The Life We Once Knew

One Failure, One Success

Exactly as I had predicted, Magical Mystery Tour was a complete flop. They aired it in black and white, which didn't help. Ringo called the BBC and made them air it in color, but that didn't change things. Audience and critics alike blasted the film, tearing it apart and leaving it to burn to ashes. Within a week of filming it, the lads were already trying to pretend it didn't exist.

It started with the blame game. John, George, and Ringo all turned on Paul and said it was his fault which, in reality, it was. Magical Mystery Tour was Paul's brainchild, but he won't own up to it. He says he doesn't remember whose idea it was, but he does, he's just lying.

I had to resist the urge to say I told them so. It would only insult to injury. As much as I wanted to, I didn't. They were already in a deep enough hole, I didn't need to keep it deeper.

With every failure comes a success. The next success came for Storms Over London. Our new album had just been released that day with two singles released a week before. None of us had been paying attention to the charts. I didn't feel the need to. I went through a career watching the charts, hoping to see myself on it, and actually seeing my name on it. Now, I just focused on the music. All I cared about was making music, not what spot on the chart we occupied for how long. None of us paid attention to the charts, except for our dutiful manager.

"What would you do if I said today," Minerva sang, "That I wouldn't want life any other way."

She, Linda, and I had worked on that song for three days. Minerva started it about her late sister, but couldn't figure out the third verse. Linda and I helped her and it found a spot on the first side of the first Storms Over London album.

Our album had only been out a week, but it sold as many copies as the last Revolution album. I don't think it has anything to do with the music, rather, two of the people on the cover. Nobody knew Minerva or Tabitha, but they knew Linda and me. We may have cut our ties to Revolution, but our faces still drew a crowd. Our names were defined by our past, and that is something we could never drop.

We all stood and bowed. The entire Sycamore Club clapped, some even whistled and cheered. This crowd knew how to keep their heads, but their enthusiasm was just like the old crowds at The Cavern. Had it not been for the open space and fancy decorations, I might have thought we were back in familiar quarters.

When we were backstage I held up my hands and winced, "I've got blisters on me fingers."

"You wouldn't if you wore the gauze like Ellen said," Linda replied.

I shrugged, "Takes away from the look, you know?"

"What look?" Linda smirked, "I still see the same old Amelia."

"And the same old Amelia doesn't wear gauze."

Linda shook her head, "That's why you always have blisters."

"And I'll wear them proudly, just out of spite."

Linda laughed. We stepped into our dressing room to see Ellen waiting. She stood by the mirror, her face brighter than I had ever seen it before. Clutched in her hand was a rolled up newspaper.

"What's gotten into you?" I asked.

"I am so proud of you girls," Ellen answered, "You are so amazing."

"Thank you, Ellen," Tabitha flipped her hair.

Linda bowed her head, "I think we're pretty great."

"What's with the sudden compliments?" I inquired.

Ellen handed me the paper, "Storms Over London has reached number one."

"We what?!"

I unfolded the paper. That week's billboard was listed, ranking the most popular songs of that period of time. At the very top was Storms Over London with-