EDGEWAYS TO FAME
By Sue
CHAPTER FIVE
(John’s pov)
I chewed my gum furiously trying to get my ears to pop. Blasted planes! The plane stopped and everyone got up to get his carry on bags. I reached to get mine, that’s when my ears popped and thank God too cuz it was driving me mad. I wiggled my jaw around like a fish; I opened and shut my mouth a few times. I heard a laugh behind me as I slowly turned around pulling the carry bag to my side. He stood there still laughing.
“Me ears needed popping.” I explained not really caring.
“Ya look like one of them fish in a fish bowl.” I grimaced at hearing this. I don’t think Ringo knew how close he had just described our lives.
“We are fish living in a fish bowl.” I said flatly to him, pointing out the glass window to all the fans screaming out side our temporary bowl.
“Didn’t realize mate. I was just havin a laugh. Guess it could be looked at as that way.”
I saw him think about it. I hadn’t the patience for this as I pushed by him towards the inevitable.
I stood there feeling bad about being so curt with Ringo, but we all had our moments. We were always thrown together, it was inevitable that we’d snap at one another some times and I knew Rings wouldn’t hold it against me. We all had times like that and usually would let it go, although sometimes we could have quite a row. I felt better as I geared myself toward the task at hand. I walked up to everyone, wondering why we were waiting to get off.
“What’s goin on? Why haven’t we gotten off yet?” I asked to anyone who’d answer.
“Waiting for the passengers to get off. Then when they are safely in the terminal we’ll go.” Mal explained.
Right of course, I didn’t even think of the other passengers. I looked around and saw my blond friend wave as she disembarked. I waved back and gave her a wink. I thought for a minute of our brief time together and knew she’d soon be forgotten like the rest.
The journalists and photographers were the next to go. I watched as they took their places. Finally, it was our turn. George was first off , he waved and smile politely and then Paul who was always more then happy to give the public what they wanted. Never seemed to phase him, he liked it, ate it up even. I wished sometimes I could do that. Ringo and I moved together towards the stairs. I quickly pulled at his arm.
“Sorry bout that before.” I told him, I wanted to make sure we was squared away.
“Not a problem, I understand. It’s not like you’re in it alone, remember?” He reminded me with his ever- loving smiles.
Ringo had to be the least moody of us all. He always smiled, cracked jokes and understood. Really, I don’t know how he did it but lucky for me he did.
Our turn was up and we bounced down the stairs with smiles and waves for all our fans, press and photographers. We loved to ham it up at times and did. I of course would make my faces at some of the cameras I passed. We were herded like sheep across the tamarack to the room they assigned us by security. “Beatle’s over here.” We all heard them call.
I felt a bit nervous as I think we all did when we noticed one of the police barriers were about to be broken through. We started to run, all of us. Mal pushing, staying in the back loyally, in case they did break through and he would be the one to get the worst of it.
We got inches from the door, just in time, the barrier broke and tons of fans came crashing through running. We heard Mal yelling, “Get in their hurry!!!!!”
The doors were opened an in we ran. It was a bit of a run and we were all out of breath, shocked at the sight as they pound on the glass doors. We didn’t have time to think about it as they yet pushed us on ward. They put us in a room that led to a bigger room where the press was. We caught our breath as Brian came out and told us we were up. We filed into the conference room, filled with TV cameras , photographers and reporters. Now this part was a big joke to us. The same questions over and over. I wished for once they’d come up with something original, something with some substance. Never did though, always the same hair questions, how’d we like America this time around, why did we think we were so big in the states and questions like that. We had all the same answers just said in a different way. Then, there was this smart arse reporter; he hogged the whole thing for a minute directing his questions to me.
PM: We were there for the premiere of
our movie last month.
R:
Well, some people say you haven’t; that it’s been six months since
you’ve been
Been there.
JL: That’s just the sort of thing some
people would say
R: You’re saying it’s six months Paul
says just last month.
JL: No, you’re sayin ….. Why don’t you all ask me where we’ve been?
R: Where’ve you been?
JL: I’m not telling you. (I made a funny
face)
They all laughed at us. I was serious, just covered it up with a face and then it became a joke. If they had listened to Paul it would have been over and that’s what cheesed me off.
