As expected the hotel employee looked at me like I was crazy, but he answered me anyway.
"It's 1961 ma'am," he said holding back a smile.
Thank God! I had done it; I had traveled to 1961! But there was one more thing that I had to know.
"And what day is it?" I asked.
He raised his eyebrows and replied "The 31st of August"
It had worked perfectly!
"Could you direct me to the nicest jewelry store in town?" I asked the bewildered man.
"Yes it is just two blocks away" he proceeded to give me directions.
I thanked him and walked out of the hotel. I followed his directions, and found the jewelry store quickly.
Unfortunately the jewelry store was not yet open. It was only nine in the morning, and the jeweler did not open up until ten.
It had been about 8:30 in the morning the last time I was in 2001. I must have arrived in 1961 at the exact same time. That meant I had to wait a day and a half until I could see Paul!
Since I had to wait an hour for the jewelry shop to open, I decided to walk around. I saw a little diner I wanted to go in to, but I was lacking monetary funds so I couldn't order anything.
Just as I passed the diner, I kicked something and heard a jangling sound. I looked down and there was a pound. I picked it up and looked around but saw no one. I didn't want to take the money, but a cup of tea was sounding really good.
I decided to keep the money, and then when I got money of my own, place a pound where I had found this one. That wiped away my guilt and I went into the diner.
There were only a few people in the diner. The waitress seated me at a table right next to a girl who seemed about my age or little older. Then the waitress asked for my order and left.
At the sound of my voice the girl next to me looked over. After the waitress left she spoke.
"Are you from America?" she asked.
"Yes. Are you from England?" I asked her a little sarcastically.
She looked a little startled "Oh. I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I was just curious about your accent"
I realized that what I had said might have come out a little harsh "No I'm sorry. I can be a little too sarcastic at times. So to really answer your question I am American. From Texas actually."
"You're from Texas?" she said surprised. I could tell she was eyeing what I was wearing. I realized she was thinking of the stereotypical Texan that she had seen in movies.
"Not all Texans wear cowboy boots, ride horses, and herd cattle. I am actually from a fairly large town. We don't all have thick accents. The only animal I own is a cat. I've never even lassoed a cow," I said trying to explain. I didn't blame her for thinking the way she did, a lot of people in other parts of still America thought the same thing.
"Oh. I'm sorry again. I just thought� well�I've seen in�well�I just thought you would have different accent, you sound like a normal American to me."
"Don't worry about it. Besides my Texan comes through every once in a while. I do admit to saying ya'll"
The girl giggled when I said ya'll "You do have an accent when you say that word�ya'll"
It was mine turn to laugh. It was hilarious to hear ya'll pronounced with an English accent. The girl laughed along with me.
"This might seem a bit strange, but would you like to sit with me? I was supposed to meet a friend, but she couldn't come. I don't like sitting here by myself" the girl said.
I said sure and came to sit with her, bringing my tea with me.
"Ooh. Since we are now sitting at the same table, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Cynthia, but everyone calls me Cyn" she said.
"Nice to meet you Cyn. My name is Anne" I reached out my hand and we shook properly.
"So what are you doing in Liverpool of all places?" she asked curiously.
Oh I just time traveled because a 60 year-old-man told me to, and now I'm here to meet him when he is young.
"Oh. I just wanted to see England. I'm thinking I might stay here and attend the Art College"
She got really excited and said, "You should go. I go to the art college, and that's where I met my boyfriend"
"Really? Tell me all about him" I said getting into the girl talk mode.
"It's kind of hard to describe him. He's handsome, and witty, and just lovely. His name is John, and he is in a really good rock band. His band plays all the time, you should go see them sometime" She said smiling as she talked about him, I could tell she really loved him.
"Oh. He sounds really nice. What band is he in?"
"They're called the Beatles. That's B-E-A-T-L-E-S, so it also stands for beat music"
I was shocked by Cyn's statement, but I succeeded in hiding it. That was when I realized that Cyn must be the girl who John Lennon eventually married. I had learned a lot about the Beatles during my studies, and I felt sad for this girl. I knew what would happen to her, but at this moment she was happy and in love with John.
Cyn and I spent the next thirty minutes talking. We were soon on the road to becoming great friends. I was glad I had already found someone I could talk to.
Soon I noticed it was nearing 10, so I told Cyn I had to leave.
"It was great talking with you." She said and then she brightened up. "Oh. John and his band and some other friends are having a get together tonight. Did you want to come? I really want to introduce you to all of them"
See Paul tonight instead of tomorrow, hell yes! "That would be great"
"Were all meeting at about 7, at the Casbah. John and I could come pick you up"
I agreed to that, and she planned to pick me up at the Britannia Adelpi Hotel at 6:45. I thanked her, left the diner, and made my way to the jewelry store.
I decided to sell one of my diamonds. It was a nice diamond and I received 1000 pounds for it. This money would tide me over for quite a while.
When I was through all I had was 8 hours until I saw Paul. I had no idea how I was going to pass the time.
