Honey Pie (P.M)

She's So Heavy

For the first 6 months of her residency in Liverpool, Paul couldn't help but feel a certain sense of pride whenever he took Louise somewhere. Because, despite all the attention she got from the many male teenagers who flocked to her, it was always his hand she held, his arm she linked and his waist she put her arm around. Paul had never felt more pleased with himself. He had a girlfriend, sure, but Dot was nowhere near as impressive as Louise was. Louise was a woman of the world, even if she was just a small town country bumpkin. She had new, fresh ideas about everything and she wasn't afraid to share them. She didn't take crap from anyone, especially Paul. But Paul didn't feel the need to nag her and get her to change anything about herself to suit him. For one, he had no right; she wasn't his girlfriend. But also, he liked her as she was. Plus, she already dressed like Brigitte Bardot, so there was nothing to change!

Paul sat beside Louise on the train. “It was gear of your mum to ask me to visit your granny with you. I can't wait to see the town you grew up in.” Paul said, watching out of the train window. Louise smiled, keeping her eyes on the pages of her book. “Hmm, she's looking forward to meeting you.” Paul didn't say anything; nerves? “Are you nervous?” Louise asked, like she'd read Paul's mind. He shrugged. “A little... maybe. Why?” He replied. “You went stiff.” Paul laughed loudly, receiving dirty looks from all the other passengers. “That one wasn't even intentional." Louise whispered, trying to go back to her book. "Whoops... Okay, well… maybe I’m a little bit nervous. But I want to make a good impression. No girl has ever asked me to travel three hours on a train with her, paid my fare and told her beloved grandmother all about me.” Louise smiled. “Aren't you the special special one? And anway, I like you. Why wouldn't I tell her about you?” “If you two are going to talk, go to the other compartment.” Paula said sternly, glaring at her daughter. They rose from their seat; Louise led Paul into the first class compartment.

Once in, they sat down. But, before they could get settled, someone began scolding them again. “You young ‘uns shouldn’t be here.” An elderly man said; he was sat close by and appeared to be the only person in first class. “Oh we were disturbing some people - apparently - so my mother told us to come through here until we calmed down.” Louise explained. The man nodded, his expression softening. “I remember when I was young like you two." He said, his eyes misting over. "How old are you, young man?” He asked Paul. “Seventeen… sir.” Paul replied. The old man nodded. “When I was seventeen, I offered my services to the army. I went away for 6 years and left my sweetheart behind." He turned to Louise. "How old are you, dear?” “Sixteen.” She replied. The old man nodded again. “You two are the same age as my sweetheart and I were. I went away for six years as a boy of seventeen. When I came back, as a man of twenty-three, she was still waiting for me. We married a month later and we had six wonderful children together... She passed away, my beautiful Elizabeth, my darling girl, six years ago. And I miss her so terribly.” Louise let go of Paul's hand, stood up and knelt down before the elderly man. “I’m so sorry for your loss. But I know that she’s waiting somewhere for you. And l know that, when you meet again, whereever it is, it’ll be beautiful.” The old man smiled and mouthed ‘thank you’, patting Louise’s hand. She smiled and bid him farewell, walking further along to find a seat. “Young man?” Paul turned back, looking down at their new friend. “She’s a very special girl, this lady friend of yours. I can just tell. But times are different now from when I was a young man. She won’t wait forever. If you want her, and I can tell you do, get her while she’s still here.” Paul looked down the cabin at Louise who had sat down and was now fiddling with her hair, waiting for him to join her. The early morning sunshine lit up her face, her hair looked red in the light. She was so beautiful. And he wanted her. He wanted her so bad.