Hello

Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)

Our first Christmas with Henry was as traditional as we could get. A giant Christmas feast with our families together, complete with crackers and terrible jokes. The first confetti bomb left my son screaming, which made Roger laugh until he hurt and me cry with him.

"It's okay, baby." I called, scooping him from Maverick Florence's arms. He snuggled himself into my shirt as we retreated to the bedroom away from the sound. I laid down on the bed and let him crawl from my feet onto my chest. I stroked the little bit of hair on his head as he played with my mass of red curls. Like his father, music could switch his mood in an instant.

"At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over and life is like a song, oh yeah
At last the skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up clover the night I looked at you" I sang quietly, feeling him relax. I heard Roger creep in and I immediately stopped.

"No. Keep singing." He whispered, closing the door behind himself.

"No. Not in front of you, Mr Drummer and Vocalist of In Queen."

Henry started crying again, clawing at my hair.

"Fine. I found a dream that I can speak to
A dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill I've never known, oh yeah
You smiled, you smiled oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven
For you are mine at last"

I looked down at Henry and he was fast asleep. Roger stood at the foot of the bed, smiling at me.

"I love you, Lucy Taylor." He grinned, sitting down.
"Stop getting mushy over me and go entertain our guests."

By 8pm, everyone was fed and borderline comatose thanks to Carbohydrates and alcohol. I sat on the couch next to Brian as we watched Henry dance to Down On The Corner by CCR, accompanied by Vivienne. Roger, Freddie, John, and Chrissie were playing scrabble at the dining table and everyone else had gone home.

"Hey Luce, come here for a minute babe. You're better at English than me." Roger called. I slid off the couch with a dramatic sigh, army crawling my way behind the couch and to the table. I got up onto my knees and looked at the letters on his stand.
L E H R C T D I

I whispered into his ear and he smirked up at Freddie like he had just discovered a fault in his war plan. Roger grabbed his letters and laid them out on the board.

E L D R I T C H

"What the fuck kind of word is that?" Freddie demanded, crossing his arms.

"It means sinister or ghostly." I replied, kissing Roger and crawling away.

"You cheated, Taylor. You phoned a friend." He laughed in retort, staring at me as I tumbled over the back of my couch to lay half on Brian.

"At least he slash we used actual words! You used en! What the hell is en?!"

"It's a printer's measure, Lucy!"

I gave up and continued to watch my son. His 'dancing' reminded me of his father's: uncoordinated and hilarious. Henry looked over at me with a grinning face, like he was on top of the world.

"Is that fun, Guaccy?" I asked. He laughed and plopped himself down, crawling towards me.

"Ma!" He demanded in reply. I took my cue and the needle off Willy and the Poor Boys. I carefully put the vinyl back in its case and stared at my collection.

Sgt. Peppers, Please Please Me, A Night At The Opera, Rumours, Aladdin Sane, Band On The Run, Goodnight Vienna. They all looked appetising, but I was on the hunt for one in particular.

Led Zeppelin IV

I picked this record for two reasons:

1. Rock And Roll is a great song to dance for
2. It would give Roger an awkward boner

Hint: it worked on both counts.

__________\\__________

I woke up the next morning and stumbled to the kitchen. Brian was sitting, staring at his breakfast with a very hungover look. Chrissie was slumped next to him, regret plastered thickly over her face, her hair in a thick bun. Roger had the same hungover pale skin, but was much more awake, feeding Henry puréed pumpkin.

"You guys look great." I laughed, folding my arms and leaning against the fridge. Brian shot me a look of agony and I instantly knew exactly what he needed.

"Painkillers are in the green container in the pantry."

"I told him that. He didn't trust me. Said it's probably also the kink box."

"Well I don't blame him after what I found in your medical box in your old house. So much lube for a man with such an average to below average size penis." I commented.

"But I bet you could ride it into the sunset like a horse!" Vivienne yelled from the front door.

"Oh girl you know I do!" I yelled back as all 3 people in the kitchen coved their ears. I reached up and lugged down the medicine container, lifting the lid and instantly pulling out my hangover kit. I filled 3 glasses with water and ice, tipping a berocca tablet in each. I watched the clear liquid turn to a bubbling red as I placed them on the table. I turned to walk away and got interrupted.

"Oi! Come here. I haven't kissed you good morning yet." Roger announced.

"Good morning." I whispered, kissing him lightly. I sat across his legs and kissed him again before he rested his head on my chest. Vivienne walked into the kitchen and went straight to the cupboard, pulling out a pack of English muffins.

"How hungover is everyone?" She asked, cutting herself out some breakfast. Everyone replied in a unified moan except myself and Henry, who had remained sober and content throughout Christmas night.

"They're doing great. How was work?"

"Ugh. So many injuries. What did Santa under the tree for my baby?"

"Your baby got a beautiful family, wonderful new set of drumsticks and a new Fender." Roger replied. Vivienne laughed over-dramatically, pushing the toaster down.

"I meant Henry, you aren't that special."

This was my family until well into the 90s: a husband, a son, adoptive parents, and a best friend who basically doubled as a sister. I loved everything about them. Until the Hot Space tour.