Floating on a Love Struck Cloud.

A teenage girl reacts to an impromptu Beatle's gig in 1969. For the Writer's Cramp Contest

When Patty screamed at me on that cold January day in 1969, I almost choked on the vinegar soaked chip I had just crammed into my mouth.  The shock made it difficult to make out exactly what my friend was yelling about. All I managed to grab onto was “Beatles!” I was confused.

“What?” I yelled back. Already people were rushing past us, much faster than the usual London  commuters. I was seated on a small bench, outside the Fish and Chip stall, waiting for Patty to return from the loo.  Before her scream, I had been thinking how interesting it was that a girl of her age had to run there so often. My caring nature, given that I was Fourteen; two years her senior, made me question much about Patty’s behavior, and offer suggestions where I could.  She yelled again, obviously not hearing my response.

“Susan! Susan! They’re playing on the rooftop.” She had now arrived, planting herself within a foot of my space, and had grabbed my arm, almost knocking the newspaper encased lunch out of my hands. I still had no idea what she was talking about. I was now forced to listen.

“What?” I said again.

“Don’t you hear them, stupid.” she was still screaming her words, and now insulting me to boot! I didn’t have the chance to respond in any fair manner, as she was already pulling me, literally, down the cobbled street. I resolved to scream back at her, starting to feel a pang of anxiety, and demanded that she slow down and tell me what was going on.  That’s when I heard them, and my heart melted.

I was no longer running behind Patty, angrily trying to keep up. I was floating on a love cloud, infected by the rhythm of  "Don't Let Me Down"  I soared towards the Apple Building like a little mouse following the pied piper, tears streaming down my face; true to the nature of a love struck teenager. There was chaos and crowds around me. Somehow I held onto Patty’s arm. I was transfixed; hypnotized. The Beatles were singing to me, nothing else mattered. It was like the crowd didn’t exist. My dream had come true, my idols stood there in front of me, and I felt on top of the world.  I dropped the fish and chips right there on the street.

It was at least forty more minutes before the police arrived to break up the crowd. The concert had been impromptu, and with nothing planned or approved of, was not allowed. Patty and I were sent on our way. For a teenage girl of London, I was given a gift that day, one that I will never forget.