Sweet Little Sixteen-
By: Me!(NatashaPavlova)
For: ECC309, because I promised she could have Ringo on the next story I wrote.
PLOT:
Ringo gets sick two days before a gig and the rest of the Beatles have to find a replacement and teach him/her the song before the gig. When Ringo gets better, he meets the replacement he finds himself falling for her. That's right, it's a girl! What will Ringo do to try and woo this pretty drummer when George starts to show an interest in her too?
John tuned his guitar while he waited for the rest of his band. They were all meeting at his Aunt Mimi's house to practice for their next gig at the Cavern Club. He was becoming rather impatient and he was in a foul mood when he was impatient.
When Paul and George got there finally, John felt a bit better. Now all that had to wait for was Ringo. After a few minutes of listening to George tune his guitar and Paul trying to replace a sting on his bass that he'd broken the last time he'd played, John groaned.
"What's taking Ringo so long?" He asked looking out the window, like Ringo might be standing outside the door to get on John's nerves. George and Paul both looked at John blankly, like was already supposed to know something.
"Uh, John," Paul said rubbing the back of his neck, "Ringo's sick." John didn't think he heard correctly. He took a step toward Paul and cocked his head to the side.
"He's what?" he asked gently. Paul took a deep breath.
"You didn't call him George?" Paul scolded the younger guitarist, who made a face at him.
"You said you'd tell John!" George exclaimed, "So no I didn't call him!" Paul made a funny sounding noise and he looked back at John.
"Ringo's sick, John." Paul said, hoping John didn't explode.
John didn't explode really, but he did say a few nasty words, "How could he be sick now?" John asked, "We have a gig in two days!"
Paul shrugged, "I can't do anything about it!" he said seriously. He was clearly as bummed about their newest drummer being sick as John was.
"I know," John sighed and clapped Paul on the shoulder. They were all quiet for a minute before George raised his hand to be recognized.
"Erm, What are we gonna do about a drummer?" he asked looking between Paul and John.
"We'll have to get a fill-in." Paul said shrugging, "But how are we gonna teach him all the songs in two days?"
"Worse yet," John said sitting down on the couch, "How are we gonna find a drummer in two days?"
"Well we could put an ad in the paper," George suggested. John shrugged, "And I could ask around to some of Peter and Harry's friends." John nodded.
"OK, George you ask around, I'll get the ad out, Paul you...Practice." John said waving for him to do something. Paul rolled his eyes and said he'd help George ask around. They all left in their own directions and did their assigned jobs.
The next day, John had people knocking on his door saying they wanted to be the drummer for the group. He decided to hold at audition at George's house. So at three in the afternoon there were four boys lined up on the couch in George's living room with his mother running around trying to give them tea.
By the time they got down to the last guy, John wasn't happy with any of them. He was getting desperate and thought about asking for Pete to come back and fill in just for one night, but he figured it would only make it harder for Ringo to get fans. Ringo had replaced Pete and the fans didn't like it too much as it was.
George ran his fingers through his hair while Paul and John debated who was the better drummer between two of the lads who'd auditioned. Suddenly, George's mother poked her head in the room and cleared her throat.
"Yes, Mum?" George sighed. She pointed out of the room as she spoke.
"George, there's a girl here. She says she knows you." She said. John and Paul suddenly stopped talking and looked between George and his mother.
"George doesn't know any girls." John said making a face. George scowled at him and walked toward the door. He walked out to the living room and stopped dead when he saw a girl sitting on the couch. She had brown wavy hair, blue eyes, and drum sticks in her hand. She looked kind of young, but George still thought she was pretty cute.
"Whoa," Paul said as he stumbled behind George after he'd stopped so suddenly. The girl looked up and saw them looking at her. She got up and she stuck her drumsticks in her back pocket of her jeans before she stuck out her hand to George.
"Hi, I'm Kristy." She said smiling. George nodded and shook her hand.
"Hello," George said, his voice a bit higher pitched than normal. Paul shoved his shoulder and he cleared his throat, "I'm George."
Kristy smiled and nodded before John shoved George and he stumbled into the room. Paul and John walked in the room and nodded to her.
"Uh, that's John and that's Paul." George said pointing to each of his band mates. Kristy shook hands with them and she said her name again.
"Um, if you don't mind me asking," Paul said scratching the back of her head, "George doesn't know any girls, so why're you here?" Kristy laughed as George glared at him.
"I'm here for the audition," she said biting her lip, "Or did you already have someone for the spot?" All three of the boys stared at her in a sort of shock before she waved her hand in front of John's face.
"You can play?" Paul asked cocking his head to the side, like it was unnatural for a girl to play any sort of instrument. Kristy nodded and frowned slightly.
"Yes, I can," she said nodding, "But if you've already got someone I can go..." She pointed to the front door and John followed her finger. He seemed to be thinking deeply on the matter. George watched John, wondering if he'd actually let a girl take Ringo's spot temporarily. Kristy didn't know he was thinking however and she started to leave. John's eyes got wide as he watched her. George knew John wasn't gonna be the one to stop her from going, so he jumped forward and grabbed her wrist.
She looked back at him and cocked an eyebrow at him. He let go of her and he cleared his throat, "Uh, don't go yet. You can try out if you really want to." Kristy shrugged and the three boys led her back to George's brother's bedroom. He was the drummer in his own band. John had asked him to fill in, but his group had a gig that night too. He was letting them use his kit for the day. George gestured for her to take her place and she sat down behind the kit.
"You got anything you want to hear?" She asked twirling a drumstick in her hand expertly.
"Uh, I dunno," John shrugged.
"Why don't you play one of the songs your gonna play for your gig and I'll play with you, see if we mix well?" Kristy suggested. George shrugged and strapped on his guitar. Paul and John did the same and John and Paul cleared their throats.
"Do you know, Twist and Shout?" John asked. Kristy shrugged and Paul and George shrugged at John. Paul counted them off and John started to sing as George and Paul started to play. They all listened to Kristy's drumming and she was rather talented. She was nearly as good as Ringo. When the song was over, they were all surprised that she could play as well as she could. They all just looked at her for a few minutes while she looked back at them.
"So, um," John cleared his throat, "How's tomorrow night suit you?"
Kristy stood up and she had a toothy grin on her face, "Sounds good, fellas." She said sticking her drumsticks back in her pocket.
"Do you have your own kit?" John asked, suddenly realizing that was an important question. Kristy nodded and held out her hand to John.
"The Cavern Club right?" she asked as John shook her hand. He nodded and she shook George and Paul's hands before she left.
The three boys were silent until George grinned, "She was bloody brilliant!"