The next day and the next few weeks after were much the same.

Assemble early, stay late.

Miss first bell and perhaps the second. Bail for the last period then race back down the street to EMI for the second helping of their daily dose of Beatle watching, waiting, lingering.

"Stop pushing Geraldine" Katie was famished, tired from the stupid PE session at school and ready to punch Gerry in the stomach. It wasn't a nice afternoon for loitering. The steps had been cleared by big Mal and a few cars pulled ever so close. The worst possible thing to happen when all you wanted was to see your love- George.

He was so dreamy and intelligent, quiet yet cheeky when the mood took him. Kate was rather certain she could score a date if only he spoke more then three words to her, and today wasn't the day. She had no hope of even catching his eye.

It was Friday so any girl worth her weight took the time to come pay homage to the boys. The forecourt was swollen, at least triple the amount of usual fans. It was Kate and Beths 'stay away' day but what the hey they were passing and had left school early for the afternoon.

Beth was across the yard, a little closer to the road, not so pushy although catching Kates eye she pressed forward between the girls from the grade below. Toddlers really not like Kate and Beth, those few girls were around ten or eleven and shouldn't even be about, but they were and it was the pits. Beth squeezed between a boy that wasn't particularly bothered to be there and the girls with coke bottle glasses. Bedlam was about to erupt...

Neil Aspinall ducked his head out the front glass doors and all the tittering wound up, the screaming heightened. If Neil was there, Mal or Brian was there, meaning the lads were there...not far behind. And Beth was right. Paul stumbled then righted himself then George sent the marauding assembled a happy cheerio and wave making Kate yell his name along with twenty other girls, Ringo was scratching his ear and took his time, he gave a wink and gently smile and silly wave as he was swallowed into the recesses of the motor along with Paul and George.

Girls pressed anything, something to the windows of the car. Bodies parts, pictures, phone number all squished and flattened like pancakes right up against the metal and glass of the motor. Eventually John appeared and immediately Beth called his name "John!" he strolled down the steps, like he had all the time in the world, clutching his notebook to his chest along with a fountain pen and lead pencil. With only a few seconds to spare Beth smartened up and tried to pique Johns attention " Drawing or writing John?" John immediately paused mid stride and swung Beth's way. Mal looked daggers at Beth, she was getting as crafty as that Kate and Mal was tired of the local girls thinking they had unfettered access to the lads every day.

"A little of both Bethany girl, ta. Come by Monday and I'll have a little ditty for ya" His collarless jacket was so well fitted Beth could see his muscles pulling and shifting as John scratched his nose then without another word he jumped in the back of the dark green motor. The rabble was over, both Beth and Kate never much bothered with the 'press like squished butterflies to the windscreen' way of things, both turned tail before the car engine even turned over and ran to the street so as to wave goodbye from the best possible spot beside the curb.

It was still fun. The boys still enjoyed all the girls coming about, still paid attention to the regulars and grinned and smiled and signed for ages while the girls milled and laughed and cried. Beth and Kate windmilled their arms and were rewarded with one of the lads chucking a paper plane out the window.

"Signed! Score. You have it Beth, I got Paul's origami paper heart the other week remember"

"Ta Kate, you're a fab mate. Did you see John turnabout and chat to me. God he's so gorgeous, I could die; and he says he's bringing me a ditty on Monday!"

Shoes clattered down the damp pavement. After catching the paper plane Beth and Katie roamed the nearby streets, lugging school satchels and chattering as only teens do.

Dreaming. Wishing. Hoping.

It was nearly dinner time and Kate was wanting to stay over, they could turn the volume up and dance here. Right in the living room, dragging furniture back for a makeshift dance floor, tossing thin colourful shawls over the lamps making the place a nightclub and Beth's mum never said a word.

And she would join in.

Kate's mum would never even dream of doing something so low but Jacqeline 'Jackie' enjoyed the rock n roll. Was keen on records and dancing even though she never seemed to stray out the front door for a night out on the town.

"Hurry up, where's the blasted key. I'm busting Beth!" Kate hopped about on the front step as Beth tucked her hand in all five compartments of her satchel.

"Ta dah!"

"Stop with the celebrations, shove it in and turn turn turn!!"

"Keep your knickers on, Kate. I don't know where Mum is" Beth stood to the side and grinned as Kate dashed down the hallway to use the toilet.

Kate yelled from the bathroom "Maybe shes on a date"

"Ugh really. Ewww, that would be horrid and if she brought him home-"

"Tongues shoved down throats left, right and centre. Mmmmmmmmah!"

