She's a Woman

Chapter Six: Baby, I Don't Care

George had warned me about John being an unpredictable, trouble-making git. 

I should have listened to his warning. Maybe I wouldn't have been so surprised if I had listened. It was my understanding that WWII had been over for several years now, yet here was John dropping bloody great bombshells on the band. Not everyone was happy with the sudden change in events, but it seemed like a vast improvement at first.

George and I were sitting in his living room in front of the telly one evening. We were watching the six o'clock news, but we weren't really paying attention to the headlines. We were more focused on making fun of the news reporter's heavy Northern accent, and we imitated him until we were literally snorting with laughter. 

I quite liked George. He's was always so funny and friendly towards me, and he didn't treat me like an outsider; the other band members did, especially Paul. George and I had a lovely little friendship going on and, as long as he remained kind and loyal, then who cared about what the others thought?

"George? Michael? Is that you in the living room?"

"Yeah, we're just watching telly, Mum," George called.

"You'll never guess what, dear," said Mrs Harrison, strolling into the room. "There's someone at the door, saying he wants to see you."

"Who is it?" George asked.

"What did you say your name was again, sweetie?" Mrs Harrison said to someone out in the hallway. There was a muffled reply. Mrs Harrison nodded then turned back to us. "He says his name is John."

"John?" I said, sitting up straight. "John's here?"

"Yeah, John's here," said John as he walked through the door, all style and swagger. He nodded at George's mother and thanked her politely for letting him in.

"That's fine, dear," she replied before rushing off into the kitchen. She looked a little worried about something, but I couldn't figure out what. Maybe it was John; he always had a threatening atmosphere about him.

"Hey, guys," John said cheerily, plonking himself on the couch between us. 

"Hi, John," George grunted. The couch wasn't very large so he'd been squashed into the corner. I had too, but I wasn't going to breathe a word of complaint.

"Hi, Johnny," I said, lowering my voice a little. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, nothing really. Just the most amazing news ever."

George and I raised our eyebrows in unison.

"What sort of amazing news?" George asked suspiciously.

"I'll tell you once the other lads get here," John replied airily.

"They can't come here!" George cried. "My mum will make a huge fuss! She doesn't exactly like you guys, you know!" He glanced at me. "Well, except for Michael here."

I couldn't resist grinning. John didn't even crack a smile.

"All right, all right," he said, sounding annoyed like it was a damned inconvenience. "I'll get the other lads to meet us somewhere else. I just don't know where."

"How about the local swimming hole?" George suggested. "It's not too far away, and I'm sure we could all have a lot of jolly old fun in the water."

John chuckled and agreed to George's proposition, but I was beginning to worry. If we were going to this swimming hole then the lads would expect me to go swimming. If I didn't think up an excuse quickly, my secret would be revealed. John noticed I had suddenly  gone quiet.