Far from home (A Beatles story)

02 - Thanks for having me

The party of two had been walking for around half an hour. They walked in silence apart from the sound of their shoes on the stone pavement. Frank's mother was very tense. Frank could tell from her body language. Her hands were in fists at her side and she was walking swiftly. Her pace was too fast for Frank, who was jogging to keep up.

"It's okay, we're almost there," Her mother said, noticing how tired the young girl looked. Despite it being early morning, both women were thoroughly worn out and Frank longed to stop and sit down for a minute. However, her mother wasn't having it and seemed determined to get to their destination as quickly as possible.

Their destination was a modest home in Allerton near Penny Lane, where a small working class family lived. Soon after Mrs Boone's reassuring words, the pair turned onto Penny Lane and continued down it, towards the house where the small family were awaiting their arrival.

At first, Frank didn't recognize the house. Which is understandable as she had never been there. Mrs Boone, however, was familiar with the house and pointed it out to her daughter as they approached it.

"That's it. They live there," She pointed towards a narrow brick building. Frank observed it and decided that it was much better kept than her house (or should I say her old house). There was a bonny little garden with flowers and the windows were covered on the inside with curtains, something that her old house had lacked. Frank, who was longing for a place to sit and rest, matched the pace of her mother as they drew nearer to the house Mrs Boone had pointed out. 

Frank was scared, mostly. She had initially felt some joy upon learning that she would be separated from her father. However, that soon turned into fear and dread of what was to come. She was going to live with a family she had never met. And her mother wouldn't be there with her. What if it was just as bad as her old home? All of these thoughts were flying through Frank's head as she watched her mother open the frail-looking metal gate. She stood still for a few short moment, paralyzed by the fear of change.

"Come on Frankie, everything's going to be fine, just come with me," Her mother comforted her, holding her hand out for Frank to take. She took it and held it tightly as she stepped into the garden and closed the gate behind her. The next few moment seemed to happen in slow motion. The two women walked hand-in-hand up to the front door and Mrs Boone reached her hand out, knocking quietly, so as to not wake up the neighbors.

There was a moment silence before the door handle turned and the door creaked open. Frank looked up to see a man standing before them. He was slender and was probably in his late forties. His hairline was receding and the hair that was left on his head was short and dark. Whether it was black or dark brown, Frank couldn't tell. His face, although slightly worn out, was welcoming and kindly.

No words were exchanged at the door. Instead, the two women were rushed inside and taken to the kitchen where tea and breakfast was waiting for them.

"Please make yourself at home." The man said. When he spoke his voice was calm and gentle, something Frank was not used to at home. She smiled meekly. They both sat down at the table and the man sat opposite Mrs Boone. Frank, despite being ravenous, retained her hunger and didn't start eating until she was told to. She sat staring longingly at the food while the man poured tea into three teacups. 

"Oh you can start eating if you want," He said, turning and talking directly to Frank. "You're probably starving," And that was all he needed to say. Frank grabbed some toast from the rack and started spreading it with generous amounts of butter. As she did this, the adults started talking. Frank listened in as she was still slightly confused as to what was actually happening.

"Well its lovely to see you again Pam, it's been such a long time," The man started the conversation. "I've sorted out everything that needed sorted. I moved the boys in together so she can have her own room and she can start at the Liverpool institution whenever she's ready." Frank's mother, Pam (As referred to earlier and from now on), nodded at his words and turned to her daughter who was listening in innocently. Pam, despite wanting to cry, knew she had to stay strong for her daughter.