamps would have contributed sunny light to the now evening-darkened room.

"Down that hall to your right is the down stairs bathroom, the laundry room, and my brother Harry's room," Beth said. "The left hallway leads to Carla and Becky's rooms; they're my half-sisters. At the end of the hall is my mum and Ward's room. Ward's my stepdad." She showed them Ward's study, which was underneath the stairs that led to the second floor. "This is Ward's place to get away to when he has a lot of work to do. He's a doctor, and mom's a nurse. They met at the hospital, and here we all are. Now, if you'll follow me up these stairs, I'll show you my little place."

They obliged, and went across the walkway to a smaller door. The door itself was decorated and had little quotes painted all over it, and even signatures of her friends. Beth ushered them inside, and closed the door behind them. "This is 'The Studio', as my pals like to call it," Beth said. "I've always got some project in the works up here." The room took up the front of the house, and had a windowseat placed smack dab in the middle of the wall. The floor was polished, and in some places covered in Indian rugs. "I opted for the attic and got the biggest room of the house," she said, switching on a tall floor lamp.

On the right side was Beth's work environment. There was a desk, forever cluttered with papers and files, which was lit up by a neat little banker's lamp. She had just finished her apprenticeship before she graduated, and had not yet put away some of her case studies. Next to the desk, against the right wall, were two tall bookcases stuffed with books. A hefty filing cabinet sat against the front wall, opposite the desk, and a rolling chair sat in the middle of it all.

Next to the filing cabinet was a recording deck, with a mixing console beside it. She had an assortment of microphones behind them. In the windowseat was a bright green cushion and a windchime, dangling gently. Beth led them to sit on cushions in the left most part of her room. The head of her bed sat against the back wall, as did her wardrobe. Her dresser and a filing cabinet labeled "Music" sat against the front wall. (Above the filing cabinet was a poster of...you guessed it...the Beatles.

Next to Beth's bed was a nightstand with a lamp, the June issue of Psychology Monthly, and a hardback copy of In His Own Write. All around the room were pictures Beth had made, and to top off the room, a beautiful mural lay on the left wall. It was of the sun and moon merged, and either part of them went along the walls and connected on the right wall.

It was raining outside, but the room had a nice warm glow. Beth lit some patchouli, and they talked. "Very groovy," Paul said, breaking the silence. "Thank you," Beth said. "And I must comment you on your decor," John said in a snooty tone. "That poster is simply faboo! And that book over there...I'll have you know that I am personally acquainted with the author!" "Oh, I'm sure," Beth laughed. "Shah! I'm such a slob. I could clean up a bit." "We don't mind," Ringo said. "As long as you don't leave any of your dainties hangin' about," George laughed. "And we would mind that?" John added, from behind the Psych Monthly. "Ha, ha," Beth said dryly.

"I lucked out on the room," she said. "It gets sun where I want it, and keeps the rest nice and shady." "That's a nice painting on yer wall back there," Ringo said. "Did you do it?" "Most of it," Beth said. "Some of my more artistic friends helped me, though. My pal Carter came up with the idea of writing little things on the clouds and stars." "Care if we scribble a little something on your 'Wall of Fame'?" Paul asked. "Oh, not at all," Beth said. "Let me get you some permanent markers."

Everyone put a tiny message somewhere. Ringo went to a star and wrote: Have a care for the drummer!- Ringo, 1966. John found a large cloud and drew a picture of himself in a collarless suit, sticking his tongue out. Next to it, he wrote: Would you hit a face like this? Oh, admit it! I'm the greatest one. -John Lennon, or the more popular Dr. Winston O'Boogie, yer Irish cooseen Paul found a star next to the moon, and wrote: Just waiting for the next "Sunset"! I'll be here forever and always. Your ever loving Paul. George chose a line of clouds, and wrote: Here up in the sky - it's not too bad - take a look down - and drop by if you're sad. -George Harrison Beth read them as they wrote, and they had a good laugh jumping about to read the sky.

"So, Beth, you've got a good deal of Beatles records here next to the player, and a poster, and my book," John said. "You've never acted like one of the possessed...at least I don't think you have the sheets yet..." "Oh, not, I don't go for that commercialism, all that crap," she said. "But if you want to know a secret, and you promise not to tell..." Right on cue, they leaned in "closer".

