The Arch of Love ~ Paul McCartney

27. Four dimensions

Liverpool, 24 January '62, 9:09 PM

Another Wednesday night and another rushed Marty picking me up from the hospital. He had never once complained about having to pick me up, but I could see it was wearing him out. Maybe I should convince Ma to let me walk here by myself. Then again, it was only four more months until the lessons stopped and I had to find a permanent spot to get my final hours of work experience. Within six months I would have my licence and would be able to get a full nursing job. From then on I could move out and pay my own dues. And then poor Marty wouldn't have to pick me up anymore.

'Just the Beatles and the Pacemakers tonight, Archie. They won't play for too long, I imagine,' Marty noted as we walked down the steps into the Cavern club. It was a packed house and to Marty that meant that he had to go straight back to work, barely making sure that I got into the club safely. Even if I didn't, it wouldn't have mattered much. I came here so often that I was one of the regulars, on first name basis with all the personnel, including the bouncers outside.

I snickered at the absurdity of it all. If it was any other club, Ma would just about kill me for being a regular at a bar, but because it was the one where Marty worked, all was good. I guess it was as good thing too. It gave me a little safety walking around Liverpool too. These people were everywhere and whenever I walked through town, I was constantly saying hi to them. They could keep me save too.

The club was buzzing, filled to the brim with people, despite it being in the middle of the week. Both the Pacemakers and the Beatles were making a name for themselves in and around Liverpool. By playing residences all over England, in Wales and even over in Germany they were getting experience playing live. Back in Liverpool, the home crowd was loving it, eating it all up. Now all there was missing was a good Liverpudlian band in the charts, but at this rate, that couldn't take long.

I recognised John's dreary voice coming through the speakers and when I looked over, the Beatles were indeed playing at the moment. So they had the early set. Good, that meant that they would play for an hour or so and then the Pacemakers would take over. After that, Paul would probably be able to come out and we could have a little fun of ourselves.

I was sipping on my free cola of the night. It was too nice of the Cavern's owner to allow me a free drink every night I came here. He was aware of the fact that I had to wait for Marty to finish twice a week and had kindly allowed me one drink on the house each night. He didn't have to do that, but he did so anyways. Too kind.

'Are you Archie Murray?' I suddenly heard behind me.

I turned around and saw a guy, probably around my age, standing behind me. He had the same worn out look in his eyes as all the bands had. The look of someone who had been in one too many venues on one too many consecutive nights. He must be in a band as well.

When I nodded, he continued. 'Hi, I'm Neil. Paul said I might find you here. I'm a friend of his. Well, actually, I'm the guy that does most of the driving them to venues and home and all,' he explained and a small crept its way to my lips; I had heard of this Neil. 'He told me to wait out for you and ask you to wait at the stage door for him after their last song.'

I raised my eyebrows, not expecting that request. Paul would usually be the one to come out of the dressing room after they finished their set. He had never once asked me to come to the stage door to wait for him.

'I don't know why, love,' Neil said, raising his shoulders. 'Just giving you the message.'

'Thank you, Neil,' I smiled anyways, which he took as a dismissal. Before I had fully realised it, he had turned around and disappeared into the crowd. I was back to my own devices, having to pass the time by myself. Luckily the music was good.