"It could be jewelry," Janet said while trying to curl my hair which didn't wan to set right.
"It could also be flowers, candy, or a stuffed animal, but those are so ordinary I wouldn't consider them a surprise," I said finishing up my make-up.
"You are so lucky. I've lived here all my life and the only person to ever ask me out was Thomas," Janet sighed. "But you come here and get asked out by a MUSICIAN! Some girls have all the luck."
"It's not luck, Janet. It's just, I don't know, good timing?," I replied with a smile.
"Smart arse," Janet said throwing a pillow at me.
"Hey! Watch it! You might muss up my make-up," I said throwing the pillow back at her, but the pillow fight was infectious and soon a small pillow war insued until we fell on my bed in a fit of giggles.
Janet turned to face me and started laughing even more hysterically and I had no idea why.
"What's with you, Janet? Is there something wrong?," I asked.
"You might want to fix your lipstick, Marth. It's streaked from your lips to your ear!," she said falling of my bed laughing.
"Ha-ha, Jan," I said walking over to the mirror to fix my lipstick.
As I did, I noticed that the clock on my dresser said 6:30. Only 30 more minutes to go!
"Paul," John started, "you are going to have to make sacrifices. We all do! Just tell her that you'll see her tomorrow. In fact, why don't you bring her? Then you still have your date."
"I can't do that," Paul replied.
"Look, Paulie, you've got to make a choice."
"I know, but this is hard to do. I can't tell her the day of our date."
"Well, George and Pete want to tell you something," John said.
"Put 'em on," Paul sighed.
"Paul, get your arse down 'ere," Pete said harshly. "We only have an hour to get everything down there and play."
"Give me the damn phone," Paul heard George tell Pete.
"Listen, Paul, we really need the job, but take your time phoning Martha," George said calmly into the phone.
"Easy for you three to say. You don't have to call. You all owe me one for this."
Janet and I were busy looking at the new records that my brother had sent in the mail when my aunt called me for the phone.
" 'Ello?," I asked picking up the reciever.
"Uh, hi, Martha. It's Paul."
"Hi, Paul!," I said cheerfully. "Are you coming now?," I said noticing it was now 6:45.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I can't make it tonight. You see, Pete arranged a job for us to do and no one told him I had plans, so it was confirmed and now I have to play."
"Oh....," I said, my smile fading and anger setting in. "Why couldn't you tell me this sooner?"
"They just now told me. Martha, I am sorry."
Janet appeared at my side after noticing my change in tone and was already looking sympathetic.
" 'ang up on 'im," she whispered.
"Well," I started angrily, "You made a choice and right now I'd like to hang up, so good-bye." I said moving the phone from my ear.
That last words I heard him say on the phone were, "Martha, please don't...."
'Now what have I done?,' Paul thought as he gathered up his guitar and coat and walked out the door.
"I don't really feel up to it, Jan," I sniffled.
"Nonsense," she said waving her hand. "You won't be up in your room cryin' your eyes out over 'im cause I won't let you. Come on. Get put together and we'll go have fun."
"Thanks, Janet," I said giving her a half-smile.
"Come on, Marth. For me? Besides, Paul and his group aren't the only ones playing. Rory Storm is here too, and you know I have a crush on 'im."
"Fine, but only until Rory's group finishes," I said going in.
I looked around making sure I didn't see Paul and walked in, bumping into a young man in his early twenties.
"Sorry, lass. Didn't mean to bump ya like that," he said making sure I was okay.
"It's okay. I'm fine. I'm the one who should be sorry. I wasn't looking."
"You look as if you've been cryin'. Is there somethin' the matter?," he asked.
"No, I'm quite all right. My name is Martha, by the way," I said extending my hand.
"Mine's Richard," he said shaking my hand, "but everyone calls me Ringo."
He looped out his arm for me to take and as I did, he said, "Come 'ead. Let us buy you a drink."