"Yuckkkkkkkk That's me mum your talking about"

"Don't you want a new daddy? Maybe she'd pick up a spunk from her work" Kate walked by Beth her tongue hanging out, twisting away to all the sides- up down left right. All pink and disgusting as she skirted the couch to head over to the record player and proceeded to delve into the LP collection.

The door opened and closed behind Beth, Jacqueline made her way slowly in tugging off her coat and setting it on the hanger. She had the worst possible look on her face. She had been tired when she left work this afternoon although the changes in the job would be lovely and a nice little raise in the mix of it had Jackie happy.... It was the correspondence that lay in wait for her as she opened the flats front door that morning, that had her in the dumps.

"Mum! It's cool that Kate stays isn't it. Friday and all? Pleaseee " Beth beseech-ed with hands clasped together in prayer formation. They weren't a religious family therefore Beth wasn't admonished for the gesture.

"I've been to the Principals office." Jackie stared daggers at both the girls but it was Beth that was her responsibility "Put that record down Kate. Go to Beth's room while I have a word with my daughter"

With a cup of tea and her feet up on the other chair Jackie gazed over the rim at her daughter. This was getting harder by the day, her age and that of her daughters, was that more of sisters than parent child and she did try to keep it that way. Fun yet right. Happy yet proper. And it had all worked wonderfully, the house was full of music and laughter and silliness, love. It was.

It was until the first letter arrived from Saint George's the Catholic School Beth attended in nearby Maida Vale.

Relatively close to the flat, streets from the shop and close to the bus it was convenient. But it was also in the rather unfortunate realm of four adopted princes of Liverpool that daily worked and attended Abbey Road studios.

The first official correspondence she received Jackie thought it was but a hiccup, Beth and Kate lagging and taking too long to get to school thus missing the first bell and home room for roll call.

The second letter had Jackie's ears pricking, her senses heightening, her motherly instinct kicking in to overdrive.

"I've not said nought to the principal as to where you two naff off to but I'm quite sure I have it worked out." Sitting up Jackie scratched at the timber table, wondering what was best- a heavier hand, a gentle reminder, a clip over the ear like her father would likely suggest. God, if she herself didn't have responsibilities she would be down at the Studios for a look see every once in a while too but it wasn't to be; She was a mother, a parent of a flipping teenager no less. "You need to stop visiting and loitering at Abbey Road young lady"

Kate sat on the bottom step just a little further into the flat silently, it was interesting to see another persons family dynamic, a mother that didn't scream or cuss or raise her hand. Beth was so lucky that Jackie was so calm and understanding.

"But mummm its so great and John says hello, Paul too. Sometimes I run errands and -"

"Errands?"

"Yes only little things like running to the corner store for film for Ringo's camera or one time George wanted biscuits, John wanted a-"

"Beth!" Jacqueline quelled Beth's rapidly raising enthusiasm. How in the hell was she to compete with the Beatles! It was impossible and the temptation, Lord the temptation once those boys talked to them and asked them to run errands, whatever next.

This was unwinnable.

Her, dag mother (she had heard Beth and Kate carrying on about her) against four boys with the world at their very feet.

Jackie sighed, stood and looked out of the kitchen doorway asking Katie to come in the room.

"Ok. Here's how its going to be. You are not to go-"

Jumping up in distress Beth pulled her hair in a tizz "No Mum! Pleaseee I just have to go, you see-" Beth shook her head and fell into the seat next to Kate, fists slammed into her eyes, upsetting salty tears escaping.

"Bethany! Just listen would you, I want to compromise"

"Whatever do you mean Missus Gordon?" Kate gently stroked Beths hair and pat her back, the sobs emitting were getting to both her and Beths mum, well she looked heartbroken herself. "Compromise what?"

"Alright. Beth are you listening?" Jackie waited for the forlorn nod, her heart breaking at the sight before her, and continued "Alright no morning visits. Afternoons I don't mind a bit unless you have homework. But no mornings do you understand Beth"

"But mornings are when it's all happening" Beth lamented rubbing her eyes the tears had run rivers down her cheeks and she hadn't a tissue.

"No mornings and that's the end of it" Jackie stood to make a start on a light dinner it was now well past the time of making a wholesome meal so beans on toast would have to suffice. "Kate call your parents ask if you can stay the night"

Jackie stared at the beans on the stove, was it enough for three? Was her few soft words enough of a warning to a girl destined to love a prince who now happened to be residing in an Abbey?... Well Abbey Road anyway.

Was her little girl growing up too fast?
Was she ready for the whole kit and caboodle of stubbornness and boyfriends and smoking and all those other things that teenagers wanted to discover and do?

The beans bubbled and spat and her lips twisted in indecision over beans and boys, teenagers and toast.