It was things like that, that they just couldn’t get enough of. I knew he was baiting me and I gave him something he didn’t expect along with a joking expression so he wouldn’t think I was serious. They also loved when we told them we needed money to sing. Did we look like we had a concert ready to go? Maybe some of those other sods sang but we didn’t. Christ, they loved us no matter what we said or did. It amazed me and made me laugh, made us all laugh. We’d talk about it afterwards and had a good laugh over it.
From there we were ushered out and taken down a long back hallway to the hidden limos that waited for us. Mal and Neil as usual loaded the gear whilst we were at the press conference. Again, they pushed us in and we sat waiting to be assaulted by the hordes of fans. We had another game for that, when we were in the mood and right now we were. We’d goat the birds, what a lark that was; they’d cry and get all excited over it.
We all took window seats so we could get into it. We drove down the main street, the fans all blocked off. Paul rolled down the window, much to Eppy’s annoyance, but we didn’t care.
“Come on Paul roll it down, hurry.” I told him then add in a high squealing voice, like a female fan.
“Oh Paulie please wave to me.”
He laughed, as did George and Ringo.
Ringo and George didn’t have a window by them so they piled on our side to help in the game. We waved furiously to them .
“HI GIRLS!!!!” We yelled in unison, still waving.
“Look at that one she’s gonna pee her panties!” Ringo yelled , making us laugh harder.
“Hey Girls want a ride?!!!” George yelled again causing hysterics.
“Come on lads that’s quite enough. Leave the girls alone.” Brian tried to reason with us.
It didn’t work , in fact it did the opposite. We yelled louder just to get on his wick.
“GIRLS!!!!” We yelled in unison.
“I need one of yas to serve me…..ya want to serve me now don’t ya.” I yelled whilst at a stoplight.
This caused a panic, since we were at a stop. The girls tried harder to break free. One girl broke out as we slowly pulled away. She caught up with us and hung on to the window yelling.
“JOHN I”LL SERVE YOU!!!” she yelled.
Well, me thinking this great stood on my knees and poked my head out the window and gave her a big kiss as the car started to move faster and then we lost her. I fell back laughing along with the other lads.
Brian however had had enough and the annoyance was clear on his face.
“Now! That’s enough the lot of you roll that bloody window up now!”
We giggled like school kids and listened to the head master. Then we fell out again. The prellies clearly had us up and running.
We got to the hotel along with another bloody barrier in place. Those coppers must of hated us.
“Out now quickly run to the main door and inside quick now.” Brian ordered.
“Brian we know how to do this. Do you really think we’d stand around waiting to be eaten up alive?” George said incredulously to Brian. He just got out and let us alone.
We ran like the wind; we were in the main floor of the hotel fast. It was funny cause sometimes when we ran like that one of us would grab another pushing and being pulled in a line in order to get more speed. That’s just what we all did this time in our flightiness. We rammed into each other when I stopped suddenly, on purpose, just to watch the others crash into each other. I pulled off to the other side. I stood there laughing and after the shock they did too. Brian hated and loved our boyish antics. He watched and I swear a smile crept across his face.
We entered the lift joking around on our way to our kingdom on the 12th floor.
Once up there we grabbed a drink and took off our jackets ready to sit down and relax.
However, that wasn’t the plan. Eppy marched in; again he started with his drill Sgt. Ways.
“Now, boys you have 15 minutes to freshen up and then we have a photo shoot to attend.” He informed us.
“Mighty nice of you to let us relax there Bri.” Ringo said smartly as he smiled up at him.
“Now don’t be cheeky we don’t have the time. Go freshen up the lot of you and be ready in 15 minutes.” He went to the other room to use the phone.
We looked at each other and shrugged. Paul got up to use the loo and freshen up along with Ringo. George and I just looked at one another and smiled as we grab our jackets and put them on. Over to the bar for a drink we went. Another, prellie should do the trick and I hand one to the others as they came back in the room and quickly drank down a scotch and coke.
Brian came back again and off we went with Neil, Mal , Alistair and Brian.
