Roxan ~ In My Life with the Beatles

38

North America

Much to Georges dismay we left England yet again on Friday the 13th August on a Boeing 707. 120 Beatle fans somehow got on the passenger list and were at the back of the plane, we placated them with signed albums and photographs throughout the trip, hard to believe but they behaved!

"If anything 'appens I'm going to be holding you personally responsible, Miss Nicholls" George refuses to call me Mrs Lennon as he says its sounds 'right silly and stupid'

"Why me Georgie?! I wasn't involved with organising anything"

"See there you 'ave it in one. Said yourself YOU didn't organise!" George deadpanned at me and Brian quickly turning in his seat and swat him with the Times newspaper.

Paul wrote, John slept, George and I chattered away and later, when everyone was really, really bored and awake... Richie of all people, the bugger, started a food fight! I ducked low laying on Johns lap, much to my husbands amusement, they were slinging food at one another across the aisles.. Brian quickly intervened and halted the game. John then decided it great fun to keep me in a lowered position... held my head on his 'ah hem', for well over ten minutes! Causing as much laughter as the food fight. I returned to the upright position ten minutes later  bright red and John cackling like the cad he was. He also had to cover his lap with the newspaper, things were looking up.

Richard's own fashion flair followed him on board, his suit- powder blue and teamed with a beautiful shirt a tad deeper in colour like an ocean blue, except for the collar, which, when I got closer for a squiz included white and possibly other subtle hues. George is in a black suit though laid back casual in a blue dress shirt with the top buttons undone, John wore his light gray suit and the brown shirt I got him last Christmas and our Paulie, a white shirt and snazzy pin-striped suit, ever the fashionista.

Two hundred and fifty reporters asked the same boring questions before they could rest. I showered and changed while they stumbled through many interviews, repeating answers, over and over again. Same questions, same critics and the same microphones stuck in their weary faces.

I stood in the dugout alone, it was almost time for the lads to go on stage.

Coming toward me finally were my family, four men wearing matching tan suits with epaulets and what Richie called mandarin collars. I have no idea what he was on about but they looked striking and handsome.

"Kiss for luck, Luv" John ran over, his Rickenbacker guitar swung out of the way, for a quick peck, then it was on, three more boys requesting kisses fir luck as they got ready to walk on the field. John turned, giving me the thumbs up, the crowd of some fifty five thousand sounding like a jetliner- piercing and unstoppable. His face then went sour and I didn't know why til seconds later a hand snaked around my waist and a chin then sat on my shoulder.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had joined me.

Ed Sullivan, the tv guy, introduced the band and if there had of been a roof, it would have been blown off with the  onset of higher pitched screams. 

Keith, Mick and I felt it, like we were thrown forcefully about. Actually reeling us backwards with the soundwave of screams. I couldn't help it, I had to say what I had in my head.

"Well lads look's to me like the Beatles just rolled the Stones" I smiled sweetly looking at Micks face, as he stood pouting with a hint of a snarl attached, then he lightened up, ready with a comeback.

"But love.. we have freedom. This afternoon, while you were holed up in the Warwick hotel, your lads stuck in a room of two hundred and fifty or more media dogs.... we were lazing in the sun aboard a yacht on the East River"

"Yes, well that's why you're standing here and not up there, isn't it Mick" I deadpanned, using a classic George technique, Keith slung an arm over my shoulder.

"I like her, she's ok" Keith rattled off, taking a long drag of his ciggie, blowing smoke all over.

"My card then sir, maybe we can do business sometime" I tapped my  business card on Micks arm which he curiously ran an eye over as he took it from my fingers. Little did I know at the time, that they, the Rolling Stones, would be one of the biggest acts I would represent in the future.

"Only if you're in the room, Mrs Lennon... Only if you're in the room" Mick sniggered and I popped a goofy smack to the back of his head.

"Professional mate, or I'll get my boys onto you"

Mick and Keith left before the boys exited the stadium unfortunately their own mania of media rounds called.