"But sweetheart, that's just so far!" Elizabeth cried. "And you aren't even fourteen years old yet!"

"I will be in a couple of months," Laura replied. "And you know Art's a good driver. We've ridden with him before."

Laura, along with Yvette, Annie, and Jo, was planning to travel to New York City to stay with Yvette's Uncle Richard and Aunt Eva. Yvette's older brother, Arthur, would drive them there. They would attend the taping of the Ed Sullivan show at eight o'clock and then spend the night with Yvette's aunt and uncle before traveling back the next morning.

"These Beatles must be pretty special," Paul remarked.

"They're the best group in the whole wide world, Dad!" Laura enthused. "I'll die if I can't see them!"

"Well, considering I can't really afford funeral expenses right now, I suppose you'll have to go, then," Paul quipped.

"Oh Dad, I love you!" Laura squeezed him hard and kissed his cheek.

"I love you too, sweetheart," he replied.

Sunday morning, Laura was brushing her hair when she heard the car horn beep outside. She hurriedly gave her hair a couple more swipes with the brush before darting out the door.

"Aren't you even going to tell us goodbye?" asked Elizabeth.

"Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad." Laura gave them each a quick hug and peck on the cheek before dashing outside.

Yvette sat in the front seat beside her brother. In the back seat, Jo and Annie moved over so Laura could get into the car.

"Are we ready to roll now?" asked Art.

"Let's roll!" replied four eager female voices.

Art made several turns and then entered the main highway.

"Jeannie was crying when I left," Jo told her friends. "She's been upset all weekend because Mom and Dad told her she's too young to go."

"Merry's too young to care anything about the Beatles," said Annie.

"Jeannie doesn't so much care about the Beatles as she just hates missing out on a fun trip," Jo replied.

"Maybe your parents can take Jeannie somewhere special to make up for it," Laura suggested.

"If it'll stop her whining, it'll be worth it," said Jo.

Around noon, Art pulled into the parking lot of a McDonald's. Laura, Annie, and Jo's parents had given him enough money to buy lunch for them. Laura had a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. In the car afterwards, she became drowsy and dozed for a bit. She awakened in time to see the sign announcing 'Welcome to New York.' All four girls cheered.

"I've never been to New York before!" cried Laura.

"Me neither!" added Annie.

"We drove over a few times when we lived in Massachusetts," said Jo.

Art left the main highway and turned onto a side road. Laura and Annie marveled at the skyscrapers they passed, while Jo and Yvette, who were more accustomed to such sights, simply stared. Soon they reached an area where the buildings were further apart and interspersed with lovely rows of nice houses.

Art parked in front of the white picket fence surrounding one such house. It was made of red brick and had a porch with a porch swing, and the lawn had been neatly manicured. The five travelers emerged from the car, then walked across the front lawn and up the porch steps. Art rang the doorbell, and a few seconds later, the door was opened by a middle-aged woman with curly dark hair and bright blue eyes.

"Why, Art and Yvette! Come on in!" She stepped aside so her visitors could enter.

"It's so good to see you all again," said Aunt Eva. She and Uncle Richard had been to visit Art and Yvette and their parents and so had met Yvette's friends several times. "How's that baby brother of yours, Laura?"

"He's a year and a half old now," Laura told her. "Walking and saying a few words."

"And how about Max?"

"He graduates this year. After that he wants to work for the Volkswagen dealership with Uncle Matthias."

"And Annie, how's little Merry?"

"She's fine. She's in four-year-old kindergarten this year and likes it very much."

"Jeannie's fine, too," added Jo.

"Glad to hear it! I hope you're all hungry. I cooked enough for the whole neighborhood!"

"I'm starving!" said Yvette. "McDonald's seems like ages ago, doesn't it?"

The other girls nodded. After saying hello to Uncle Richard, who was tall and thin with wiry greying hair, the group sat down to a huge meal of salad, spaghetti, and rolls. Laura ate until she was stuffed and remembered to thank Aunt Eva afterwards.

After resting up for a couple of hours, it was time to leave for the studio. Art drove them the half-hour trip, and they entered the building, found the studio, and sat in their seats. As the Beatles took their places on stage, the audience began to scream in euphoria. Each of the four girls had their own personal favorite.

"John! John! John! John!" screamed Jo.

"Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!" screamed Laura.

"George! George! George! George!" screamed Annie.

"Ringo! Ringo! Ringo! Ringo!" screamed Yvette.

As she watched Paul McCartney play the guitar and sing, Laura lost all sense of time and felt herself drawn into a world in which all she could do was scream his name over and over again.


"The girls are fine," the nurse told Uncle Richard and Aunt Eva. "They were suffering from mild hysteria when they were admitted. They have been administered sedatives and are calm now. They'll probably sleep for a few hours. You can take them home whenever you like."

The group left to return home around noon the following day. Art was furious.

"I've never been so embarrassed in my life!" he grumbled. "How could you girls do this to me? Especially you, Yvette. Just wait till Dad finds out about this!"

"I'm sorry," Yvette said meekly.

"We all are," Jo chimed in.

"I mean, what's the point?" Art went on. "Four English guys playing guitar and singing! Sure, they're great musicians, but nothing to get all worked up over!"

"How can you say that?" asked Laura.

Little did she know she'd soon meet someone who'd make her forget all about Paul McCartney.