4:27 pm

Music played lowly in the background. Sounded like it came from the living room.

“She’s not a girl who misses much. Do do do do do do, oh yeah...”

It was a very familiar tune... one of my particular favorites.

“She’s well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand, like a lizard on a window pane.”

I felt a warm kiss on my cheek. I did not pay attention to it, I was still asleep. I heard someone whisper my name softly in my ear. The song continued on.

“The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors on his hobnail boots.”

I felt a hand clasp mine. The edge of the bed crunched under the weight of someone else sitting upon it.

“Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy workin’ over time.”

A hand moved away some loose strands of my golden hair.

“A soap impression of his wife which he ate and donated to the National Trust.”

I felt the hand on my face, gently running down my cheek and moving across my lips. The hand moved away and the music went into a moody guitar break.

“Jayne, wake up.” the same voice as the singer called to me.

That made me wake up a little. John was actually here, and I had fallen asleep in what was to be his bed. I wanted to respond to his plea, but I was still in the grip of dreamland.

“Jayne? Can you hear me?” he took his hand off mine and placed it on my shoulder. “Jesus fucking Christ, you’re really out cold.”

I tried to open my eyes, ‘tried’ is the key word here. I couldn’t quite get them open, so I opened my mouth to speak but yawned instead. Finally I spoke: “John?”

“I knew once I cursed you’d wake up.” My eyes opened. He was above me, looking down at me so sweetly that I couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were out on the town?” I asked

“And I thought you were going to sleep in the other room.” he said, he whispered the next thing, but not quietly enough “Not that I mind, really.”

“Come off it! What time is it? And why the hell are you listening to the White Album??”

“It’s about four-thirty, and I happen to like my part of the album. I rarely get a chance to listen to my own music, I’m usually too busy making it.” he stated all-knowingly. There was a slight pause in the conversation, then he switched subjects. “Hey, I made some tea, would you happen to fancy a cuppa?”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“Great, I’ll be back in a few.” he got off the bed and briskly walked out of the room.

In the mean time I sat up and decided that I should change into my nightgown and robe. I hopped up and grabbed a nightgown out of my dresser drawer and quickly put it on. Then I found my robe, which was hiding underneath some books near my chair, and crawled back in bed.

John came back with a cup and saucer in hand. Giving me the tea he inquired: “Do you like sweet tea?”

“I’m American,” I said proudly.

John gave me a very puzzled look.

“It goes without saying.” I smiled. I took a sip of the tea. It was creamy and sweet and had the most delightful peppermint flavour to it. “Wow, this is one out of sight cup of tea.”

“Well, what did you expect? A lousy cuppa tea?” he teased. He sat next to me on the other side of the bed.

I had nothing to say to that remark because it was true, I expected worse than a lousy cup of tea. I placed the cup and saucer on the nightstand by the bed, making sure not to knock anything off it. I folded my hands in my lap and proceeded to interrogate him on his adventurous afternoon.

“So.. what did you do today?”

“Nothing really. I went to see Pete Shutton, and also Ivan Vaughn. Then I went to see Mimi . . .” his voice trailed off when he got to Mimi’s name. Apparently he must have not liked going to Mimi’s.

“How is she?”

“Just like I remembered her.” he said in a low slightly angry voice,

“Afterwards I felt I needed a very stiff drink so I went to Ye Cracke.” I giggled at this. I assumed things did not go well with his aunt, hence the very stiff drink.

“How was it?”

“Oh just the same, but this time they didn’t kick me out for being pissed.” he glowed.

“Teenage years?” I smiled.

“Yep.” he smiled “Then I came back here and called Geo.” John laid down beside me fidgeting with my lengthy hair in the sunlight. “did you know that your hair isn’t all one colour?”

“Yeah I did. Hair is funny that way. When you don’t dye it it turns out to be more than one shade of the same colour.”

“Ye know, in the early days they wanted me to dye my hair darker to match with the rest of the Beatles. I guess they didn’t like my natural colour.” I didn’t want to ask him if he did dye his hair or not, I was hoping that he would tell me.

“Well, your hair looks beautiful now.” I commented, trying to get him to tell me about the dyeing, “It’s a very deep auburn, some might even say it’s red.”

“Never!” he grinned sarcastically. Truth be told it was red hair. Truth be told it looked gorgeous on him.

I lay down, facing him, while he continued playing with my hair. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. “What are you doing?”

“Baking a cake. What do you think I’m doing.” John smirked.

“John?” I was startled by how forward he was. I am not that easy so I wished he would not do anything to force me to be.

“Shh....” he placed his pointer finger over my lips to quiet me. He rolled over on top of me but quickly moved to place his head on my chest. “If you’re quiet enough I can hear your heartbeat.” he closed his eyes. His breathing shallowed, he reached up and took his glasses off. “Would you mind placing these on the nightstand?” still confused, I did so.

I do not know why it was so comforting to have him there, in my arms. He was so peaceful. I guess that he never got to be peaceful, seeing as he was a very active person, always on the move. Well, not as much of on the move, it is more like on the run. Mainly, I think, from his problems. I knew what he wanted in life was to be balanced, and at peace with himself, others, and the world. Being a Beatle and all I do not think he had much time to be relaxed and tranquil.

Soon our breathing evened and became the same placid breath. I do not think I would have wanted to move him, or could move him for that matter. I was getting sleepy, but I think John was still awake, because he moved a bit every so often.

We lay there for God knows how long. Just thinking our thoughts. Resting out tired bodies. Mainly being glad that we had someone to hold on to, and someone who would not let go.