My Fair Lady

Chapter 3 - 1958

Flashback

"Eliza!", the voice of 12 year old Iris Caldwell shot out from the street & the honey brown eyes of Eliza Roberts looked up with a startle. She had been buried deep into her sketching book on the front porch of her house & hadn't been expecting Iris for another solid hour.

Iris giggled when she saw her jump at the sound of her voice & practically skipped her way over to her. Her face looked flushed with happiness.

"You won't believe what happened today!", she said , joy bouncing off every decibel of her voice. "I finally got asked out!"

Eliza smiled.

"That's great news. I'm so happy for you", she remarked quietly.

Iris, fully accustomed to her friend's demure nature didn't blink an eye at her response. Instead, she sat down upon one of the steps of the porch & gazed up at her dreamily.

"His name's George. And he goes to the Liverpool institute for boys. Oh Liza can you believe it?"

At this, Eliza rose a quizzical brow, a smile still dancing upon her lips.

"Is this the same George you've been mooning over since your trip to the ice rink?"

Iris blushed & nodded happily.

"I knew we had a connection that night. It wasn't until today that he approached me at the bus stop & affirmed it. And he wasn't shy. Not confident either but he didn't stumble over his words like I expected him to."

"I'd ask what exactly he said but I'd need to see him for the visualization.

"Yes of course. He said he'll come by this evening at the Oakhill park. I want you to come as well."

Eliza pretended to be in mock-thought. Iris rolled her eyes at this & swatted her arm playfully. "Just say you'll come", she squealed.

"Of course I will. But I hope I don't intrude upon your date."

Iris blushed again. "It's not a date Liza. Just a meeting of sorts. That's the only time he'd be free before his band practice. So he said we'll meet then."

"Band practice?"

"Yes", Iris said proudly. "He told me about it today. Said it was a skiffle group."

"Okay Iris. I won't give you a hard time over this meeting because I really am looking forward to it."

She did meet him, just not by the traditional way of shaking hands.

She had given Iris a ride on the back of her bicycle, her favorite means of transport. Her dad had gifted her the bicycle for her ninth birthday & it was the last gift he had given her before leaving for the States. She adored it very much & it was a source of joy in her young life.

She swiveled the bars of her bicycle for a neat turn into the entrance of the park. She could feel the nervous energy radiating from behind her & had to smile at that. Iris had never been in love before. It was a wonder too considering she had throngs of boys at her place on weekends, her brother Alan's mates. She would relate stories of them flirting with her & she'd humor them in turn until they would leave. She never got into anything serious with anyone. So this was her big first & Eliza was glad she could witness it.

She rolled her bicycle further down the lane, bypassing trees & playing children. There was a cool breeze blowing which was again a shocker for Liverpool's notorious bad weather. She hoped it would last.

Her thoughts came to a halt when Iris squealed from behind her. "There he is!"

It startled her & she momentarily lost balance of her bicycle. The dark figure Iris had excitedly pointed at stood by a tree downhill. He strode towards them the moment he heard Iris squeal. Eliza tried to get back the control over her bike but just her luck, the front wheel hit a wayward stone on the path & the bike jerked to the ground with a dull thump. Eliza & Iris fell together & both of them groaned in sync.