Look up at the sky. Typical, some might think. The sky, quietly displaying soft colors of gray, is the innocent harbinger of the gentle, impending rain. As ordinary and prosaic this description may be, to explicate it in any other way would not be telling the truth. The sky must maintain this shade, mood, and hue; this is Liverpool. This little city is the birthplace of sad, misty skies and delicate, ambient fog.
Despite the dreary atmosphere as one traipses down the lonely, abandoned streets, one fact clearly presents itself in the mind: There must be blue behind the gray, happiness behind the sorrow, and that silver lining promised to every cloud. Optimism lies in wait, ready to burst out from the confines of a pessimistic prison.
Then, suddenly, it starts to rain.
But it doesn't matter right now; tranquillity and joy defy the falling droplets. The rain is no longer an obstacle.
Raindrops cascade down onto the awaiting streets of Liverpool. Some regard that particular weather pattern of water as a vaticinator of either an auspicious or ominous future. Today, the forecast reads that rain is definitely a good sign.
Meanwhile, inside the minds of a sailor and his loving wife, there is no sign that rain prophesized unhappiness. From their eyes the sky was blue, bright and beautiful. They felt this way about three years ago when they had their first child, a son, who was their catalyst to the blue sky, the catalyst to happiness.
Today, the proud parents have something else. It is another spark of joy in their lives, and one of the most electrifying sparks they have ever experienced. The sailor and his wife loved both of them dearly, the catalyst and the spark.
The rain pitter-pattered against the windows of the house. It remained unacknowledged.
"She's beautiful, Jul, just beautiful," the sailor spoke. He smiled. A daughter, their daughter, was the spark of joy. They thought now that they were complete: A family consisting of a father, a mother, a son, and now a daughter.
His wife, who was lovingly holding the young, sleeping girl in her arms, smiled. "Freddie, she's lovely, even more than I could have ever imagined."
"Her name is beautiful too, Jul. Pearl ... That name has always reminded me of the sea. It's magnificent. And her first name ... how did you think of it?"
"Oh, my best friend from school, she had that name. We've been friends for life, knowing each other ever since we were four years old. She lives in France now; 'moved with her husband. Her first daughter she named Julia, after me. So I named our first daughter after her."
"I see. Paulina. Paulina Pearl Lennon. I like that. Now, where's John? Our son has to meet his sister," the sailor said while beaming with pride.
"He is in the next room playing with his little toys. Come," she said. Both parents stood up to introduce brother and sister. They walked quietly into the next room. Little John Lennon, who was indeed playing with his little toys, would be turning three years old. Yet somehow he knew, being the precocious little boy he was, that something important was underway when the two people he adored with all his heart entered the room. He remained quiet. His parents knelt down beside him.
"John, this is your sister, Paulina Pearl Lennon. Say hello to her, dear," his mother softly said. John looked at the little child with his big, bright, brown eyes.
He gently kissed his sister on the cheek and smiled. His heart was now filled with undying love for her, this new girl, this new girl that would forever be in his life.
~~~***~~~
I have heard that story many times before, yet it's a story that shall always remain in my fondest memories. That little baby girl was me, Paulina Pearl Lennon: John's younger sister, and the daughter of Alfred and Julia Lennon. I was born on April 9, 1943, exactly six months before John's third birthday.
However, now I'm fourteen years old and my older brother is going to turn seventeen soon. I always look up to John. I love him so much, more than words could ever endlessly describe. He loves me with all his heart, and even more now, especially after the hardships we've endured. We only had each other, only each other to hold on to.
Explaining the past in a few words is a difficult task. Daddy left when John was five and I was two. And now we rarely see Mummy anymore. She had another girl, Victoria Elizabeth, with a soldier boyfriend, and then she had Julia and Jacqui with another man whom she lives with now. My brother and I never met Victoria since she was given up for adoption. On the other hand, although we hardly see them, John and I both love our half-sisters, Julia and Jacqui. They live with Mummy and their father, Bobby Dykins.
When Mummy couldn't take care of us, her sister took the job of raising John and me. We live at Mendips, or Aunt Mimi's house. Aunt Mimi constantly looked after us and made sure we got the best out of life and from what she could offer. She has always been good to us. At least, I think so. John thinks she's too much of a disciplinarian.
