My Fair Lady

Chapter 11 - 1964

John Lennon was in a sour mood on the train back to New York. Uncharacteristically, he had held it in throughout their stay at Washington. But now the dam had finally burst.

To start off, the train to Washington was filled with press people before they had even entered the carriage. That he could bear; slack off the questions & simply lie back to enjoy the ride. Besides, the excitement of his mates' was contagious.

The day had begun on a new lively note. Despite the hailstorm, their arrival in Washington was welcomed by an entourage of 2,000 fans who figured catching even a glimpse of the Beatles was worth shoveling their way through eight inches of snow. From there on, the trip began to tip towards a leisurely built downfall. They had been looking forward to performing at the Coliseum for their legions of American fans.

What they hadn't been looking forward to were the jelly beans.

Granted it was well known to the masses that the Beatles took a fondness to it. But that didn't mean you would shower them with the hardest jelly beans ever produced. It felt like they were being pelted by stones, that's how firm they were. 

To add to their ire was the lousy stage set up. Mal had to continuously get on stage & twirl Ringo's drum set this way & that just so they could provide a clearer view to the audience at the back. It was bloody ridiculous. First concert at the capital & that is how well the preparations had been.

The last straw was the meeting at the British Embassy. What had promised to be a delightful evening of mingling with American aristocrats, the so-called "cream of the society" ended on a disastrous note. After getting poked & probed endlessly by the delegates' wives, John was finally pushed to the edge. He swore profusely at the entire room & stormed out without a care.

Now here they sat on the train back to New York. Brian seemed to be on the receiving end of John's sharp tongue for the duration of the journey. They were hoarded in a cabin for a long while before Brian walked out, misery etched in his usually bright features. He then retreated to his cabin & didn't come out again.

George & Ringo were sharing a cabin. Paul had left a while ago to calm John down. John's fiery temper was like an inferno that threatened to engulf anyone who would linger by. But Paul with his motherly affection for John turned an oblivious eye to it anyway. George & Ringo however kept their distance when he got into one of those moods.

Ringo held a mirror to his face while George skimmed through a copy of The Morning Telegraph.

"Do you think it looks too noticeable?" Ringo asked, keenly eyeing his mop top in the mirror.

"It looks fine to me Rings. Don't worry too much, no one's going to notice a missing lock of hair from yer scalp."

"I still can't believe that pig snipped my hair. In the middle of the party too!"

"I'm just glad it's all over. The whole trip was one sorry affair."

"Sorry? It was a nightmare!"

"Ye'll grow hair again Ringo. Don't lose yer marbles over it. We got out of it alive, that's a relief. Now I only hope such unfortunate events don't repeat for the rest of our stay. I can't deal with posh twats again."

"Neither can I. I'll murder someone if I have to."

"Have ye told Maureen about it? She would 'ave a good laugh over it."

Ringo glared at George. He smiled in turn.

"It must be over the news already." He sighed. "It was a grand scale affair so there's bound to be coverage on it."