If I Fell

~19~

Someone yelled 'Abbs run' so I did, I was flying though the foyer, out through the kitchen, dashing past the poor girl sitting at the small breakfast table, knocking open the back door with my butt as I turned to see if he was catching up!

No I was still slightly ahead, ducking out onto the dimly lit patio I scooted around the outdoor setting knocking over a chair in the process, then jumped down four steps at once into the garden I then hopped over the flower bed that was new so Paul would probably fall in all my hard work, round the clothes line, through the garden gate into the vege patch and finally around the back of the tree in the centre.

Breathing, gasping hard, holding my chest I smiled leaning my back against the oak tree, listening to Paul swearing and laughing equally. I had to cover my mouth as a giggle threatened to bubble forth. 

John and Ringo calling out encouragement to me and George, by the sounds of it, was trying to be Paul's champion, giving him his own encouragement. I heard John tell him off and by the grunt from Georges lips I think he got whacked one.

"Where'd she go. When I catch her, I'll give her a right brotherly pummelling, you know I could just catch and kiss instead....!"

A hand made a grab for mine, I screamed and ran around the tree as he lunged and jumped at me, we went to and fro never getting closer.

"No law to say I can't kiss you, not like we're legal like"

"Your father" I panted "I will tell him you're picking on me" I grinned into the darkness and Paul lunged again missing my arm but managed to grab my shirt.

The other lads now stood not ten feet from us now, entertained and revving us up.

I, on the other hand, was caught but I continued to run away, not getting anywhere, we were like a Three Stooges scene. Paul holding my shirt, me trying to keep going, running on the spot I leaned and leaned to get away to no avail.

Something had to give, I was pulling so hard and Paul was leaning back it was either him or me... The shirt ripped and I landed flat on my face.

"Oooohhh" John heckled "You're in trouble now. Paul's gonna get it right good from da now, hurting the poor innocent daughter. Not the fav son now, lad!"

Paul had looked at me fall on the ground and grabbed me rolling me over and started to tickle me before I could cry from embarrassment, I unfortunately am very ticklish. Laughter escaped and I rolled around on the ground in god knows what, probably mud, but I didn't care I needed to escape.

"John, Richie help" I called and held a hand out. Richie nearly grabbed me but George bat his hand away causing Ringo to rub it vigorously.

"What was that for Geo?!"

"Look mate, when you're a sibling this is a rite of passage, nobody to help you, just you verse the brother, or sister as the case may be" George cast an eye over us, his narration sounding like a David Attenborough documentary.

"George" I wailed and laughed "no Paul, please no more" I gasped the words out. George shaking his head gravely at me, no help there. I grabbed around me and found a spade and lifted it which made George take it away "I. wasn't. going. to actually hit him. Paul no more I can't breathe.... Give Me the Spade George!!"

I grasped my fingers around my body again, I was lying in mud so before I knew it I picked great sodden clods of it, both hands coated and disgusting, slimy and ugh. I rubbed it all over Pauls face and he stopped, full weight on top of me then, decided I did need kissing.

"Awww my sister give us a kiss. Sweetie, come on don't be shy, you weren't before"

"Hey order, Brother -sister . Order now!!" John tossed at us.

I kept rubbing my hands in his face and he kept trying to kiss til we were exhausted from squirming and laughter, the back porch light flicked on.

"Oops caught" Ringo laughed and sauntered off, offering a fag to the other two boys. Paul and I just stared at each other and broke out in laughter again as we could now see the damage inflicted on each other.

"What on earth is....Abigail is that you. Paul?" Jim stood hands on hips as we wandered slowly back toward Jim,  closer to our trial. "Are you covered in mud or is that... the manure pile contents?"

Paul and I sniffed the air and each other gingerly, Jim laughed heartily, we sniffed again, no just mud! "Showers now, separately of course!" Jim laughed before retreating inside the house.

"Of course, father" Paul wandered up to the back door "Looks like I'm first, you'll have to cool your heels Miss Piggy!!" He was laughing as I sat on the bench seat in the corner, leaning over I picked up a previously discarded item from the floor.

"Oh Paul"

"Yes, dear sister"

"You might be needing this in the bath" I tossed the Playboy magazine at him then ran and hid behind John, Ringo and George, not that they would hold and protect me or anything, mud covered girls were to be scoffed and heckled not saved from instant brothers. 

Paul huffed and went for a bath.

"Well done...... though, are you sure that isn't.. manure......" They all sniffed the air around my body like a pack of dogs on the scent of a rotting bone before smiling at my blackened mud caked skin.