In My Life

Eight: "Everyone who is bonkers is also a genius."

John finally found a public 

telephone.

Ring...
Ring...
Ring...

C'mon Dawn, pick up.

After the final ring someone picked up.

"Hello?" 

"Dawn!" John chirped enthusiastically.

"John?"

"Aye. Listen, I can't go back to my house tonight. Can I stay with you?" John asked, putting every inch of hope he had into the question.

Dawn stopped to think. What if Uncle Jack catches us? Why can't he go home? I can't let him stay here.. Uncle Jack would kill me... But...

"Dawn?" 

"U-uh, do you have any other place to go?" Dawn asked nervously.

"N-no.. Oi Dawn, it's cold outside.." John shivered.

She sighed, "Fine, fine."

"Yes! Thank you love! How will I get in without the old man seein' me?"

Dawn rolled her eyes at the way John referred to her uncle, "He gets home at eleven o'clock sharp after he's had a drink from the pub. If you can get here before then, maybe you can hide in my closet when he comes home to check on me. He only comes to check on me once, so all we'd have to do is be quiet just that once. Even if we're a bit loud for some reason after he checks on me I doubt he'll hear us since he sleeps upstairs and I sleep downstairs."

"Right, right," chimed John. John knew Dawn's house all too well.

​​​​​​"Sound like a plan?"

"Aye. I'll be there soon. Bye."

​​​​​​"Bye."

And with that, the line went dead.

John had to hurry. He was close to Dawn's house but it was almost eleven o'clock. Dawn said it was eleven o'clock sharp, so he couldn't be a second late. He dashed down the street. Running definitely warmed up John's body. Liverpool was a cold place, therefore it already begun to get chilly outside, especially at night time during late September. 

With a red nose and rosy cheeks, John finally reached Dawn's house with three minutes to spare. He walked over to the door and knocked. He rubbed his hands together and breathed on them in an effort to warm them up.

Dawn opened the door and smiled up at him.

"Hello love," John smiled down at her.

​​"C'mon," she pulled him inside.

"So why can't you go back home?" Dawn asked. She was a bit concerned about this.

"It's Mimi. She's gone mad Dawn, I'm telling you," chuckled John.

Dawn laughed, "I hate to break it to you John, but Mimi seems to be the most sane person I know."

"What? But aren't I?" John asked jokingly.

"You're the most insane!" Dawn laughed, "But I'll let you in on a little secret," she leaned in close to John's face, "Everyone who is bonkers is also a genius."

John smiled a warm smile. The smile that Dawn and Dawn only, could bring out. John didn't even smile at Barbara that way.

Suddenly, a noise came from outside Dawn's room.

Dawn gasped, "Hide," she pointed to her closet.

John did as told, for once in his life, and made a beeline for Dawn's closet. Once inside, he crouched down and remained silent.

Dawn picked up a book that rested on a stand beside her bed and pretended to read.

Uncle Jack finally opened the door.

Dawn looked up at him.

"Goin' to sleep soon then?" he asked.

"Aye. I jus' wanted to finish this chapter 'tis all," replied Dawn.

​​​​​​"Olright," Jack picked up on an unfamiliar sent... "Is that cigarettes I smell?" he sniffed once more.

Dawn shrugged, "It's probably you," she answered smoothly, smirking.

"Very funny."

He finally shut the door.

John peeked out of the closet but Dawn held up her finger, signaling John to stay and wait. Once she was sure Jack was upstairs, she motioned her hand towards herself, now signaling John to come out.

John stood up and stepped out of the closet, "Well that was smooth. Did ye pull that explanation out of yer arse or somethin'?"

Dawn chuckled, "Pretty much."

They giggled.

"So what were you and Mimi arguing about?"

John shrugged, "Me schoolwork, my 'repulsive actions'," John put in quotation marks, "How I'm the biggest embarrassment on earth, the usual rubbish," he stated.

Dawn chuckled, "I see. Will Barbara be okay with you staying over here?"

"She doesn't 'ave to know about it love," John smiled.

A small smile creased Dawn's lips, "Okay."

The expression on John's face became serious. 

Dawn didn't know how to respond to this, but she unconsciously began to blush.

There was a long pause.

Finally, John spoke up, "She doesn't have to know about this either.." 

He leaned in close to Dawn and kissed her.

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.