Parenting Paul

Chapter 13: Princess Tiger

"So did you hear? John wants to start writing more music to carry us out to the end of the decade?" Ringo asked cheerfully as he, Paul and Heather walked down the street towards Twickenham Park. "Yeah...I did. Paul answered reluctantly as he looked down and watched his loafers tap onto the sidewalk. "That's pretty cool, right? I'm glad you and John worked all that out." Ringo encouraged confidently as Paul turned to him and looked at him with underwhelmed contempt. "We didn't figure it out, John's just trying to cover up the fact that he's selling out."Paul soon answered as Ringo scoffed.

"No, don't look at it like that, I'm sure that's not what John's intentions are...you know him better than anyone, he's a risk taker, and let's just admit, Yoko is the epitome of risk."Ringo chuckled as Paul studied him with annoyance. "Yoko isn't risky, she's just fucking crazy..." Paul retorted back as Ringo shrugged and tried to hide the fact he wanted to continue laughing. "True, but to John's point of view, that might represent risk? Y'know she's unexpected...she's out of the box and she's not going to become anyone's bitch." Ringo explained as Paul glared at him again. "Of course she won't be anyone's bitch....John IS the bitch....he does whatever she wants...Paul began to defend. "Remember that time when I was practicing the song Martha My Dear on the piano? She was literally screaming at him to tend to her, like she was some spoiled child with a dirty nappy and stuck inside her pram." Paul explained as Ringo nodded with remembering agreement.

"Then John told her..ANYTHING YOU SAY DEAR!!!!!" Paul mocked as Ringo began to laugh at Paul's impression of the whole ordeal. "True, true." Ringo laughed as he tried to collect himself. The three of them then arrived at Twickenham Park, which had four wooden picnic tables, with two benches, each of which overlooked a small swingset and slide. "Oooohhh swings! My mom said that my school will have those!!" Heather soon exclaimed as she darted towards the swings as Paul and Ringo made their way to the benches to watch her play. "Cute kid." Ringo soon whispered as he looked over at Heather who was working hard to push herself higher on the swings. "So, how are you taking all of this? The Beatles? Jane? and now having the responsibility of this young girl?" Ringo asked with concern as they sat down on the bench.

"Not well, like that's a surprise." Paul answered within a snotty voice as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. "Well, I'm glad you called me, I've been worried about you, I know things haven't been easy for you....as John, George and myself have women and/or children, while things with yourself and Jane have been very hostile." Ringo began as he watched Paul begin to light his cigarette. "At this point, it is what it is, concerning Alan.":Paul soon retorted as he put the cigarette to his mouth and inhaled deeply. "I tried to warn you lads that Klein was suspicious, greedy, and he didn't give any shites about us, now we have to live with the consequences.." Paul continued as the nicotine filled smoke blew out of his mouth, and Ringo nodded as he lit his own cigarette.

"George and I  just wanted to remain neutral on the matter." Ringo defended as he puffed on the cigarette. "I just wanted everyone to get along, and you know how George is about business shit, I mean, he straight up protested the whole Magical Mystery Tour film." Ringo defended as Paul nodded. "I know he did, that's why I wanted John Eastman involved like Linda had suggested, and I know she has my best interests in mind, hell, she has all of our best interests in mind. I don't know if it's because she's from New York or what, but she knew straight away that Alan was going to fuck everything up." Paul explained as Ringo nodded. The two men then sat in silence listening to the sound of children playing joyfully, birds singing cheerfully and the leaves on the warmly colored trees rustling calmly. "So tell me, what's the business with this young girl? What's her name anyways? Why is she at your house? How long will she be with you?" Ringo questioned with perplexity as he watched Heather who was now running around the jungle gym with two other children.

"Her name is Heather, and someone just dropped her off at my house and I literally couldn't say no.." Paul explained as Ringo studied him without any understanding. "What do you mean? You couldn't say no? Of course you could have said no.." Ringo asked as he looked back at Heather who was climbing up the ladder towards the slide. "I couldn't say no, because.." Paul soon paused as he looked towards Heather as well and watched her play as he tried to come up with an answer. "Because I, I, I, um, I want her to meet Jane, see if that'll help me get her back." Paul finally said as Ringo looked at him with disbelief and shook his head. "Why the hell would you think that this little girl would help you get Jane back?" Ringo asked as he looked at Heather and then back at Paul trying to process what he was told, "I'm sorry I don't understand."

Paul then began to chew on his fingernails as he thought of how to explain. "Well, for starters, Jane told me that she wanted some sense of stability, and having the responsibility of this child is definitely a form of that." Paul explained as Ringo continued to study him. Heather then ran up towards the men and began spinning around. "Look at me, I'm a ballerina tiger! Rawr!!" Heather soon exclaimed playfully as she growled and put her hands up to mimic claws. "Do you even like the name Heather?" Paul soon asked as he cleared his throat and Heather looked at him with puzzlement. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" She asked with confusion as Ringo looked at Heather and then at Paul with the same amount of confusion as her. "Well, have you ever thought about what you'd name yourself? When you're with me, you can do whatever you want, go ahead, Here I'll help, how's about Mary? Milly? Hannah? Ginger?" Paul suggested as Heather bit her bottom lip, and smirked as she began to ponder. "Ooh! Ooh! I know, I know, my name is Princess Tiger! I'm the bestest ballerina by day and the best tiger tamer by night ever! Haha!" Heather answered with thrill as she jumped all around and clapped her hands.

My, you're certainly a creative little lass." Ringo giggled as Heather continued giggling and then sat on the bench in between them. "Thanks! My papa works as a scientist for rocks, dirt, and the earth…..he's called a ge...ol...o...gist." Heather answered proudly as Paul and Ringo looked at each other and smiled. "Geologist? That's cool." Ringo smiled at Heather as she nodded. "Yes, he's that! He works at the zoo near Tucson. I used to see tigers, lions, and all sorts of animals there all the time! Until mommy and I moved to New York." Heather explained with enthusiasm as she stood up and Ringo nodded. "Anyways, anyways I'm just being the masterful ballerina dancer.." Heather began to ramble towards herself as she twirled around and made her way back to the playground.

"How did you do that?" Paul asked as he looked at Ringo with wonder, and Ringo laughed and shook his head. "Do what?" Ringo asked as the two watched Heather who was still spinning herself around by the monkey bars. "Talk to her like that? So, playfully and calmly...and just, y'know, parenting just seems so natural for you." Paul answered as Ringo chuckled. "I mean, I'm the father of two young boys...it just comes to you after a little while." Ringo explained with compassion as Paul nodded. "I see, well, thanks man...I don't know what I'd do in this situation without you." Paul replied much more calmly than he was before. "Umm, have you ever thought about asking Linda for help? She seems like the motherly type, caring anyways." Ringo suggested as he cleared his throat. "I can't get Linda involved in my crazy life, she deserves so much more than that, better than that in fact, besides she's traveling all around the world for her photography career....she probably doesn't have the time to raise a child, y'know.":Paul answered with a sigh.

"Well man, all I can say is, I hope it works out for you and Jane…..and of course this little girl....parenting is definitely not something that you can just be carefree about, it takes skill, patience and dedication.." Ringo soon said as he rubbed his cigarette into the grass to put it out, then stood up. "Thanks man, you'll be there for the recording sessions on Monday, right?" Paul asked as he stood up as well, and shook Ringo's hand. "You know it! See you then." Ringo agreed as he began to walk away towards his part of town. Paul then looked over at Heather who was swinging herself on the monkey bars. "Hey Princess Tiger! Let's go to the shop, and get that ice cream!" Paul said happily as he watched her let go of the bars and land on her feet.