Nobody Wants To Know Him

XXX - She's Leaving Home

Saturday 24th February 1973
Liverpool, England
1.13pm

"Do ye really need all these jumpers?" Charlie's voice sounded from the other room as, I assumed, he stared at the copious amount of knitted pullovers I had packed.

"'Course!"

"Don't worry," John said as he shovelled a few books into a rucksack, "we've got space at home. I think."

I continued to pack a small bag with all my toiletries, watching out of the corner of my eye with slight amusement as John surveyed each book I had, scrutinising the covers and occasionally flicking through.

"______, the fuck do you need three copies of Pride and Prejudice for?"

At that, I wholeheartedly defended myself, explaining in detail the difference between each copy, and why they are all entirely necessary for the best Austen experience.

The two of us, plus Charlie who was carrying things downstairs for us, continued to pack stuff ready for the move. I had become more satisfied with the idea of moving in with John, actually looking forward to it now rather than feeling doubtful and tentative as I did prior.

John had found a box instead to put the books in rather than the rucksack, claiming there were simply too many, when he found his own book. With a smile, he waved it at me, asking if I had actually read it. I said I had, telling him it was entertaining and that I particularly enjoyed the drawings he had done.

"Y'know Paul wrote the introduction?"

My surprise was obviously evident as he snickered, placing the copy carefully into the box along with the others. I had now moved onto packing all my records, sat on the floor cautiously gathering them from one box to another. The plan was to put mine with John's, whether that be in the music room, or one of his several living rooms. Let It Bleed lay on top of the pile to my left as I sorted them, making sure they were in an orderly fashion as to not get damaged. It was enjoyable, actually. Packing. Especially with John - and Charlie for that matter.

"This! This is a fuckin' good read, I love this book." In his hand, he held a copy of 1984, one of my favourite books. We delved into a conversation about George Orwell, how he was really called Eric Blair, and how much of his dystopian future applied to the modern world, and were only snapped from it when Charlie walked into the room, guitar case in hand.

"I found it."

"Charlie," I grinned out of pure gratitude, "yer an absolute godsend. That has not been touched for fuck knows how long."

We continued packing and loading things into Dad's car, but soon enough we discovered that we wouldn't be able to fit much more. The main necessities, like my best clothes and toiletries, had been stowed ready for moving to Kenwood, as well as a collection of other stuff. Most of it was ready to go, but my guitar just wouldn't fit in the boot, nor would all my clothes, and there wasn't much room in the back seats either, so we decided we'd come get everything else tomorrow.

______

3.42pm

Today was the first night that I'd spend at Kenwood while officially living there. As we left, Charlie said that he'd come visit as much as we'd allow him to, and that I better do the same in turn. It took forever to pry my mother off of me; she was practically clinging to me, claiming that her baby was all grown up now. Nancy, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

John and I piled into the car, me in the front with my father and him in the back with... some boxes. If the ride was awkward, I was too buzzed with excitement to notice. Even if I was apprehensive before, I had warmed up to the idea and was really quite thrilled to be moving in with John.