"Seriously, now!" Beth laughed. "I got tickets in '64 to go to Shea Stadium. This was when I was still at Princeton. So, my roomies and I went. I was there to listen, not really to watch...I didn't have many options on that, though. Once Cindy and Jane got there, they screamed. I smacked the girls in the row ahead of me in the head I don't know how many times. They finally shut up once I told them the concert was over. I never realised how annoying a shriek could be until I went to that concert! So then on the drive home, all I heard about was that Cindy thought someone winked at her from the stage. That was when I decided I wouldn't go to another concert if you guys came back in '65. You'd have been as well off playing 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' instead of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'!"

By this time, the guys were rolling on the floor with laughter. "And you weren't tearing your hair out?" George gibed. "No!" Beth said. "I was trying to get a ticket refund! If I had wanted to hear a bunch of girls scream, I would have let frogs loose in one of the dorm showers. Like I said, I was there for the music and royally pissed off that I wasted money on that. Most girls gab on the phone about how someone's so 'fab' when he bobs his head, or someone's beautiful eyes, while I went to Whig-Cleosophic Society meetings and talked about a bass line that made me melt or a great tom rhythm."

"You really are different, luv," Paul said, kissing her cheek. The other guys were holding their sides with tears streaming down their faces. A light poured through the window. "That must be Ward," Beth said. "He gets driveway parking privledges. Now, one thing before we go downstairs...Carla is fourteen, and Becky is nine. Try not to freak them out...they're probably on edge already. That means no head shakes." They got up to go out the door, and Beth stopped them. She lifted up a corner of one of her rugs, and revealed a cut-out piece of the floor. "Trap door," she said. "Leads into the coat closet. Step right on through." They made their way down the hatch, and Beth stopped Paul before he went.

"I know this sounds silly, but my mother's got a sixth sense for guys...she's going to pick you out of the bunch as if you had a neon sign on you with the word 'BETH'," she said. "And after that concert, there's no doubt to it. So please, try to make a good impression on her and Ward. She wants to see that I find someone who not only loves me, but is a good man." "I'll try my best to look good," Paul said. "If that's all, you shouldn't have any problem with it, then," Beth smiled. She kissed him. "Care to join the guys in the living room?" "Not really, but if you insist," Paul grinned.

They assembled on the living room couch, and appeared busy when the family came in. Beth jumped out of her seat as soon as they came in, and Eileen jumped back in surprise. "Mom!" she said, engulfing her in a hug. "Hello, Beth!" Eileen said. "I see you remembered your key. Go, say hello to everyone else!" Beth gave everyone else bear hugs and they all happily sat down, after putting up their coats.

"These are my friends, Mutti," Beth said. "John-"

"Hi!"

"Ringo-"

"Pleased to meet you."

"George-"

"Hi there."

"And last but not least, Paul."

"Hello."

Eileen stood up. "I'd really like to be a Chatty Cathy, but I've got some spaghetti to fix!" she said. "So you dears make yourselves at home, and I'll have dinner ready in a flash. Beth, would you come help me?" "Sure," Beth said. They went to the kitchen and started in on the pasta.

Eileen put the water on to boil, and she and Beth made the special sauce together. "So, you're having a good time?" Eileen asked. "Yes, Mum. A great one at that!" Beth smiled. "All because I can sing, a new world has opened up to me. It's still hard to believe." "And that Paul boy is your Prince Charming?" Eileen asked. "You could say so," Beth blushed. "He's not perfect, but I'm not, either. He makes me laugh and smile, Mum. He loves me." "And I suppose that ring you have is from him?" Eileen asked, grinning. "Oh, I know it is! He seems to be a fine boy, Tzippa. I'm glad you're happy."

Meanwhile, the others chatted. Ringo and Harry talked about which drum heads they preferred. Paul tried to pass Ward's boyfriend examination, while John and George carried on a conversation. Becky and Carla simply sat awestruck. Beth popped her head in the door way. "What'll ye 'ave fer drinks? We got tea, Coke, milk, apricot juice.." She, Harry, and John opted for Coke, Carla and Becky for apricot juice, and everyine else for tea. beth poured the drinks, and Eileen gave a shout, "Dinner is served!"

