Blackbird // Mclennon

Strawberry Fields Forever

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     " Living is easy with eyes closed; misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone,
but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me. "

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     "Christ, Paulie, that's quite the shiner." Was the first thing that George said to me at school the next day.

     I moved my hair infront of my bruised eye in embarrassment, "Thanks."

     "This isn't okay, ye know? He's got no right to hurt ye like this..." George said in an apologetic tone. "I can't help but think abou' how this is all my fault!"

    "Geo, it's not yer fault, my Da' ...He'd probably lash out at me for somethin' small, anyway. It's really nothing. So, don't go and blame yerself, now!" I tried my best to lighten the mood.

    "That's even worse! Ye know, someone should finally confront him abou' this..." George began to glare and rolled up his sleeves.

    "No, I reckon that'd make things much, much worse." I was now shaking like a leaf. "I'll be okay once I move out. Or something. Everything will be okay, eventually. ...I think."

     The bell rang shortly after I said that and I turned in my seat to face the front of the class. I couldn't help but notice that Lennon was staring at me with a concerned expression across his face, as if he had heard what George and I were talking about. Fucking fantastic.

   After staring at eachother for a bit, my eyes darted back to looking down at my desk. I just wanted to drop dead right then and there out of sheer embarrassment. I took in a deep breath and collected all of my work for the class into one neat stack.
I just can't wait for this day to end.

Soon enough, lunch was rolling around, but I couldn't eat a single bite.

    "Paulie, what's wrong? Ye haven't touched yer food!" George asked me in a worried tone. "I mean, if yer not gonna eat it, I will! No sense in letting things go to waste."

     "I've... I've got a lot on me mind." I groaned. "I'm sorry."

     "Oh? Like what?" He asked me, attempting to make eye contact, but I kept looking away.

     "S'not important." I said, stirring around my food with my fork. "Look, if I sat here and talked to ye like ye were my shrink, it'd be so boring."

     "Yer my friend! That's what I'm here for!" He exclaimed. "How abou' this... come over to my house after school! Yer Da' doesn't come home 'till late on Tuesdays, yeah?"

     "Yeah. But I don't wanna risk breaking his rules again, mate." I lied to my friend. Honestly, I just didn't want to spend time with anyone today. My plans were already settled for this afternoon.

    After school, I plan to go down to Strawberry Fields and to just write and write and write to my heart's content until I feel even just a little bit better. It always helps.

     "Ye've got a bit of a point there, I guess." He said, taking another bite of his sandwich. "Well, if ye change yer mind, ye know how to reach me." George got up and threw his empty tray away.

      "Only if ye pick up the phone this time, right?" I joked.

     Just as George left, Lennon was stood right behind him.

A bloody stalker, that Lennon-boy is.

We both made brief eye contact with one another before he chuckled a bit to himself, pushing his tongue against his cheek, and walked off to throw his tray away. Why the Hell is everyone in my business, today?

     Maybe it's because of the giant black eye I've got? Neh, couldn't possibly be that.

     I threw away my own food into the bin and walked to my next class, reluctantly. All day I've been getting nothing but wandering eyes peering over at me, full of pity. Either that or people would just flat out laugh at me and my shiner. Though, nothing will beat that look Lennon shot me this morning in class, earlier... He looked so afraid, hearing me talk about my troubles with George. So frightened... Which is quite odd for a real teddy boy like him.

     I finished my last class of the day, then was at last granted the wish to go home.

    Once I stepped inside my house, I quickly tossed my rucksack across the floor into the living room, I then ran upstairs and grabbed my writing journal and a pencil.

     "Paul? Where are you going in such a hurry for?" A faint, little voice called out.

     "Mikey! Oh, I'm jus going down to Strawberry Fields to write a bit." I bent down to his level. "Will ye be okay, home alone for a few hours?"

     "Yes! But what abou' Da'?" He asked me with a scared look painted across his face. "He'll hurt us again."

      Mikey sees our father like the big bad wolf, I swear. "Don't ye worry yerself! I'll be back way before he gets home, alright?" I reassured him and he smiled back. I gave him a big hug before I left.

     I rushed out of the door and began my walk towards the fields. It wasn't too far, only about a few blocks away. It's right in the middle of the city, but still very scenic. Today might've been Hellish, but perhaps if I can write a good song or two, it'll change moods completely.

     The fields were vast colors of red, yellow, blue, lilac, and green. I ran down to that same, familiar tree that I always sit by and quickly opened up my journal. Scanning through some pages I wrote a few days ago for inspiration, I hummed a couple of tunes that'd possibly go well with them.

     Soon enough, I began to listen far too deeply to the birds chirping, bees buzzing, and most importantly... the silence behind it all. The sun beat down on my head and I felt all too relaxed.

     I dozed off into a deep sleep.

     "You're bloody worthless, son! You left a child home alone for hours! Where the Hell were you?!" My father screamed at me. "And for your own sake, you better tell me the full truth!"

     "I- I was in the Fields!" I cried out. "I didn't think I'd be gone so long-"

      "Sure, you were! Now, tell me what actually happened..." He raised his fist at me. "This is your last chance, James."

     "No! I swear it! Ask Mike!" I begged and pleaded with him. "Please, jus leave me alone! I can't bare seein' ye act like this anymore! Ever since Mary died, ye've been such a-"

     "Oh, no. I won't be silenced by some Motherless child. But... I will give you another black eye to match!" He said, throwing his fists violently towards my face.

     Suddenly, I woke up covered in sweat.
A hand was reaching out to grab me.
Tenderly.

     "Ye alright there, mate?" Lennon was standing over me, holding an umbrella.

     It was pouring terribly outside when I awoke, and I was soaked head to toe.