Chapter 3

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George jumped when he suddenly appeared in a cheery living room filled with talking and laughing people. Christmas music and delicious smells wafted through the air, and George's eyes settled on a plum pudding just as his stomach growled. He looked around, wondering why he was here, and Stuart gave a half grin.

"Lively party, innit?" Stuart asked him, plucking a cranberry from a bowl and popping it into his mouth. Miraculously, another one appeared right in its place, presumably because to this time, Stuart didn't exist.

George nodded slowly about the party before he asked, "Where's this?"

"The 'better' side of Liverpool, 1975. This is the annual  teacher Christmas party. Can ya guess who's enjoying himself here tonight?" Stuart took another cranberry, remarking on how great they tasted.

"Er... Paul?" George asked, and Stuart nodded.

"Ya got that right. Have a cranberry," Stuart told George, who's eyes widened.

"He got a teaching job?" George asked hopefully, and Stuart motioned toward a corner.

"Why don't ya see for yourself?"

George headed over to find a man who was older, weathered, but definitely still had charm. He looked almost unrecognizable to George, but the man's doe eyes could belong to no other than Paul McCartney. He wore an older, brown suit that appeared just a tad to small, yet he was making cheerful conversation with several other's around him.

George listened in on what the people were saying, and smiled to see that Paul appeared to be just as diplomatic as he'd ever been.

"Oh I think you've outdone yourselves this year! I've never seem such a grand feast!" Paul was saying as he smiled. "Such a lot of Christmas cheer!" Paul gave his hands a clap, and the people around him nodded.

"Glad you could make it McCartney!" one of the teachers nodded at him, and Paul smiled happily back.

"Always glad to hang with you blokes... Er, with all of you!" Paul said quickly, and the teachers around him nodded.

"Well you're always welcome Paul," the oldest of the teachers said, and Paul smiled.

"Thank you Mr. Kite," Paul smiled. "Best be making my rounds and saying hi to all the rest of the folks." Paul nodded to the teachers before turning and leaving, the other teachers nodding back at him.

George smiled as Paul marched away to associate with some other teachers, and almost followed him, but something the previous teachers were saying him caught George's ear, and he paused. George turned, listening in, and what he heard made his grin fade.

"You know, I was teaching when Paul was in school. He was in my class one year. He had so much potential; it's sad to see that he's come to this. Him being a janitor, yet coming to teacher's parties and trying to fit in," Mr. Kite said, and the others nodded.

"I suppose," a younger one spoke up, "But at least it's good he's invited, right?"

Mr. Kite sighed, "Maybe, but sometimes I wish that he wouldn't come. It's pathetic, really."

"Well he's trying to become a teacher, working his way through night school." another younger one spoke up.

"English teachers are a dime a dozen. Now if he were trying to teach math, it'd be a different matter, but his skills in math are woeful at best. No, I think our Paul is just going to spend his life being a janitor, that's all," Mr. Kite declared, and then changed the subject like the last was just old news.

George stood, his mouth hanging slightly agape, and he turned to watch Paul. Paul looked just as diplomatic as before, yet George seemed to see him in a new light. He didn't look quite as grand or successful as George had imagined him a moment ago. He looked older, in fact, and George's previous smile turned into a frown.

"Things aren't always what they seem, are they George?" George heard Stuart's voice from beside him, and George stood still.

"Obviously, but where is his pride? I wouldn't let anyone walk on me like that!" George exclaimed.

"Maybe that's why you're still a bus driver, George," Stuart replied.

The party appeared to be running down now, and many people were already gone when Paul headed for the door. However, he was called back a moment later.

"Janitor... Er, McCartney!"A younger teacher called Paul over, and Paul walked over quickly.

"Oh, yes Mr. Halsey?" Paul asked in a friendly voice.

"Would you mind helping me clean up this place? It seems quite a job to do alone!" Mr. Halsey clapped Paul on the back, and Paul hesitated, but then nodded.

"Sure, I'll help ya out!" Paul smiled, and Mr, Halsey nodded happily.

"Oh good!" he declared, and the two of them began picking up trash just as the last people left. After a few minutes, Mr. Halsey paused and said, "Excuse me, I just remembered something I really must take care of." Then he stepped out of the room.

Paul continued cleaning for several minutes, and Mr. Halsey never returned. Finally, Paul sighed and picked up a phone, making a call to somewhere local. He waited a few moments, and then gave a wane smile.

"Hello, George, this is Paul." Paul said, and then his smile widened. "Yeah, I know it's late, but the party just got over you see.... Yeah that one.... Oh, fun as ever!... I volunteered to stay and do some cleaning up!.... They do not take advantage of me! You'll see someday I'm going to be a teacher in that school!.... Well, that's why you're still a bus driver, George!.... So what are you doing this fine Christmas evening?... All of them?... It must be a circus in that small boarding room of yours!... Oh, your brother's house, that makes a lot more sense.... Cool that your sister is visiting from the states! Wouldn't it have been nice if we could have gone there one time?... Yeah, yeah. How's ol' Ringo doing by the way... He still making that country music in Nashville?... Really?! He's really moving up in the world, he's actually going to get credit on the album this time?... Oh, and how's, he taking that, does he still get to see his little boy?... Never! How's he taking that?... Turning to the bottle, huh? Sounds familiar... On tour with Paul Simon? Well surely that'll lift his spirits a little?.... Oh, I see. Speaking of which, how's that ol' blighter doing?... Yeah, John.... Oh, if I had that many kids I almost might consider turning to the booze too. Not that it's looking like I'll ever get the chance to find out. Pity really, I'd always hoped to have a big family.... What about you, George? Ya think you'll ever tie the knot?......... Well at least I try, you sit around doing nothing, but drive that stupid bus around all the time!... Oh, I'm sorry George. Maybe I've had a bit to much Christmas spirit too, if you know what I mean... Er..." Paul glanced to the side to see Mr. Halsey glaring at him, "Hey, I've got to go, but I'll talk to you again some time old chap!" Paul quickly hung up the phone, and turned to Mr. Halsey. "Sorry, just had to make a quick call. Back to work, yeah?"

"Yeah." Mr. Halsey nodded, and then walked away again. Paul sighed, "Someday, I swear, someday I will be a teacher there at that school." Paul said quietly, and then scrubbed at a stain. George stared at him, obviously dismayed.

"What doesn't he just get outta that place? I wouldn't put up with that for a minute," George angrily stomped the ground.

"Good thing you're just a bus driver then, eh George?" Stuart declared.

"Why do you keep bringing that up?" George complained, "It's an honorable profession. Me father's a bus driver ya know!"

"Yes, your father who had four children to take care of, and when he dies he's surrounded by everyone who loves him, which is a great number of people," Stuart told George.

"What even happened to you Stu? It's like you're a different person altogether!" George exclaimed, "You've gotten so sentimental and honorable and all that!"

"No one could accuse you of that," Stuart replied.

"What right have you got to be criticizing my choices?" George yelled.

"Because I know what your choices mean and you don't," Stuart said seriously. "I think it's time we move on."

"Fine, let's move on then!" George rolled his eyes, and Stuart again led George to the front door. They walked through, and George found himself in a new area. He believed he recognized it as Merseyside, though he could have been wrong; he was so flustered and upset by this point.

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