Everyone stampeded to the dining room, and Eileen dished out the noodles and sauce. Once she sat, Ward gave the blessing and they ate. "This is great stuff," Ringo said. "Family recipe?" "Sure is," Eileen said. "Grandma O'Reilly's Special Sauce. One of our great family relics that we brought when the family immigrated from Ireland." Everyone laughed. Eileen Marsden was a free spirit, and certainly Irish. She had freckles, red hair, and an accent to boot. Eileen wasn't always with the times, but had a liberal streak as long as her backbone. That's probably why she was so accepting of whoever Beth brought to visit.

Ringo's comment had broken the ice; after that, everyone conversed freely. The only time they stopped was when the food ran out. George spoke up. "I hope it's not rude, but is there any dessert?" Eileen smacked her head in recognition. "I forgot!" she said. "Don't worry, Mom, I'll take care of it," Beth said. "Do-it-yourself sundaes for everyone! C'mon, Paul, help me get the stuff." Paul followed her to the kitchen, and the conversation rose back up.

"Get some bowls from the cabinet there, would you?" Beth asked. "Sure," Paul said. Beth took the ice cream out of the freezer, and the fudge, caramel, and cherries from the fridge. She put the caramel and fudge in the warm pot of water from the spaghetti to heat them up.

"It's getting really bad out there," Beth said. "I'm not sur I want to drive in thatl." Indeed, the rain was coming down in torrents, and proving the fame of the "Windy City". "We have to go back, unless we could get Brian to agree to let us stay here," Paul laughed. He and Beth stopped laughing and got the same idea. "We could stay here, couldn't we?" they said. "I could ask Mom and Ward, and call Brian. You can talk to the guys and see what they think," Beth said. "Alright," Paul said. "But first, why don't we take this stuff in?" "Oh, right," Beth laughed.

"Sundaes tonight," Beth said contentedly. "Actually, Monday's tonight, and that was 'yesterday'," John said, "but 'I believe' you." Paul put a dish at everyone's place at the table, and Beth dispensed ice cream. They passed around toppings until everybody got what they wanted. Everybody set in on devouring those, and Beth pulled her mom and Ward into the kitchen to talk. Paul pulled John, George, and Ringo into the living room. This left a very confused Becky, Carla, and Harry.

"Mom, Ward," Beth said. "The weather's getting really bad, to state the obvious. Is there any chance that we could stay here tonight? I mean, I'll have to check with our manager, but I think it's okay if you say the word." "What do you think, honey?" Eileen asked. "Where would they stay?" Ward asked. "They can bed down in my room," Beth said nonchalantly. "We've got plenty of blankets." "Four men?" Ward said. "I don't know..." "They don't have much of a choice," Eileen said. "Wouldn't you rather have them safe here than swerving off a road into a ditch?" "Oh, alright," Ward said. "Just as long as this Epstein fellow thinks it's alright."

Meanwhile, back at the batcave...errr, the living room... "So, it's like this.." Paul started. "We know," John said. "You'd like to go shag with Beth, but it's her mom's house, and hotel rooms are terribly expensive. So, you're going to join an Albanian circus and perform a highwire act, and then..." "Shut up, John," they said. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," John laughed. "So anyway," Paul said, "The weather's bad, and we don't really want to risk driving back in it, so Beth's asking if we can stay here. So if her parents and Eppy say yes, we'll stay here for the night."

They all feigned disappointment. "And miss Brian acting the mother hen?" Ringo said. "Sounds splendid!" Beth rushed in with a smile. "They said yes!" she said. "And on top of that, Brian agreed. But what else could he do? He said that we just had to make sure to be back for the press conference at two. So here's the deal; you guys are going to bed down in my room. We've got plenty of pillows and blankets in the upstairs linen closet, so there'll be no trouble with that." "Whoopee!" John said. "I get the bed!" "Sorry, Charlie, that's my place," Beth said. "I know," John laughed. She slugged him gently on the arm. "Very funny," she said. "Yeah," Paul quipped. "I already called it." "Honestly!" Beth laughed. "Well, I suppose now would be the best time to work out sleeping arrangements. We might as well bid goodnight to the household."

