The Love You Make

A Taste of Honey

July 6th, 1957
        There was never salvation from the rain and drear of Liverpool. This was a fact known well by all of its residents, especially to 15-year Paul McCartney with no plans for Saturday in the sleepy town he called home. He was relieved however, when a classmate  of his stopped him on the street.
"Oi Macca! You doing anything today?"

"Yeah Ivan, figured I'd stop by your mum's tonight"

"Very funny. Listen, me and a couple a blokes are playing at the festival by the church today. St. Peter's y'know it? You should stop by it'll give you something to do."

"You're in a band? Since when?"

"Not long ago, I'm not so much involved anyway. Anyway, c'mon down Paul it'll be fun!"

"Fine. It'll get you off my back wouldn't it?"

"It might. I'll see you there!"

Paul was an interesting fellow. He was pretty reserved but a good friend nonetheless; even if he didn't show it sometimes. He was always kind and compassionate with the right kind of person.

~

        It was a lively place, the festival. Certainly a highlight for the year in the town of Liverpool. Scents of summer and the soft heat engulfed the stands and tables set up in the area. Music drifted throughout the field luring people to the stage, including young Paul, who had promised to be there. Upon seeing his friend, Ivan gave Paul a little wave. Paul smiled back and brought his eyes to the other members of the band, none of whom he'd seen before. There was a man at the drums who seemed pretty good and stayed on beat. The fellow on guitar also played pretty well. It was the singer, though, that caught his eye. He was singing a song from the radio which Paul couldn't quite place except the man seemed to only know the chorus of the song and made up the words to the rest. Paul chuckled at the man improvising, suddenly glad that he came to the festival. At the finish of the song, the man came to the microphone.

"That was Come Go With Me, at least most of it..."

The crowd laughed.

"We just wanted to thank you all for coming and as a reminder we'll be playing in the church hall at the dance at 8 tonight if you liked us and can't wait to hear more."

With a smile, the man and his band left the stage. Ivan ran up to Paul right after, looking proud of the performance.
"Say Macca, how'd you like it?"

"It was great Ivan, really, I'm glad you made me  get out."

"That's great to hear. Do you think you'll come down to the performance tonight?

"Maybe. Say, who's your mate in the front, the singer?

"Singer...oh that's John! He's a year older than us and plays the guitar mighty well too dontcha think?"

"Yeah, he does. Y'know what, I think I will come tonight."

"Man, we've made quite an impression on you haven't we?"

"I guess you could say that"

~

With the streets a little darker and the air a little colder, the church hall was lit up with song and laughter. The music practically brought people to their feet and coerced them to dance. It was the spirit of the evening that brought Paul to the venue, where he was enjoying himself, contrary to other nights. He stood at the front of the hall, near the band and watched the people dance. He could feel the bass thump through the floor and match the rhythm of the drums which flowed with the happy melody of the guitar and lyrics. They were an excellent band to Paul, who really was very fond of music. After their set, the band came down while other musicians took their place. The first to find Paul was Ivan of course, walking toward him with a drink in his hand.
"What are doing standing here all by yourself mate?"

"What do mean Ivan, I'm doing fine."

"Look around, everyone's dancing, talking, having fun, you're out here tapping your bloody foot!"

"Well maybe I'm just enjoying the music ever think of that?"

"Thanks mate. I'm sorry, I shouldn't judge. But c'mere I want you to meet the band." Ivan says dragging Paul out the hall.

The boys were all huddled around a table in one of the rooms in the church. They were laughing and drinking from cups placed sporadically on the table. Ivan entered the room pulling Paul behind him. The boys turned to face them and John got up from his chair, putting out his cigarette.
"Now Ivan, who might this be?"

"John, this is Macca...I mean Paul."

"Macca huh? Funny."
John reached out to shake Paul's hand.

"I'm John. They call me Lenny round here."

"John. I'm a big fan! The songs are great...I actually play a little guitar myself."

"Really! Ivan, what do you think will I have some competition?"

"I don't know John, Paul here's a natural."

"I guess we'll see, right Paulie?"
Paul nods and proceeds to shake the hands of the other boys in the band. They all sit down and have a smoke. Paul felt John come around his shoulder and smelled the beer on his breath. John dropped a guitar on his lap and turned his chair around to face him.
"So....let's hear it."

"Hear what?"

"Hear you play! C'mon we don't bite"

"Alright"

Paul started strumming and sung a bit from Eddie Cochran's Twenty Flight Rock. John listened intently, taking a puff from a new cigarette and looking down at the floor. After he finished, Paul looked up at John for any sort of approval.
"You got some talent Paul. Well done."

Paul grinned. "Thank you."

"What do you say we close this off with a nightcap? Stop by the pub?"

The boys murmured approval at John's preposition and shuffled out of the room. The streets were dimly lit and still damp from rain the night before. The band and Paul stopped at a pub a block down from the church and went in. A band inside was playing Elvis and they all took a seat at the bar, John swaying gently to the music. He turned to face Paul who he had sat next to.
"You like Elvis?"

"Yeah I can dig Elvis."

John laughed and took a sip of his drink. The bartender took a look at them and came around.

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?"

"Oh bugg off." said John turning back to face Paul.

"Classy." Paul noted.

A walk back to Paul's place concluded the evening.
"This is my stop." Paul commented to John, as the other boys had already gone.

"It was nice meeting you Paulie."

"And you as well John. Till next time."

"Till next time."