Imagine

Chapter 87

John kept his suitcase packed. He really didn't want to take the kids with him but he also knew Julian was right when he said that Sean was scared about his dad leaving.

After everything was packed, John grabbed his suitcase and set it in the living room by the door. Sean came walking in with Julian behind him, carrying both his and Sean's bag.

"Ey kids. Ready to go?"

"Yeh. Sean kept telling me to hurry up with packing."

John nodded. "This is going to be a long trip. You do know that right?"

"Of course. I'm with you all the way."

"Thanks. Sean shouldn't be going through this at such a young age."

"So, what are you going to do if you can't find her?"

"Then I'll have no choice but to file for divorce...........again."

"Dad, everything will be fine."

"I sure hope so. Come on. Let's go back to the states and look for her there first. Just to get the states out of the way. Then, we'll go to her home town in Tokyo."

********

The three of them had got on a public plane to New York from London. John had got three first class tickets.

Julian sat in the middle with Sean sitting by the window and John was by the isle. John sat back against the seat and looked over at the two kids.

Sean had fallen asleep and Julian was doing a crossword from the newspaper from that morning. 

John was worried about never finding her. He didn't want to see his kid hurting.

********

It took about 8 hours to get to New York. After they got off the plane, they headed for John's old apartment at the Dakota. 

On the way there, John dug out his key.

"Are you sure the place isn't rented out to someone else?" Julian asked.

"I'm positive. I never sold it or rented it to anyone."

The car stopped in front of the Dakota and John got out first, followed by the two kids. He went up the stairs until he got to the floor.

Then, once he got to the door, he unlocked it and walked in. 

It was too quiet so he knew she wasn't there.

"She's not here and she hasn't been here."

"Well, while yer here, do you want to take anything back with you?"

"No. I got everything I need. Oh................wait, there is something I want to get."

He walked up to his records and picked up the box. 

"My prized possessions!"

Julian laughed. John took all of them out of the box and put them in a pocket in the suitcase.

"What about the record player?"

"No. I'll just get another one. Plus, that's too big to fit in my suitcase. Well, we need to go."

"Dad, its late. Why don't we just stay the night here." 

John looked at his watch. It was passed 2am. 

"Oh. I got so caught up in this whole situation that I never even looked at the time at all."

John picked up Sean, who had been trying to stay awake. 

"Okay. I'll bring the kid to his old room."

********

After John put Sean to bed, he went back to the living room and sat next to Julian on the couch. He took out a cigarette and offered one to him.

"Yer actually offering one to me?" Julian joked.

"Well, yer old enough now. Try not to smoke around Sean though. He'll probably think it'll be okay to smoke at such a young age."

"I know. That's why I haven't. So, tomorrow, are we going to Tokyo?"

"Well...........yeh. I guess so."

"I don't think we'll find her at all."

"Me either. But we have to do this. Ye know, I do want to thank ye for putting up with her all these years, for being kind to her even when she wasn't to you."

"Mum has always taught me to treat people with respect even if they don't give it right back. I don't get mad easily."

"Well, that's the problem with me. I do. Sometimes, I can't control my anger and I end up either doing or saying something that I'll regret later. I'm glad yer not that kid."

"I never really wanted to be someone who got into fights."

"Good. Never be like I was when I was yer age. I did some terrible things."

"Like what?"

"Well, I basically picked fights. I was the opposite of you. If someone said something I didn't like, I would beat them up."

"Makes me wonder why you haven't hurt uncle Paul yet."

John laughed. "Well, because he's my best mate. I couldn't hurt him."

"Uh-huh. Well, he seems to be very fond of you."

"Course he is. I'm fond of him too. We're very close friends. Have been since '57. If I brought a picture of Paul when we first started out, I would show it to ye."

Julian stood up and went to a picture of when John was in the Quarrymen. Then, he walked back to the couch and sat down again.

"So, what about this picture?"

John took a look at it. 

"Me and Paul played for the first time together as the band. We were in a band called the Quarrymen. We thought we were on the top of the world. But then again, that's what all kids think."

"Yeh. Well, those who are getting somewhere."

"What makes you think yer not?"

"I never said I wasn't. I already know what I'm going to do once I get out of school."

"Yeh. You told me. You want to follow in the same footsteps as yer father."

"Eh. Musicwise."

"Okay kid. I think you should be getting to bed now."

"I want to stay up a bit longer. If yer tired, you can go."

"No. I'll stay up a bit longer too."

"But you also need sleep, dad."

"I know, but I'll sleep once we.............ye know."

"Yeh. Hopefully she will be with family."

"That's what I'm hoping. Sean misses her. She must know that."