Nancy and Julia

(Part 1) [This week's "As the Pegasus Flies"] Nancy was bored to tears with her job. She liked the paycheck, though, and the way people responded positively when she told them she worked for Reader's Digest. Everybody knew and loved Reader's Digest! Then, inevitably, they'd ask what she did for them. This is when Nancy would have to get a little vague, or change the subject completely. What the hell did she do for them? Yes, she was part of a whole, the sum is greater than the parts and all that. But packing up register tape? How would this help the company in the long run? Fifty years from now, people would remember the articles that were written, not a cardboard box that was packed up and stored in a basement. She wanted to be part of something that would be remembered! Oh, well. Nancy sighed. She never thought she would be one of those people who disliked their job, and had to grit it out to the weekend, when she could then have fun. At least she had plans with her best friend Julia this weekend. They were going to take off work on Friday and drive out to Idlewild airport to see if they could meet the guys in a new band she and Julia were crazy about. The band were making their first trip to the US from England, so Nancy was confident there wouldn't be too many fans, and she'd be able to get some autographs. And then, for Sunday, Julia scored a pair of tickets to see them perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. This is what kept Nancy going. Something to look forward to. Meanwhile, she packed up another box of register tape, wrote "Feb. 1964" on the side, then began a new box.

(Part 2) Pan Am flight 101 approached New York's Idlewild airport. The Beatles were nervous. They had conquered Germany, then their home country of England. This was their final test. The USA! The home of their idols: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard. The band had a big send off from their fans when they left Heathrow airport, and the boys were excited and confident. But despite this, and despite the fact that "I Want to Hold Your hand" was a hit in America, by the time the plane neared New York the fellows were feeling a little doubtful. "America has everything, why should they want us?" George asked aloud, to no one in particular. Soon the pilot sent word to them that a big crowd awaited them. As the plane taxied to the gate, John said, "Just look at that!" More than three thousand fans were in a frenzy at the sight of the Beatles' plane. "They must be out of their minds," Ringo said. "Well, bloody hell," Paul added. Their manager Brian came up front to talk to them. "You boys up for a press conference?" he said. "I've been told there are over two hundred reporters present. Can't buy this kind of publicity." Paul said, "This is great!" "Let me guess," John said, "They're going to ask us about our bloody hair." George, still looking out the window, said. "Look at all those screaming girls!" When the plane came to a stop, the boys were ushered into the Pan Am arrivals building for their impromptu press conference. Amongst the two hundred or so reporters and photographers were Nancy and Julia, Nancy having gotten them in with her Reader's Digest credentials. The fun was about to begin...

(Part 3) The cynical, jaded New York press took an instant like to the cocky, cheeky, young Liverpool musicians. Their confidence and charisma actually made the press conference fun. The reporters fired off question after question, and the boys (they were so hard to tell apart) had quick answers. Can you sing for us? "No, we need money first." Have you decided when you're going to retire? "Any minute now." Julia nudged Nancy, whispered in her ear, "Ask them a question!" "What could I possibly ask them?" Nancy said. "I don't know—just the first thing that pops into your head." "OK," Nancy said and raised her hand. When she was called on, she said, "Hello, I'm Nancy from Reader's Digest magazine. Have you fellows ever seen a real, live pegasus?" The noise in the room abated for a few seconds as the question floated there (this is how the rumor of RD having a pegasus started). Finally, Paul said, "You're daft!" Then Ringo said, "I've seen a unicorn, but never a pegasus." John said, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Nancy, embarrassed, said, "Nevermind." Then the real reporters resumed asking their serious questions. What do you call that haircut? "Arthur." But John had nodded to someone in his entourage, who went over and escorted Nancy and Julia outside to a waiting limo. Ten minutes later the boys ran from the building and hopped into the back of the limo, giggling like schoolboys causing trouble. (Which, of course, they nearly were.) "So, where do you have this pegasus stashed?" John asked, pushing the bangs out of his eyes. "Pleasantville," Nancy said. John leaned toward the driver. "You heard the lady," he said, "Pleasantville it is!" The limo took off, rounded a corner, and soon hundreds of screaming and crying teenage girls draped themselves over the car, pounded on the windows, and shouted nonsense. The car gained speed and quickly the hysterical fans were behind them. It took an hour to get to the RD campus, but the time went fast. The radio was playing Beatles songs non-stop, the boys were buzzing, and the excitement was palpable. Before they knew it, the limo was pulling to a stop in front of the Rotunda entrance. Lorenzo was outside grabbing a smoke. Everyone piled out of the car. "Buon giorno, Beatles," Lorenzo said.


(Part 4) Nancy liked to walk the grounds of Reader's Digest during her lunch hour. For exercise, but also just to be outside in the fresh air. She loved the garden, where fellow employees got to grow their vegetables and flowers, but she also loved going farther back into the woods—and past that where there was a grassy meadow. This is where she first glimpsed the pegasus, Peggy. The pegasus was no longer held captive, having been freed years before by Lola and Jake. But like a homing pigeon, Peggy always returned to Reader's Digest to graze. The pegasus had magical powers that brought good luck to whoever touched her. Lila and DeWitt Wallace were perfect examples of this, as was Mink Stole Suzy. Nancy said, "Legend has it that if you touch the pegasus, you'll have good luck." The Beatles already had their own magic and luck, of course. Nancy had just asked the Beatles a question, off the top of her head, as Julia had suggested. Now it was all this. She had no idea if the pegasus would even be here! The boys had boundless energy, and once loosed upon the RD campus, it was hard to get them under control. While Lorenzo went to the cafeteria to cook them a nice hot meal, they ran around aimlessly looking for the pegasus before Nancy could tell them about the secret meadow.

Once they had a focus and destination, John said, "Ringo, use your big schnoz to sniff out the pegasus!" With Ringo leading the way, they--The Beatles, Nancy, and Julia--tramped through the woods and emerged into the sunlit meadow. It was a chilly early February day, but it felt warmer here. "Come on little pegasus, don't be shy!" Paul said. They all looked to the sky, and sure enough, off in the distance a pegasus approached. Peggy's strong wings brought her directly above them quickly, and soon she was on the ground, pulling her wings to her side and snorting happily. Peggy was excited! She had sensed the arrival of the four Liverpudlians, and hurried back to RD as soon as she could. She knew the lads were charmed, and hoped some of their luck could rub off on her. She took a few tentative steps toward the group, and they did they same. The four lads reached out, and gently petted the pegasus...