Parenting Paul

Chapter 23: Lonely Heart Club

In silence, Paul and Heather walked down the streets of London, while Heather looked up at him with concern. "Are you mad at me?" Heather asked softly as Paul continued walking, not acknowledging that she said anything while she looked down and watched her feet tapping on the sidewalk. "Can I help you feel better?" Heather asked slightly louder as Paul glared at her and he pressed the button for the crossing. Heather listened to the soft autumn wind blowing through her hair as she thought and Paul tightened his grip on her hand. "There's gotta be something I can do..." Heather added as she looked at him again, and he shook his head as they began to cross. "Where are we going? This isn't the way to your place...." Heather soon pointed out as Paul led her down unfamiliar roads. The two eventually reached their destination, which was the pub near St. John's Wood.

"Hey wait! That's an adult bar! We'll smell like smoking and drinking!" Heather disapproved as Paul pulled her inside ignoring her again. As they entered, Heather uncomfortably followed him to the stools, and watched all the people around her drinking and smoking, watching the television, as well as some were playing billiards or poker. "Yes, I'd like some of your finest whisky, and some popcorn for the kid." Paul ordered as he placed his money on the counter, helped Heather onto the stool and she turned away to watch the other bar tenants who were busy with their activities. "I'm gonna go play that game with the rainbow balls....." Heather soon said as she hopped off the stool and walked to the billiards table. "Afternoon Macca! Is that the child who has been around you, that the newspapers are talking about?" the bartender asked as he poured Paul's drink. "What business is it of yours?" Paul snarled as he watched the liquor pour into his glass. "Geez, just a question......" the bartender asked as he slid the glass closer to Paul.

At the same time, Heather watched three men playing billiards and observed the long poles hitting the balls, and listened to the clacking of the balls colliding with each other and falling into the holes. "Can I play with you guys?!" Heather soon asked as she used her arms to lift herself over the table so her legs were dangling from the side . The men soon looked at her with intimidating glares, as she landed back onto the floor. "A simple no would have been fine...." She whispered as she headed to the table with the poker players. Back with Paul, he was slowly sipping his drink and looking away from the bartender, "Sheesh Paulie, I've never seen you this depressed, what's got you so low?" The bartender asked with concern as he refilled Paul's glass although only one or two sips had been taken. "It's ... its....its...umm...official...." Paul began as he took a sip. "It? What's it?" The bartender asked with puzzlement. "Everything.....all, anything......" Paul answered glumly as the bartender shook his head in cluelessness. "The Beatles.....Jane......EVERY BLOODY DAMN THING!" Paul soon barked as the bartender nodded, trying to ignore the angry bombardment to his ears, as he refilled Paul's glass again.

"Sorry to hear that lad, is there anything I can do about it? Make you feel better? Even slightly?" The bartender offered as Paul looked at him and sluggishly grabbed pieces of Heather's popcorn. "No, just being here.....helps enough, I need to numb the pain......" Paul whispered as he chewed the crunchy popcorn. Meanwhile, Heather was now standing watching the poker players, her eyes glued onto the game. "Straight in diamonds, gentlemen!" The only woman soon boasted as she showed her cards and the men groaned with frustration as they pushed their chips to her, which made Heather's eyes light up. "Cool! Why did they do that? Can I play?!" Heather asked as the woman scooted over. "Sure kid, we're playing Texas Hold 'Em....." the woman said sweetly. "Woah, hold on, Shannon......we can't just let this youngster play with us...." The man across from the woman argued. "Oh come on, please!!" Heather soon begged as she jumped up and down. "Where's your parents, kid?" The man asked with cockiness as Heather's eyes slumped down in embarrassment and uncertainty.

"Well?" The man asked with annoyance as Heather looked over at the bar, where Paul was sitting with his head down on the table. "Him over there?" Shannon asked as Heather shook her head, "No.." Heather answered as she looked back at the group at the poker table. "Shit.....alright jump in.....whatever, you'll be on Shannon's team, usually there aren't teams, but we'll make it work." The man soon cooperated as Heather slid into the booth next to Shannon. "See, it's not hard to be friendly with people..." Shannon scolded as the man rolled his eyes. "Shut your trap, let me deal..." the man scoffed as he licked his fingers and began to shuffle the cards. "Psst, I'm Shannon, that's Benjamin...he's not very talkative, but he's an amazing guy, once he opens up." Shannon whispered to Heather as she leaned closer to her, and pointed to the other man who was silently sitting on the other side of the man who was dealing. "And that's my husband Philip, he's the best poker player in all of London..." Shannon then introduced Heather to the man who was dealing the cards

He's your husband?!" Heather soon blurted out as Philip glared at her, and rolled his eyes making Shannon laugh. "Yes, and don't take what he does personally, he's just very prideful...." Shannon defended as Heather nodded in understanding. "Alright, let's play!" Philip soon barked as he held up his hand of cards. "Psst.....I'm Heather, by the way." Heather soon whispered as Shannon nodded and held up her cards for Heather to look at. Back at the bar, Paul slammed his glass down, and he looked at the bartender. "I fucking give up!!" Paul soon yelled as he began to sob and take quite an aggressive drink of his alcoholic beverage, and the bartender leaned over and patted him on the shoulder. "There there......shh ... .it's gonna be okay.." the bartender hushed as Paul anguished himself out loud and sniffled. "Everyone leaves me! EVERYONE!" He continued carrying on, as the bartender filled his drink for what was roughly the tenth time. "My mum died when I was 14! And now....now this horseshit!!" Paul cried as he slammed the drink down his throat with a large belch. "I'm stuck with this kid! I don't know what to do with it, and I'm stuck talking to you because no one else gives a shit!!" Paul continued crying as the bartender hushed him again.

Back at the poker game, "Alright Benny, in or out?" Shannon asked as Heather watched them all slyly. "I fold...." Benjamin sighed as he put his cards on the table. "How's about you, in or out?" Shannon asked as Philip studied the two with an expression of witt. "I'm staying.....four of a kind!" Philip soon said with a grin as Heather cringed at him. "You're gonna bet on that!?!" Heather asked loudly, making Paul slightly turn over at the poker game, "Eh, what do you think? Should I join the game?" Paul asked with another belch as the bartender encouraged him and filled his glass. Meanwhile, "What makes you say that?" Philip asked as Shannon and Heather looked at each other. However, before they could answer, Paul obnoxiously slid himself next to Heather's other side. "Four of a kind not bad......you're quite good....." Paul soon interrupted with another burp making Heather look at him with disgust yet intrigue. "But.......not good enough......" Paul continued as Philip's eyes widened as Paul took Shannon's cards and showed them to Benjamin and Philip. "In her majesty's honor......a royal flush!!" Paul soon bragged with a little hiccup as he smirked at Philip who angrily watched. "I hate this kid !!" Philip soon whined as Heather laughed and leaned into Paul.

"Yeah! Princess Tiger is the bestest goddamn girl ever! She's not even in primary school yet, and she kicked your arse in poker!" Paul taunted as Heather giggled. "RAWR!!" Heather soon growled playfully, and Paul took the cards from everyone. Before they knew it Paul and Heather were incredibly invested into the game, and actually enjoying themselves and their time together for the first time since Heather had arrived.