This time we did the photo shoot in a large room. Quite posh it was and they posed us in all sorts of positions. They had girls do our hair and a bit of make up in order to show up better on film. The girls were all nice and I found myself wanting to say bugger it and go off with one. Oh well, couldn’t do it right yet. My eyes met Paulie who was pulling his girl as she combed his hair a little too much and was running her hands through it. He didn’t stop her as a matter of fact he reminded me of a puppy who was being petted. The prat loved it. They called us to get into position again. We the puppets, let them pull the strings and form us in whatever way they wanted. I had a picture just with Paul. Paul was instructed to sit and I had to get behind him, drape my arms around him and almost put my chin on his head. Really where do they get this from? They had one with Ringo and George too and then the four of us. It took about 2 hours to get exactly what they wanted. By then we were fidgeting and wanted to get out of there. A ciggie is what we all needed and as soon as they said done, we ran to the smokes and lit up.
“Oh Christ here comes Eppy again wonder where we’re off to now?” I said loudly to George who nodded along with me.
“Boys it’s time to get in the truck and off to the concert hall. You can have time in the dressing room to relax, about an hour.” He told us, ignoring my comment that I knew he had heard.
“A whole hour Eppy you’re way to kind.” Paul laughed as he stubbed out his smoke.
I scratched my head and then put mine out.
“A whole hour huh? Can we have some girls?” I knew the answer to the question but wanted to hear Brian go on about it.
“Now , John you know we can’t have that. We never have girls in the dressing room. It wouldn’t be good press and they will be with you.” He explained so seriously that we had to hide our laughter.
“The press will be joining us again fellas. “ I retorted smartly.
Brian gave me a smirk and then told Neil and Mal to get us out to the truck.
We were off again to the truck, same back halls , same shocked looks from the employees and out to the back.
“Wait you’ve got to be joking.” I looked at Mal and Neil astonished.
“Nope John this is how you’re going.” Neil answered.
“But there’s no seats and when you close the door it will be dark.” Ringo said with great discomfort. He was a bit claustrophobic and you could see the fear in his eyes.
“Don’t worry Ritch you’ll be with us. You could hang on to me if need be.” George said sympathetically to him.
“Yeah Ritch we could close in on ya, a cozy sandwich like the old days.” I teased trying to lighten things up for him.
“We are going to be tossed about in ever direction. Your gonna kill us Neil” Paul said summing up the situation.
“Come ead the lot of yas in we go.” Mal said as he smiled sympathetically to us.
“ And where might you be through this joy ride?” I asked suspiciously.
“Why we’ll be upfront of course.” Neil stated.
“UP FRONT!!!!” I howled.
This was to much; like cows to slaughter we’d be crushed in the back and poor Ritch who couldn’t bare it , had no choice as did any of us.
“Come ead Lennon get in. It’s only a 10 minute ride, let’s go.” Neil had a job to do and no matter how he felt he had to deliver the package goods to its destination.
“What about Ritch could one of you switch and put him up front?” George inquired
“Yeah if it’s just a 10 minute ride it wouldn’t hurt there Neil.” I heard Paul go supporting George’s idea.
“No it wouldn’t due to have a Beatle in the open. Now the faster you get in the fast we’re there. Come on lads I have no choice in the matter and you’re making us late.” Neil tried soothing us down.
Begrudgingly, we all got in. I swear when they pulled the door down, Ringo jumped in to my lap. Usually, I’d have shoved him off , but I knew he wasn’t himself so I slowly and gently lowered him along side of me. George and Paul found us and lit a lighter. We huddled protectively by Ringo. What people didn’t understand was that we four were in this together and we protected each other. Didn’t matter if we were wrong or what. All we knew was it was the four of us like the musketeers; y know all for one and one for all and all that kind of jazz. Just like when we would fight and call each other names, no one on the outside could ever get away with that, we didn’t allow it.
The truck lurched forward and we slid, when the trunk turned, off in every direction we went. By the time we got there, the four of us were covered with bruises and dust. What they didn’t tell us was that we’d have to sit in that bloody truck for another 15 minutes until it was safe to get out! I swear it felt as if the air was almost gone and the sweat poured off of us as if we have already done the concert. When I got my hands on Eppy , this would never ever happen to us again. It was like we were animals once again and it was going to stop if I had any say in the matter, the other lads agreed. Poor Ritch was sick by the time they hauled us to the dressing room . He sat in the loo for 15 minutes retching, never again.
