⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Twenty-Eight: With A Little Help From My George Harrison

October 9, 1961

The next morning, I woke up dazed and slightly confused. It didn't take me long to realize I hadn't even had the energy to change before I had passed out in exhaustion. When I saw that it was Brian leaving that had woken me up, I knew that I'd just about beaten the sun.

I decided quickly that I'd go to George to help me with John's gift and suddenly remembered I hadn't bothered to check how much money Brian had given me the previous night. I was surprised by how much it was, but happy I'd be able to get him something decent enough to get by. I wasn't exactly sure why I decided to go to George when him and Paul seemed significantly closer, but for some reason my brain went straight to George. Perhaps because I knew George wouldn't make fun of me like Paul would.

After I'd tucked the money safely into my purse, I scrambled to find something to wear so I could shower before I set out on my early morning scavenger hunt for a present for John.

After I'd showered, I ate something quickly and saw it was 10, a pretty reasonable time to go and see someone, so I bundled up in my raincoat and set out into the wet, dreary streets of Liverpool.

It didn't take me long to get to George's. I'd been there for a few rehearsals before. When I knocked on the door, George's mother answered.

"Good morning, Donna," she'd greeted with a smile, turning back to call for George.

"How are you doing?"

I smiled at Mrs. Harrison's sincerity. "I'm good."

From behind her, I heard George shout at someone and a minute later, he was at the door. His mother gave him a pat on the back and was gone. George looked surprised to see me, to say the least.

"Donna?"

"I need help," I said shortly.

"With?" He leaned against the doorway and smiled curiously.

"I worked all day yesterday and now I need to get John's birthday present."

He nodded, impressed.

"I just didn't know what to look for."

"How 'bout we walk around some shops on Penny Lane and I'll help you find something." He grinned.

I smiled, relieved. "That would be perfect."

"Give me one second and I'll be back. Would you like to come inside and wait? M-m-my siblings are gonna come up to you, but if you tell them to go away it'll be alright."

"It'll be fine, George." I laughed.

He sighed. "Alright, I'll only be a minute." He moved aside where I could enter easily.

Almost immediately, a girl and two boys, all older than George, came up.

"Sod off, would ya?" called George from the top of the stairs as he walked towards his room.

"What's your name?" asked the girl. "Are you Donna? George has been telling us about ye."

"I am." I smiled.

"Are you his girlfriend?" asked the clear youngest of the group asked mockingly.

"Oh, no, no, no, definitely not." I hid my shaking hands.

"Of course she isn't," said the girl. "George has been talking about her and John." She gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry about them. I'm Louise. And these two blokes are Harold and Peter."