Imagine

Chapter 46

Julian continued to teach Sean that song throughout the day, while John slept. 

"Okay. Now, we're starting the chorus. Go back to a G chord."

"I'm hungry."

"Are you? Okay. As long as yer quiet, we can go out there and get you a snack."

Julian took Sean's guitar and set it on a stand. 

"So, what do you want to eat?"

Sean shrugged.

"You must know. What are you craving?"

"Sammich."

"A sammich? I thought it was pronounced: sandwich."

"Dad says sammich."

"Well, dad is still a kid at heart."

"Oh. I thought he was a grown up."

"He is."

"How can he be a grown up and a kid?"

"When I said he's a kid at heart, it means that he sometimes still acts like a child. Its his inner self. He's a kid on the inside."

"Oh."

"See, yer a kid on the outside, and he's a kid on the inside. Make sense?"

"I guess."

"Okay. Let's get you that snack now."

The two left the room and went to the kitchen quietly so they didn't wake John. 

"Okay. One sammich coming up." Julian said as he made a sandwich for Sean. Then, he handed it to him.

"Don't eat too fast."

"That's what daddy says."

"Now you know where I get that saying from. Enjoy yer food. Ye'll get sick if you eat it too fast." Julian joked.

"That's not true."

Then, he laughed. "Its not? How do you know?"

"Because I ate fast before."

"Probably when you were in a hurry, right?"

"Yeah."

"Yer too young to be in a hurry for anything!"

Shh! Daddy's asleep!" Sean whispered.

"Sorry kid. Looks like he taught you some respect because yer telling ME to be quiet." Julian laughed.

"Yeah. He says I need to respect everyone."

"He's right. Everyone needs respect. You, me, some stranger on the street...........it doesn't matter who. The smallest act of respect can change someone's life. Treat them how you would want them to treat you. Remember that throughout life."

"Okay. I'm good at remembering."

"Are you? So am I. So, for another 70 years, ye'll remember that, right?"

Sean looked up at him.

"Seventy years? That's a long time."

"I know. But you want to live a long and happy life, don't ye?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Then 70 years."

"Will you be around in 70 years?"

"Probably not. If I don't die of old age, I'll die from smoking. Never get into the habit. Its hard to break."

"That's what daddy said."

"Seems like he's teaching you things at a very young age. Good."

Julian pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

"Why didn't he ever quit?"

"I'm sure he tried. But as I said, its very hard to quit. I can't really go a day without one of these things."

"Does dad know you smoke?"

"Yeh. He hates it. But what can I do? He started at a young age, so did I."

"How old were you?"

"Oh...........you know.................I was 5." 

Sean started laughing. "No you weren't."

"Yer right. I wasn't. I started two years ago. I tried quitting before but I never could. And I don't want my mum to catch me because she will literally kill me."

"Why?"

"I'm her only child."

"How does that work? I'm your brother."

"Oh, its simple. My mum isn't the same person as yer mum. That's why I refer to yer mum by her first name. We are half brothers. Yer mum is Yoko and mine is Cynthia. Dad's first wife."

"Oh......what's she like?"

"She has done everything to make sure I had a normal and very happy childhood. She's amazing. She would love you too. She was with dad when he became famous."

"I didn't know that."

"That's because you weren't born when I was. He went through a lot during that time though."

"Like what?"

"I'll tell you the story when we get back to yer room. Let's go." 

The two walked back to Sean's bedroom.