Parenting Paul

Chapter 2: Morning Meeting/Missing Member

The next morning at Apple studios, Ringo Starr was sipping on some tea, while reading the newspaper. "Have you heard from Paul yet?" George Harrison asked as he walked into the studio with his guitar and his own cup of coffee. "No, have you heard from John?" Ringo asked back as George sat down next to him. "Yeah, he and Yoko are on their way....." George replied as Ringo nodded. "Hopefully Paul will follow right after...." Ringo said, making George giggle, "You're awfully optimistic...." The door suddenly opened with a squeak, making Ringo and George look towards it. "Morning' lads....." John said as he stepped into the room with Yoko following him from behind. "Mornin!" George responded as Ringo waved at the two with a drink of his tea.

"So....how was everyone's weekend?" Mal Evans, who was the Beatles roadie asked as John and Yoko sat down in their places. "Not too exciting....Pattie and I rewatched the film North by NorthWest on Saturday night....they were screening it at the theater near Edinburgh...." George answered first as the others nodded and smiled at him. "I was helping Maureen with Zak and Jason....per usual." Ringo then added as John and Yoko smiled at each other. "You got some news you wanna share there?" Mal asked as Yoko giggled. "Well......" John began as he bit his bottom lip. "Yoko's daughter Kiyoko, her passport finally was approved.....so she can finally meet Julian...." John finally said with pride as everyone clapped. "Congratulations you two!" George applauded as Yoko pushed her long black hair out of her eyes.

"Well....it's not that simple....we still need permission from my ex-husband...who is Kiyoko's father...." Yoko added in as John nodded sullenly. "He's an ass....to say the least...we had to apply for her passport essentially behind his back..." John explained as the group nodded with understanding, and the door opened again, this time it was Allen Klein the new manager of The Beatles after Brian Epstein had passed away from a drug overdose over a year ago. "Where in God's name is McCartney!? He's been late for every meeting this week....and it's really getting on my damn nerves...." Allen raged, as the group shrugged in unison. "Have you heard from him, John?" Ringo asked as George leaned forward to look at John directly. "No....I thought one of you two had been keeping in touch with him" John answered as Allen swiftly turned to them. "All I know is....if Mr. McCartney wants to continue being a part of this band, he needs to start doing his part.....not coming whenever the hell he wants, shit faced, and without any regard for the rest of us......I don't know what type of things Mr.Epstein let you boys do, but I won't tolerate ANY of it!" Allen scolded.

"Umm...actually...Allen?" John soon interrupted as he raised his hand, and the rest looked at him and Yoko with puzzlement. "Yes, Mr.Lennon?" Allen acknowledged as John cleared his throat. "I just wanted to say..... that you shouldn't waste your time considering removing Paul from the band...." John soon said as George and Ringo vocally agreed. "Why the hell not!? He's the definition of a liability......he barely can gather himself up to attend band meetings.....and when he comes here.... It's....it's like.....he's not even here, he'd rather be anywhere else...that's not how you make a successful band.....just ask The Rolling Stones.....they never behaved with such childishness..." Allen argued as George rolled his eyes. "Enough with the Stones comparisons...." George soon mumbled, as John began to laugh.

"SILENCE!!" Allen soon yelled as he slapped his hand on the table, and looked at John. "Tell...me....why...... the.....hell...not?" Allen whispered sinisterly. "I think I'd rather tell you the reason when Paul's here.." John shot back with scorn. "Fine.....find McCartney, I'll be back...in 10 minutes, and as for you......I'm keeping my eyes on you Lennon..." Allen ordered as he left the studio. The group sat in silence for several moments, until John rolled his eyes and cleared his throat again. "That Klein is a swine I tell you......he thinks he's got autonomy over the band, but he doesn't.....I do....I started this band, and whether he likes it or not....I say who stays and who goes." John said as Ringo nodded. "I agree....I've always seen you as the person who's ultimately in charge...." Ringo agreed as George nodded and sipped his coffee. "So....does anyone have any idea where Paul may be?' George asked as everyone except Mal shook their heads. "Do you know something Mal?" John asked as Mal sighed.

"Sort of....." Mal began as everyone turned to him with interest. "Well get on with it..." John coaxed him as Mal sighed. "He....may or may not be with a girl....." Mal answered as everyone studied him. "What do you mean? A girl?" John asked as Mal shrugged. "Jane?" Ringo asked as Mal shook his head. "No...no...an American girl...." Mal answered as they continued analyzing him. "That actress Peggy Lipton?" George asked as Mal shook his head. "No, she's a photographer, we met her at the Sergeant Pepper's launch party last year....." Mal answered as everyone looked at him with cluelessness. "What are you on about?" John asked as Mal sighed again, "Well, about two months ago, Paul joined me on my yacht...." Mal started as everyone studied him and vocally remembered. "During that....he brought that Linda girl....and they did what two people do when they're alone...." Mal answered as everyone groaned. "So you're saying Paul's getting laid instead of being here?" John asked as Mal shrugged again. "I mean...it's in the realm of possibility..." Mal soon answered as John rolled his eyes with annoyance, and looked at Ringo. "Ringo......see if you can get a hold of Paul at his house, Jesus Christ...." John sighed as Ringo stood up, and walked to the rotary phone.

Meanwhile, at Paul's house, the phone was ringing, and Paul was still laying on the floor of his living room. Paul was fast asleep, snoring, completely oblivious to the phone going off the first several times it had rung. However, the phone continued ringing, which finally grabbed Paul's attention. "Ughh......fuck..." Paul grumped as he opened his eyes, rolled over to his back, and looked up at the analog clock that was pointed to 10:30am. "Damnit......" Paul grumbled as he rubbed his eyes and sat up. Paul then looked around his apartment that was completely covered with junk and was reeking with the stench of alcohol. "What.....what happened last night?" He asked as he looked around and noticed that there was a liquor bottle near him. He also noticed that there was still some liquor left inside of it, so he took a swig and stood up.

Paul made his way to his kitchen where he kept his phone, and took another long sip of his liquor as he glared at the phone. "Ohhh....shut the hell up you twit...." He grumped as he picked up the phone. "Paul is that you?" Ringo asked with concern. "Speaking...." Paul answered as he belched, and took another sip again. "Woah...are you already drunk?" Ringo asked with worry. "Does it matter?" Paul asked as he placed the bottle on his kitchen counter. "I mean....kind of,...you do have work to do here at Apple Studios, y'know, The Beatles remember them?" Ringo asked as Paul rolled his eyes. "Ringo....I don't need a lecture....I just woke up...." Paul grumped as Ringo sighed on the other end. "Alright.....just get here....today's meeting is going to be important....." Ringo finished as they hung up. Paul then sighed as he looked over at the liquor bottle he had placed on the counter, and then shook his head as he walked to his entry way to grab his coat.