Susan Leigh had planned this all perfectly. She would slip into the boot of the Beatles’ car while everyone else was distracted, while the Beatles were running away from all her fellow fans and they tried to catch the Beatles by chasing them. She would stow away to their hotel with them, hidden by the instruments and luggage in the back. And then when the boot was opened, and the Beatles found her, she would climb out and face her beloved boys, and she would look deep into Paul’s dreamy eyes and say....
“Eee! Paul!! Huminaminama....”
The Beatles stared at her. Susan twisted her fingers together nervously, eyes shining with excitement and tears. What had she wanted to say again? She knew she’d thought of something, but – oh, there were Paul’s eyes for real, those breathtaking long lashes, and – what colour were they? Susan had always wondered about that, and now even looking at them up close in person, she couldn’t tell.
“Umignabah,” she stammered. Or something like that. Come on, Susan! She’d played this out in her head a million times....
“Oh – hello,” said Paul, in his wonderful soft, warm voice. “What were you doing in our boot?”
Paul had spoken to her... Susan could hardly believe it. With a squeal, she launched herself at Paul, arms outstretched to wrap around his neck... She just had to kiss him right now, this wonderful, beautiful man....
An arm reached out in front of her, blocking her way and pushing her backwards. “Maybe you’d better leave now,” said the Beatles’ driver sternly.
“No! No, I... Paul!” cried Susan, straining to get closer, stretching out her hand to Paul, hoping desperately that he’d take it. There was so much she’d wanted to say to him – and now she couldn’t remember any of it. How could she leave before she’d even got the chance?
But the Beatles were already going, heading for the door while Susan struggled to follow. The Beatles’ driver held her back until the Fabs were inside. “Paul!” she cried, tears falling from her big blue eyes. “I love you!!”
Paul turned in the doorway, giving Susan a small wave with his slender left hand – and then he was gone. Susan collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing outright now, as their driver let go of her and made his own way towards the door with the instruments. She wouldn’t be able to follow them now. The Beatles would have gone up to their room, and the hotel would never give her the room number, not even if she told them how she and Paul were meant for one another....
Why hadn’t she been able to talk to them? She’d spoken to her mum about the Beatles coming here when she’d first found out. “What do I say to them, Mum?” Her mum had told her that the Beatles were just ordinary people like anyone else, and she should talk to them as though they were. But Susan, who had always been rather shy, knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with the Beatles if she talked to them the way she’d talk to anyone else. So she’d planned a speech in which she told the Beatles how much she loved them and told Paul that she would be his forever – and even now, she still couldn’t remember a single word of it.
Her mum had been wrong. The Beatles weren’t ordinary people like anyone else. Ordinary people didn’t make you feel the way she’d felt when she’d first seen Paul for real just now. Ordinary people didn’t make your heart beat a million times faster, until your thoughts were completely overwhelmed and you were reduced to a sobbing heap, knowing that your life would never, never be complete until you and he were together....
Susan sat up, smoothing her short brown hair, which had gotten messed up in the car boot, trying to work the flip back into it. She had to make this work somehow. Because Paul was anything but ordinary, and that one little taste of seeing him had only made her want him more.
“Eee! Paul!! Huminaminama....”
The Beatles stared at her. Susan twisted her fingers together nervously, eyes shining with excitement and tears. What had she wanted to say again? She knew she’d thought of something, but – oh, there were Paul’s eyes for real, those breathtaking long lashes, and – what colour were they? Susan had always wondered about that, and now even looking at them up close in person, she couldn’t tell.
“Umignabah,” she stammered. Or something like that. Come on, Susan! She’d played this out in her head a million times....
“Oh – hello,” said Paul, in his wonderful soft, warm voice. “What were you doing in our boot?”
Paul had spoken to her... Susan could hardly believe it. With a squeal, she launched herself at Paul, arms outstretched to wrap around his neck... She just had to kiss him right now, this wonderful, beautiful man....
An arm reached out in front of her, blocking her way and pushing her backwards. “Maybe you’d better leave now,” said the Beatles’ driver sternly.
“No! No, I... Paul!” cried Susan, straining to get closer, stretching out her hand to Paul, hoping desperately that he’d take it. There was so much she’d wanted to say to him – and now she couldn’t remember any of it. How could she leave before she’d even got the chance?
