My Life And Rock'n'Roll

Chapter 3 - Hopes And Dreams

Class became a chore for me, and I gave my teachers more than my fair share of grief. I loved to draw, and when I wasn't acting like a Teddy Boy, I would draw pictures of whatever was in my head.

This one particular day, I drew several pictures of Cynthia, and kept them hidden in my books so nobody would see them. I had a reputation of being a ladies man, and I wasn't going to lose that - not then anyway.

Later that week, on the Friday after class, my mates and I all headed down to the local pub. After a couple of pints, I was ready to have my next one nighter, and right at that moment Cynthia walks in with some of her girlfriends.

She looked so different, with her hair done and wearing a short skirt. I had to look at her twice to see I was looking at the same girl, and right then, I felt knots in my stomach for the first time.

The boys and I left before she or any of her friends saw us, and I made the point of my sexual fantasy being Brigette Bardot, a blonde actress from the the 1950s. Little did I know, one of the girls must have heard me make the comment, as the next time I saw Cynthia three days later she turned up to school with blonde hair.

I couldn't take my eyes off her, and I said out aloud for the whole corridor to hear - "look at you Powell, all Bardot and all...." I whistled after her, and as she smiled shyly, her face went red. Right then, I knew she was different.

I felt warm inside, and I knew I wanted the chance to get to know her better. The following Friday at the pub after school, Cynthia walked in again with the same friends and sat on the other side of the pub.

I couldn't help myself, I walked up to her and offered to buy her a drink. All she wanted was an orange juice, and we got our drinks and sat in a private corner away from her friends and mine. We talked about school, and our hopes and dreams.

When I told Cynthia I wanted to be a musician, in particular in the best band in the world, she smiled and said I will be successful in whatever I do, and to go for it. We talked about her wanting to be an Art Teacher, and I said that she would make a great teacher, as she has the patience of a saint, and has a beautiful hand for painting.

When our eyes met, I knew I wanted to have her in my life, little did I know just how much. After that night, we saw each other often in and outside school, and I enjoyed my time with her. I could be myself around her, and she never judged me or made fun of my love of music.

Eventually I told Cynthia about the band I was in, and how we would usually play or as some would say, jam music together in our lunch break. We always attracted an audience, and when Cynthia and one of her friends, Phyllis came to watch us, my feelings began to grow.

It took me three months, and I finally got up the courage to ask Cynthia out. We ended up getting fish and chips and eating at the beach around a bonfire. I could see she had feelings for me too, and I kissed her.

It felt amazing, I knew right then I was in love with her, and that was the night we went to my mate Stuart's flat and made love for the first time. From then on she was my girl Cyn, and all the guys knew to stay away from her.

Over the next few months we were inseparable, and I wanted to be with her all the time. My band was getting gigs all over Liverpool, and Cyn always came to see me perform. I loved having her watching us, and her support meant so much to me.

I ended up dropping out of Art School, and my band got a gig in Hamburg, Germany. It was a six month contract, and the money was better than doing jobs back home. That was the start of my band making it to the big time, and little did I know just how big we would become......