In My Life

Part Two: "After all of these years?"

John and Dawn ran down

 the staircase.

They approached Dawn's uncle and John stuck out this hand, "I'm John!"

Jack smiled down at the boy, "Hello John," he shook his hand.

​​​​​"You have big hands," John stated, looking at Jack's hand closely.

"You'll get there laddie," Jack laughed.

Seven years later 

Dawn was sixteen years

old. John was sixteen and about to turn seventeen. It was September of 1957. Some things were different, some things were the same. Some things will never change.

"John!" Dawn screeched as John pushed her a bit too high on the swing. 

The same swing.

"Don't ye think yer a bit too old to be afraid of heights, love?" John chuckled.

"N-no!"

"After all of these years?" he asked, still pushing her higher.

Dawn smiled, "After all of these years."

The same playground.

John lit a cigarette.

"You know that's a nasty habit.." Dawn said.

"You've been saying that ever since I started."

​​​​​​"Maybe that's because I want you to stop, Winston," she playfully smacked his arm.

"Well you're just goin' 'ta have 'ta get used to dissapointment, Baby," he smacked her arm back.

Baby. The nickname she had been called for quite a while.

​​​​​​"I'm home!" Dawn yelled.

"Where have you been?" Jack asked, lowering the newspaper from his face.

"With John." Dawn answered.

Jack grimaced, "You know I don't approve of that, Dawn. I told you to stay away from that boy."

"Oh so you're now my da'? Last time I checked, my father's been dead for twelve years," Dawn hissed, "And John's been my best mate for a long time. You didn't hate him when he was nine."

"He wasn't a delinquent when he was nine," Jack spat.

"And what makes him a delinquent?!"

"Smoking, drinking, shoplifting. Not to mention he's also a ted."

"Well to me he's still the same old John, and you can't stop me from spending time with him. He's my best mate!"

"I don't care. You'll stay away from that boy from now on. Disobey me and expect consequences!"

"You can't just keep me away from him," she began to choke up.

"It's for your own good Dawn."

Dawn felt heat behind her eyes. Tears streaming down her face, she ran into her room. She slammed the door shut.

John fiddled with his harmonica, thinking about everything.

He was always thinking.

He thought about the band, his  girlfriend Barbara, Mimi, his mother, his father although he hadn't seen him in years.. He also stopped to think about Dawn. She was a great friend. He smiled.

Back to the band again. My band is shit... Paul and I are the only talented ones. We need a plan if we're going to be any good at all. But I haven't got a clue what I should do to improve us as a group.

John got frustrated and threw his cigarette down and dug his heel into it.

The warm breath that he exhaled out into the cold Liverpool night was easily visible. He had gotten into a heated argument with Mimi earlier that night and decided to leave. He didn't want to snap and hurt her.

He didn't want to go back either. Maybe Dawn will let me stay with her tonight. 

It was a slim chance, but possible. They didn't have school tomorrow and if he could get to a phone he could pray that she'd answer the phone then they'd come up with a plan to get him in her house without Jack noticing. John was well aware of how Dawn's uncle felt about him. John didn't blame him either. After all, every other parent also told their kids to stay away from John.

John was really just jealous. He didn't have his parents. They didn't want him. Or that's what he thought. 

I'm a bad luck charm for all of the males in my family, John thought. First his father left him. Then his uncle George died when John was fourteen.

He chuckled to himself. No one wants me.

All these places have their moments, with lovers and friends I still can recall.
Some are dead and some are living.
In my life, I've loved them all.