Kids

Sold Out

April 5th 1958 - the same week

"Where's Mollie tonight then, George? I thought you'd 'ave brought 'er." Paul asked, holding the curve on the body of his guitar up to his ear and strumming the fourth string.

"She at home." George twisted the tuning pegs on his own guitar, not removing his eyes that were looking down at the neck of his instrument.

"You had a little spat with her or sommet?" John chuckled, turning the knob on the microphone stand to move the mic to his mouth height.

"No, nothin' like that. Her dad's just a bit...controlling." He didn't know how else to put it without saying he was an unpredictable, abusive, hot tempered monster, as Mollie didn't want everyone to know that she was in fact abused.

"Might just be because you're a boy or sommet, doesn't want you to gettin' down and funky on his turf. You in the dog 'ouse for a few nights?" He chuckled, turning the knob to tighten the adjusted mic stand.

Paul looked over to the thoughtful expression George had on his features, soon realising that he wasn't finding John's jokes very funny, and he instead appeared to be quite worried and bothered by Mollie's father. Paul's face dropped, glancing back over to John who continued to poke fun at the boy.

"-John. Pack it in, mate, it might be something serious." Paul warned him, John also quietening down once he looked over at George.

John went back to focusing on the positing of the microphone stands, George glancing at Paul, who gave him a wink. George smiled and mouthed a "thanks" to him.

"Wotcher, boys." Pete entered the building, spinning his drum sticks in either hand.

"Ey ar, finally decided to turn up did ya, P?" John started on him immediately, sounding like he was joking but with a slight undertone of irritation.

"Come off it, Johnny. I'm 'ere, aren't I?" He replied, holding his arms out in an expressive manner.

"Unfortunately." John mumbled childishly, Pete simply rolling his eyes and sitting himself behind his drum set.

"Come along, children! Let's get some practicing done." Paul calmed down the situation, the band stepping into their respective positions.

They only had a few minutes to practice before people started to enter the room. The club filled up gradually, almost like they could absorb one person at a time to calm down their nerves, instead of taking on countless amounts of people all at once.

"Evenin' ladies and gents, we are Johnny and the Moondogs and we're going to start off by playing, erh-" some members of the crowd were shoved past, seemingly by an invisible object that made a bee line for the stage.

Mollie stumbled to the front, smiling widely up at George and giving them all a small wave. Paul and John smiled over to George who gave her a wink and a grin back.

"-That'll Be the Day by Buddy Holly!" John finished, the boys counting in a doing their own rendition of the song.

The performance went on for 20 minutes, and George would look over at Mollie every now and then to check she was still enjoying the show, her constant smile and the small shaking of her shoulders giving off the vibe that she was in fact having a good time.

During the last five minutes of the show, a young blonde woman tapped Mollie on the shoulder, which drew her attention immediately.

"Hi, are you Mollie?" She asked with a polite grin, Mollie turning to face her.

"Yes, and you are-"

"-Cynthia. Or Cyn," she added. The name still meant nothing to Mollie, but she pretended as f she knew who the stranger was.

"Oh, hi!" She returned the gesture with enthusiasm, Cynthia chuckling.

"I know you haven't met me before but I'm wi-here to watch John. Well, all of the band but- well not for John, but he invited me-" Cynthia stumbled on her own words, Mollie furrowing her brows and trying to nod understandingly.

"-I was a bit apprehensive but he told me that one of the other band mate's girlfriend was coming and that I could hang about with you." Cynthia finally said the words she was planning to.

"Oh, I'm not with George, just good friends. But course, you can stand with me." Mollie offered, Cynthia taking her hand.

They danced and laughed with one another, and they were so caught up in having a good time that they didn't realise they were pushed back over to the bar, and they ended up sitting on two of the mucky bar stools.

"Thank you very much, ladies and gents, we'll see you again soon."

The boys came off the stage once they had soaked in the applauds and whistles they received, heading straight to Mollie and Cynthia.

Mollie was embraced in a tight hug straight away by George, before he pulled away and held her shoulders arms length away from his body.

"Mol! How did you get out?" He asked with a toothy smirk almost and raised brows.

"I have my ways, Georgie."  She shrugged nonchalantly, before giggling.

"You lot are great up there! And look how many people are here to watch you." Mollie praised them, looking between the three boys. She turned to Paul.

"And your singing! I had no idea you sang!" She poked Paul in the chest, who curtsied over exaggeratedly.

"Why thank you. But seriously love, thank you for turning up. Our Georgie might not have had the confidence to even join the band if you hadn't have been there." Paul patted her knee and spoke sincerely.

John was too busy kissing the Cynthia girl to have any input in any conversation.

"Let's get you home before your dad finds out." George whispered in her ear, Mollie nodding as the smile dropped from her visage.

They said their goodbyes to one another and packed their instruments, George and Mollie chatting as they walked briskly through the streets of Liverpool towards their houses.

"Goodnight, Mol." He pecked her forehead tenderly.

"Night. Get your beauty sleep, Georgie, you definitely need it!" She said as she ran home, George shaking his head and grinning.

"Thanks for that, Mol." He said sarcastically, just loud enough so that she could hear him.

She laughed to herself as she climbed up the pipe on the side of her house, hearing the Harrison's front door swing shut.