⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Twenty-Five: Never Seen Him so Optimistic (Mimi!)

October 7, 1961

In the next few months, the band and I exchanged letters. They were having a blast in Hamburg, although they said that playing as much as they did was a little stressful. That was all they ever complained about, though. By October 7, Beatrice and I were well-acquainted and we'd even established a little friendship with Mary.

Autumn was finally setting in and the temperature dropped dramatically from an average of 22°C down to about 12°C in a week and rain had been falling nonstop ever since.

Beatrice told me about where she'd lived in Tennessee in the States and how the fight for civil rights had made its way down south and when the job opportunity opened up for her father, they'd been almost eager to get out. Her father was a movie producer and apparently she moved around often, but had never moved countries.

Mary was shy. We'd established this the first time George had brought her around to us, but I thought I'd be able to coax her out of it, but while she definitely felt more comfortable with us, she still didn't talk much.

All in all, with John being gone, I felt it was a good time for me to get friends that weren't guys, y'know, What's a life if you don't have some girlfriends to gossip with?

Nonetheless, I couldn't wait 'til he was supposed to come down. They were scheduled to be back for good on December 20, just before Christmas, but had just announced to us a day or two ago that they'd be coming back for a few days to visit for John's birthday.

On the Thursday afternoon of October 7, I found myself situated in my room with Trixie and Mary, telling them about the boys coming home that day.

Mary's eyes lit up. "George will be back?" she asked. I smiled and nodded.

I listened to the sound of the rain hitting the roof for a moment.

Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! Was that rain or rocks? "Epstein‽" called a voice from outside my window.

I went over to the window and flung it open quickly. "John!" I called with a laugh.

"Donna!" he mocked. "Whatcha waiting for? Come down here. I'm bloody cold!" I grinned and closed the window, slinging my raincoat on and motioning for Trixie and Mary to come with me and they scrambled up and followed warily.

When I'd made it outside, he was waiting on the porch, soaked from head to toe. Nonetheless, I still ran towards him for a hug, which I graciously returned. I pulled away with a smile. "This is Beatrice," I said, out of breath, my heart beating a thousand miles a minute. "Beatrice, this is John."

"Nice ta meet ye," said John, extending a hand like a gentleman. "Donna's told me all about you."

She took his hand. "Nice to meet you too. You can just call me Trixie."

Then John spotted Mary sulking back by the door. "Mary?" he asked with an amused smile.

"Hey," she said shrilly, nervously.

"I won't hurt ye," he said and back turned to me. "The rest are across the street if you all wanna come on over."

I nodded happily and Trixie caught up to me. "This is the one you like, right?"

I blushed and nodded. She smirked. "He's nice."

I nodded. "Yeah, he really is."

"Ye coming, girls?" asked John like he was talking to a group of toddlers. We ran to catch up, Mary following behind nervously, but with a wide smile on her face.

"How's everything going in Hamburg, now that you can tell me in person?"

"Everything's going good." He smiled, then frowned slightly. "Stu's gone."