But the Beatles were already going, heading for the door while Susan struggled to follow. The Beatles’ driver held her back until the Fabs were inside. “Paul!” she cried, tears falling from her big blue eyes. “I love you!!”
Paul turned in the doorway, giving Susan a small wave with his slender left hand – and then he was gone. Susan collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing outright now, as their driver let go of her and made his own way towards the door with the instruments. She wouldn’t be able to follow them now. The Beatles would have gone up to their room, and the hotel would never give her the room number, not even if she told them how she and Paul were meant for one another....
Why hadn’t she been able to talk to them? She’d spoken to her mum about the Beatles coming here when she’d first found out. “What do I say to them, Mum?” Her mum had told her that the Beatles were just ordinary people like anyone else, and she should talk to them as though they were. But Susan, who had always been rather shy, knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with the Beatles if she talked to them the way she’d talk to anyone else. So she’d planned a speech in which she told the Beatles how much she loved them and told Paul that she would be his forever – and even now, she still couldn’t remember a single word of it.
Her mum had been wrong. The Beatles weren’t ordinary people like anyone else. Ordinary people didn’t make you feel the way she’d felt when she’d first seen Paul for real just now. Ordinary people didn’t make your heart beat a million times faster, until your thoughts were completely overwhelmed and you were reduced to a sobbing heap, knowing that your life would never, never be complete until you and he were together....
Susan sat up, smoothing her short brown hair, which had gotten messed up in the car boot, trying to work the flip back into it. She had to make this work somehow. Because Paul was anything but ordinary, and that one little taste of seeing him had only made her want him more.
Next up on the couple's itinerary is Inverness Castle. As a means of convenience, they opted to take the hotel's shuttle which offers free daily rides to the place. Their faces were again struck with awe after a short hike towards the top. "I think we can best describe this beauty with one word: Stunning!" George remarked. "I completely agree, my dear! Not to mention, the beige colour reflects very well with the sunlight." Pattie replied. "Mm-hmm! Indeed, love." George said. They then wasted no time in taking more photos. And because the castle was currently open to the public, they went inside it as well!
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
George and Pattie decided to have a morning swim at the indoor pool three hours after breakfast and booking their ride to Loch Ness for tomorrow. The former asked, "I know it's only been a day since we arrived, but how are you enjoying this place so far?" His wife replied, "Well, I'm quite liking it! How about you, dear?" George said, "So am I, love! Especially as it is just the two of us for a week." Pattie said, "That's true. I've been waiting for this moment right from the time we got engaged!" George replied, "Oh, yes. Indeed! You took the words straight out of me mouth there." Pattie smiled in response. The couple even made their swim extra memorable by diving and sharing an underwater kiss! Afterwards, they spent the rest of the day with a nice stroll around the hotel's vicinity.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
After they had finished unpacking, the couple went outside to have lunch and study the map for planning out their special itinerary. "Okay; so for the landmarks, we should definitely pay a visit to Loch Ness!" George said. Pattie replied, "That's for sure! I am also quite intrigued by Inverness Castle, especially since it's only a hike up away from where our hotel is located." George replied, "Sounds magnificent, love! Then, we can take a nature walk in the Ness Islands." Pattie added, "And we'll save the city tour for next week! I'd like us to go to the Victorian Market for our souvenir shopping." George remarked, "Capital idea! Well, I think that just about settles our plan." His wife agreed. It was a good timing too, as their food arrived the moment they were done folding the map. When they returned to their suite a few hours later, George wrote down their chosen places in checklist form (like what he did in Ireland last year).
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
When the new day came, the couple woke up feeling rested and got themselves ready for the ride to Inverness. "See you in a week, Laura, darling. Take care." George whispered to his daughter, who was still sound asleep. "We love you." Pattie added. With that, they kissed her on the forehead. This was then followed by a tasty breakfast, after which they headed back to the airship. "The weather is expected to be cooler where I'll be taking you during this time of year (being the capital of the Highlands), so have ye brought along some coats?" Philip asked as they returned on deck. George replied, "Why yes, sir! We did. Thanks for letting us know about that." Pattie said, "Indeed! Good thing we planned ahead of time." "Mm-hmm." Nodded George. "You are all set in that case!" Remarked Philip. A few minutes later, the airship was gliding in the sky again, and the newlyweds shared a sweet moment while enjoying the lovely view at the same time.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED