And in the End

For this project we had to write a story about "relationships." We had three options, and one of them was to discover that your best friend got someone pregnant or something like that. So, I thought of John and Cynthia...and I would write it as if I were Paul. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy! Another corny ending, I think, but "very well-written!", said my teacher...

I rushed into the studio, where I knew everybody was waiting for me. I was already an hour late, due to the fact I had to take a bath. It was August of 1962, and the band I was in, the Beatles, was on the way to the top. We already had a recording contract and our first single was about to be released. We were going to be bigger than Elvis, or so we hoped or rather dreamed.

"Hello," I waltzed in, grinning broadly at my bandmates. They were all in good spirits and smiled back at me, but our manager, Brian, was furious.

"We've been waiting for almost an hour, Paul," he said.

"Sorry-had to take a bath," I explained, trying to sound completely innocent.

"At least he's clean," piped up Ringo.

"Clean machine!" added John. My bandmates and I chuckled, but Brian was still indignant.

"This is a very important session, Paul?" he started to lecture, and I lost interest and started searching for my instrument.

"All right," I interrupted his incessant chattering and picked up my pride and joy-my violin-shaped Hofner bass. "How about we start recording?"

"John has an announcement to make first," said Brian. John obviously wasn't too thrilled about his "announcement" because he glared at Brian. "Go ahead, John."

I looked to George and Ringo for answers, as to what John's "announcement" was. They were just as befuddled as I was.

"Well, Cynthia's pregnant, and we're getting married tomorrow?"

I didn't hear John finish the rest of his sentence. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. John had gotten Cynthia, his girlfriend of three years, pregnant! How could John be so irresponsible? I was immensely disappointed in John-that he had been so negligent and foolish.

"You'll be my best man won't you, Paul?" questioned John, noticing the let down look on my face.

Even though I was angry and dissatisfied at his carelessness, I knew I couldn't let John down. We'd been best friends for the past five years, we wrote songs together, and we'd always been there for each other. I knew I had to support him.

"Yeah," I assured him.

"Do you want to go with me to tell Mimi, then?" he inquired.

I pondered for a moment before responding. John's Aunt Mimi never had really enjoyed my company and frankly I was terrified of her. Once again, however, I knew I had to support my best friend.

"Yeah, sure, we can go after the session," I suggested.

"Good thinking, Paul," said John, grinning.

"Well, let's start recording?" George broke the silence, and we did just that.

I knew John's Aunt Mimi wouldn't take the news very well. She had always been very strict with John, and never liked him playing music, and always referred to me as a "creature" whenever I came to visit John.

"How do you think Mimi will take the news?" I asked John as we walked to his house where he once lived with his Aunt Mimi.

"I don't know," he shrugged.

"Well, I think it's good that you're getting married, you know," I said.

"Yeah, it was bound to happen sometime, anyway, whether or not Cynthia got pregnant or not," John reasoned. "Why don't you just wait outside and I'll go in and tell Mimi." I nodded, and I watched John nervously inch towards the front door. It was silent inside the house for a few moments, and then I heard an explosion-it was Mimi.

"You stupid, stupid children! You're just like your mother, John! You never think about consequences-you just go off and do whatever you want!" Mimi shouted.

"It's all right, Mimi," soothed John, "it's all arranged-we're getting married at the registry office tomorrow."

"Married?" that really set Mimi off. "You're too young! You're too irresponsible to get married! Don't expect to see anyone from this family to attend! You've shamed us, and want don't want anything to do you with you! Just get out! Get out of my sight, John Lennon!"

I heaved a heavy sigh, and waited for John to come out. He walked out, grinning-a fa�ade, I figured.

"How'd it go?" I implied, although I knew perfectly well how it went.

"Better than expected," he answered.

"Really?" I was surprised at his response.

"Yeah," John chuckled, "I'm still alive."

John and Cynthia were married the day. I was John's best man and George and Ringo were there to support him as well. Mimi eventually forgave John shortly after the wedding. Cynthia had the baby nine months later, and they named him Julian, after John's mother. John didn't have trouble supporting them with money, but unfortunately the hectic schedule of being a Beatle didn't allow him to spend much time with them, but I know that John loved his family.

He once confided in me, telling me that he felt guilty about not spending enough time with them. I told him in a philosophical way, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

Do not reproduce this in any form or way without the author's permission. This is my original work, and may not be taken in any way from me. Thank you.