The Beatles Short Stories

A Pain(t)ful Prank

The date was March 31, 1965, which was, as you know, one day before the famous April Fool's Day. I'm sure you can guess about how much John, Paul, George, and Ringo looked forward to this single day of the year, after all, they did love to aggravate. So, seeing that they had exactly one day to plan their practical joke, they got right into making plans.

"So, who should be our target this year?" John whispered as he and the other three huddled in a circle, the recording studio now almost empty other than them.

"Hmm," Ringo hummed. "How about Brian?"

"Well, we tricked Brian last year, Rings," Paul stated while chewing on his nail thoughtfully.

"He's got a point," George agreed.

"Okay, not Brian then, but who else?" the drummer sighed as he gazed absent-mindedly at his drum set.

"How about..." John thought.

Suddenly, though, the sound of a door closing shook them out of their thoughts causing Ringo to fall out of his chair in surprise.

"Agh!" he exclaimed.

"Boys, I'm leaving now. You will lock up, won't you?" George Martin said as he stuck his head through the studio's doorway.

The four Beatles' eyes connected mischievously for a moment before they nodded their heads slightly as if to say, "You're thinking what I'm thinking."

"Oh, yes, George! That would be lovely!" John answered in his granny voice.

"Good," George Martin replied tiredly. "See you boys tomorrow, then."

"Okay!" they replied in unison, their voices sounding way too nice.

Once the producer had left, the lads began to bust out laughing.

"Mates, I think we know who our target is and I just so happen to have an idea," John smirked.

"Well, let's hear it then," Paul pressed.

"Alright, here's what I'm thinking..."

__________________________

Today was the day--April Fool's, so each Beatle arrived at the studio, on time for once because they wanted to put their practical joke in motion. First Paul, then Ringo, then George, and finally John. Of course George Martin was already there.

"Alright, mates. Here goes nothing!" John giggled as he adjusted the white bandage on his head, the four now standing in the  fourier of the studio.

"Yep! Let's do it! And remember, the word is 'turpentine,'" George grinned.

"Of course," the rhythm guitarist replied with a wink.

"Let's go in then," Paul declared and so each one made their way into the studio, now putting on a saddened, worried expression for reasons you'll soon find out.

Once inside, they wrapped their arms around John, as if holding him up, and looked towards the producer's window where George Martin sat reading the newspaper.

"Ahem," Ringo cleared his throat, effectively getting George's attention.

"Oh, hello, boys! How are you this morning?" he asked cheerfully.

"Not so well I'm afraid," George sighed as he looked sadly at John, who was putting on a bug-eyed, confused look.

"Well, what's the matter?" the producer tried.

"Well, you see, last night after John had gone home, he was going to paint a door, so he needed a can of turpentine. The only problem was, the turpentine was on a really tall shelf and poor Johnny couldn't reach it, so he ended up only grazing it with his hand and that caused it to come tumbling down upon his head," Ringo explained, looking to the 'crazed' John regretfully as he spoke.