From Me to You

Chapter 1

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don’t want to be the Grinch, so please take note: This holiday-themed short story is one BIG SPOILER if you haven’t read The Lonely Hearts Club (you might want to also read the short story Two of Us). If you have read the book, may your days be merry and bright. If you haven’t, you better watch out and you better not cry because I’ve warned you!

I, Penny Lane Bloom, do hereby declare that next year will be amazing.

How could it not? Just look at the past four months.

I went from a heartbroken girl to the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club. From having a small handful of close friends to having nearly thirty girls in my corner. From dating a total jerk who cheated on me to being with a guy who’s deserving.

Okay, so Ryan Bauer and I have only been on one date, but I know things with him are going to be awesome.

And I so called it. Right before the first day of school, I had a feeling this year was going to be different. Tracy did, too. It’s true that we generally go into the new school year with a good attitude, but this time, we were right.

If so much can happen in four months, just imagine what the Club can do in the next twelve. What could happen with Ryan and me?

I can’t wait for the New Year to ring in and see what’s in store for us.

But first, I have to survive Christmas with my family.

Thank God for Ringo Starr.

If it wasn’t for Ringo’s Christmas album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus, the music at the Bloom household on Christmas morningwould’ve consisted of a constant loop of the Beatles’ “ChristmasTime (Is Here Again),” Sir Paul’s “Wonderful Christmastime,”John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” and snippetsfrom the Beatles’ seven Christmas albums.

Now when I say the Beatles had seven Christmas albums, I don’t mean the Fab Four covered “O Holy Night” or “White Christmas.” If only. Nope. The albums consisted mostly of skits, the Beatles giving their fans messages of thanks, lots of rambling, and an occasional a cappella song like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” They were recorded for the Beatles fan club members in the 1960s, not as music albums. I didn’t even want to know how much my parents spent to get bootlegged copies.

Ringo was crooning “The Little Drummer Boy” while Dad handed out presents and Mom poured hot cocoa.

“Got another one for you, Lucy.” Dad handed my oldest sister another present to add to her ever-growing pile.

“Thanks, Dad,” Lucy said as Dad gave her a big hug.

This Christmas was a bit bittersweet for the Bloom family. Lucy would be married soon, and she and her new husband would start rotating Christmases. She’d be in Boston next year. So Mom and Dad had taken every opportunity this year to give her extra attention.

“I wonder if Pete’s family will know how you like your hot cocoa,” Mom said as she placed a steaming mug next to her.

Extra attention and guilt.

The five of us sat around and took turns opening presents. Every year there was a Beatles-themed gift our parents gave the three of us: ornaments, jewelry, T-shirts, figurines, etc. That year we each got a clock. Lucy and Rita both got clocks with the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band since that’s the album with the songs that they’re named after (“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Lovely Rita”).

“Oh, um, thanks?” Rita did her best to smile as she studied her clock, which I knew for a fact wouldn’t be going back to her dorm room at Northwestern. Neither Lucy nor Rita were ever into the Beatles as much as I was. But I guess when you’ve had a band forced down your throat since birth, it was understandable that you’d want to rebel.

Not me.

I carefully peeled back the black wrapping paper with the Beatles logo so I could save it. I assumed my clock would be the cover of Magical Mystery Tour since that’s the album with “Penny Lane.” But it wasn’t. It wasn’t even an album cover. It was the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band logo.

“We figured it was fitting for you and your Club,” Dad explained. “But if you really want a Magical Mystery Tour one . . .”

“No.” I held it up, admiring the logo that had inspired the Club. “It’s perfect!” And it was going to be hung in my room before I went to sleep that night.

“Now, girls” — Mom held Dad’s hand — “we’re proud of you for many different reasons. But, Penny Lane, we are so proud of your Beatles club.”

“It’s not a Beatles club,” I reminded them for the eighty-fifth time.

While the Fab Four have been with me through some pretty rough patches and, yes, they inspired the Club’s name, my Lonely Hearts Club was solely about female friendships. And never changing for a guy. Ever. Even if that guy was a Beatle.

“We know it’s not,” Mom said as Dad nudged her playfully. Oh, how they loved to torture their children. “But you’re only a junior, Penny Lane. Just imagine what’s next for you.”

My thoughts exactly.