With his future in mind, Auntie unceasingly worries and complains about John everyday. I don't blame her; my brother has done some things that even imagination couldn't or wouldn't dare conjure up! Auntie's more worried about him nowadays though. She thinks he'll become a Teddy sooner or later. I haven't said anything about it because no matter how much he changes on the outside, he's still my brother and I love him, and I know that he loves me too.
Although we are brother and sister, we have our differences. Not that we fight or bicker often, it's just that we have some of our own individual characteristics. I study and get good grades. John can make the grades, except he doesn't care to. I'm more of the quiet one, while John is definitely more outspoken and rebellious. For physical appearance, my hair goes a little past my shoulders, while John's is shorter. John's hair is a little lighter when compared to mine too; I think my darker hair comes from Mummy. Auntie has dark hair also. When I talk, I don't have as much of an accent as John does. Differences between us are beside the point, and I don't think about them much.
Moving on, there are two things that John and I both love: art and music. But I love art a little more than John, and John loves music a little more than me. I draw, sketch, paint, anything, whenever I can. People have said that I'm pretty good at it. I, on the other hand, am not really sure. I constantly want to improve it.
Then there's music. John has to keep an eye on some of his records though, because I like to listen to them too. I play the piano and John promised me one day that he'd teach me how to play the guitar. He practices day in and day out. One time he told me he was going to sit outside on the front porch to play his guitar. It was about ten in the morning.
He didn't come back inside until nine or ten that same night.
I'm really proud of my brother. He's a leader of a band called the Quarry Men, named after his school. He's a great singer and guitar player, I should know. Auntie thinks he won't survive by just playing his guitar. I think he'll not only survive, but come out on top.
And tomorrow is a big day for him, playing at the Woolton Fete. Tomorrow will be July 6, 1957.
"Pearl! Have ya seen me little green notebook?" I heard a voice from the other room. I loved to hear that voice. John has always called me Pearl instead of Paulina. That name was his to use, and only his to use. He's the only one who calls me by my middle name; Pearl is like his affectionate 'nickname' for me.
"It's upstairs in your room. I saw it there on your bed, silly," I teased him.
"I already checked my room! That's why I asked you," John said as approached me. He was decked out in all his hip leather attire. "C'mon, that's my green notebook, the one with all me drawings and lit'le writings and all. Seen it anywhere else, have you?"
"No, sorry. I'll help ya look for it then," I got up off the couch. John looked at the drawing that I just set down on the table.
"Ooh, that's me! That's what you've been workin' on? It's marvelous, Pearl," he praised.
"Thanks!" I said gratefully. Before John called me, I was busy drawing his portrait from memory. I used to need him to be my model, but he'd get so agitated from sitting still so long. This meant I had to finish the drawing from my memory. Now after all the practice I've had, I can begin a drawing of him even if he's halfway around the world. No matter where he would be though, he would always end up in front of me on my paper.
"Now I'll show ya where I saw your lit'le green book. C'mon, I'll race ya!" I ran up the stairs, John in close pursuit, both of us laughing with delight. I won, entering John's room before him.
"Didn't Auntie ever tell ya 'no running in the house'?" John said slyly. He knew that I was the one who always listened to Aunt Mimi.
"That's all right. She won't mind a lit'le thing like that. Why do ya need your book anyway? Don'tcha think you should be practicing for tomorrow?"
"I need that book, and I don't want it lost. I can practice whene'er I want!"
"John, ya wouldn't have lost your book if you were more careful, and for once in your life, cleaned your room!" I said, giggling while checking under John's unmade bed. The rest of the room was rather messy too.
"I'm a busy lad! I don't 'ave time to clean me room!" John played along while he checked his closet.
"Found it!" I declared. "It was under some other books of yours." I stood up and dusted off the green book.
"Aw, thanks, luv! Yer the greatest! I knew I could count on ya to find it!" He gave me a big hug, took his little notebook, and put it safely in the top drawer of his desk.
"You're welcome, John, anytime at t'all. Are you ready to play tomorrow? How's the band comin' along?" I made John's bed for him and sat down on it. John sat down next to me.
"Thanks for makin' me bed, luv. And to answer yer questions, you know that I'm always ready to play me guitar! And the band is doin' all right. We're just a bunch of Liverpudlian lads playin' the music we love. I know you like what we play, too."
"John, can I come tomorrow with you? Please? Please?"
"Yeah, I'd love for you to come!" He gave me a loving, brotherly squeeze.