They all wished the family a good night, and the guys ran to Beth's room to fight over floor space. Beth grabbed adequate supplies from the linen closet and made her way there. Linens piled over her head, she knocked on the door. Paul answered and took the linens. After grabbing some for himself, he called out. " 'Ey, fellas, take a blanket or two." They grabbed some and found places to crash.

The furious drumbeats of "Peggy Sue" filled the air as the guys tried to get comfortable. Ringo lay in the windowseat, George near the office, John near the "pillow circle", and Paul by the wardrobe. "Great!" Beth said. "Now...oh, shoot! You guys don't have anything to sleep in!" "We're tough lads," John said. "We'll sleep in our boxers and shirts." "If you're sure that's alright.." Beth said. "Oh, we don't mind," George said. "Oh, good," Beth said. I'm just going to go change into my p.j.'s and clean up. Put on some more records, make yourselves feel at home." Beth swept out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom.

She returned in fresh pajamas and with minty breath. Apparently, the guys had used the other bathroom to take care of any business and were sacked out already. Even the record player was off. Beth put her clothes in the hamper, turned off the light, and stepped over John to get to her bed. She took off her glasses, necklace, and rings and settled in to bed. "G'night, guys," she said. "G'night," they said. She laughed to herself. It's a bit silly that I do that to my poster every night I'm here. I never imagined I'd hear a 'G'night' back! She lay there for a while, 'listening to the rhythm of the falling rain', and reveling at how good it felt to be back home.

Suddenly, she heard something move. Her vision was blurry, as she was nearsighted, and she saw a blob move towards her. It moved closer, and she realised it was Paul. "Mind if I join you?" he asked. "It's a bit cold." "Oh, why not?" Beth said. "Sure." Paul climbed under the covers, and they huddled together.

"I hope I didn't wake you," Paul said.

"Oh, no, I was sleepless," Beth said.

"So was I."

"It's not so bad tonight. I rather favour rain."

"You know something?"

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Paul. Thanks for the company."

"Any time at all." *chuckles*

"Not that again! How about another one?"

"Like which one?"

"If I give my heart to you, I must be sure..."

Paul joined her, and they sang softly until they, ahem, fell asleep.

* * * * *

When they woke the next morning, the rain was still pitter-pattering on the roof. However, that was not the reason Paul and Beth got up..... "LUCILLE!" sang Little Richard. And of course, once Paul was awake, he had to sing it. "LUCILLE!" Paul sang, just as high. Beth woke up with a start. Sleepily, she said, "Honey?" "Yes, luv?" Paul asked. "Shut up," Beth said, kissing him. He would have replied, "Gladly", but he was a bit occupied...

"And now that everyone in the room is fully awake," John said, "Paul will wake up everyone else with his rendition of 'Long Tall Sally', if he can get around to it..." Paul, still busy, threw a pillow at John behind his back. "Ha ha!" John cried. "Missed!" This time, Beth threw hers. "Okay, okay, you win!" John said. "You can go back to whatever you didn't finish last night..." "Oh, ha ha," Beth said. "In my mother's house?! I don't think so."

Paul and Beth went back at it, while John creeped up behind Paul and tapped him on the shoulder. "My turn," he smiled. Beth slapped him. "Can't blame a guy for trying," John shrugged. Beth sat on the side of the bed and squinted at where her clock was supposed to be. Oh yeah! It's in London. "Does anyone know what time it is?" she asked. John picked up his watch and squinted at the numbers. "Yeah, it's about seven," he said. "That's all?" Beth said in disbelief. "And I was hoping on sleeping in. Well, I guess there's still time for breakfast, then." "George and Ringo already went down," John said. "Smelled like felafel, maybe pilaf..." "Oh, cut it out!" Beth laughed. She took a skirt and sweater set from her wardrobe. "I'm gonna go get dressed," she said. " You two - try to behave." "Yes, mummy," John said, throwing a pillow. Beth ducked out the door.

*11- Now!*