"Thanks, John! I wanna see you play, I really do. I'm sure Auntie won't mind, since you're gonna be there to watch me, right?" I said, smiling while I ruffled his hair.
"I'll watch ya, don'tcha worry 'bout a thing! When I'm around, nothing's gonna hurt you. The only thing you 'ave to watch for is me!" He laughed and started to tickle me.
"Hey, quit that John!" I laughed along with him and tickled him back. He almost fell off the bed! I had to pull him back up. Then, to show me his gratitude for saving him from falling, he took out a pen and marked my hand!
The nerve of him, I thought mischievously. I ruffled his hair some more, grabbed the pen from him, and drew a guitar with a heart behind it on his hand. He looked at it for a little while, then smiled.
"I was expectin' a bloody insult or somethin' to be written on me hand!"
"What, you don't like it? I know it's only in black ink, but you didn't give me much to work with."
"Oh, no, I didn't mean it that way, Pearl. I love it. It's me lucky charm. I know I'll play my best tomorrow if I 'ave this on me hand. Thank you, girl!" He hugged me, and I hugged him back.
"Should we ask Auntie if I can go with ya tomorrow? It's getting kinda late." After I said that, John looked up at his clock, right after he quickly glanced at his Brigitte Bardot poster.
"Yeah, let's go," John took my hand and we went downstairs to find Aunt Mimi. I always felt safe around John. If he was around, everything was gonna be all right. Hand in hand was how we overcame the obstacles in life, with John taking the lead and the hardest blows, just to protect me.
"There she is! You can go and ask her, luv. Don't worry, if she says no, then I'll try to convince 'er, okay?" John whispered to me as he pointed to Auntie. She was reading her book, that red one that she never seemed to finish. Slowly, I crept up to where she was sitting and knelt down on the floor.
"Um, Auntie?" I said, addressing her as softly as I could. I was a little bit scared to break her concentration and train of thought. However, she didn't mind at all.
"Hello, Paulina, dear. Did you need something?"
I knew what I wanted to ask, but didn't know exactly how to phrase it. "Well, y'see, Auntie, you know about tomorrow, right? With John playing with his band and all?"
"Yes, I know about that."
"Um, I wanted to ask you if I could go with him tomorrow. I mean, it's Saturday and John playin', too. I want to see him perform, may I? Please?"
"Paulina, I wanted you to stay at home so you could help me around the house. I'd be doing all of the work by myself then."
"Oh, but Auntie, you know I always do my chores. I haveta to do John's sometimes too! Please, this is a big day for John, and I wanna be there with him. I promise that I'll help you with anythin' else when I get back."
"Yeh, and of course, I'll be looking after her; she's me sister! Nothing's gonna happen to her, and I'm gonna make sure of that! I promise, Aunt Mimi, I promise," John stepped in and helped me convince her. She was a bit skeptical at first, but then reluctantly agreed. We both sincerely thanked her.
"Now it's time for you two to go to bed. You have to wake up early tomorrow," Aunt Mimi reminded us.
"Sure, we're going right now!" I hugged her and gave her a good night kiss, and John did the same. John looked at me, happiness and victory evident in his face as we rushed up the stairs and got ready to go to sleep.
A little later, I was still working on John's portrait as I sat on my bed in my room. I don't ever go to bed without John saying goodnight to me. He never goes to bed until I'm already asleep, just to make sure that I was safe and all right.
After I heard a knock on my door, I told John he could come in. He was still in his leather outfit.
"I came by to say g'night, y'know," he said. "You still workin' on that picture of me?" John looked over at my work.
"Yeah, I'm almost done, not quite. But I can work on it a little later. You need your sleep, you know," I told him while I set my drawing on the table near my bed. I got under the covers and looked up at him.
"I know, but I'm just so excited! Tomorrow never comes soon enough," he said, smiling.
"Well, it'll come faster when you're asleep. You'll play the best, and you'll be the best. I know it!"
"Thanks, luv," he hugged me and gave me a goodnight kiss. "G'night, and I'll see ya tomorrow!" he said softly.
"G'night, John, sweet dreams!" I said. He waved a little goodbye and closed the door. I turned off my light, and hoped that John would play brilliantly. But I knew that he would play well, and that he had that magical power to leave people in awe, no matter what he did. And after I thought of that, I fell asleep, anxiously wanting tomorrow to come as soon as possible.
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