February 9, 1964 by Lylanne Musselman Before The Beatles came to America’s shores The Fab Four were on the cover of Life Magazine in glossy black and white. I was in grandma’s kitchen the first time I became aware of them. Mom showed grandma their photo to prove how “scruffy” those four boys were. I remember the two of them discussing their disgusting long hair. I begged them to see the magazine cover. I immediately liked what I saw — youthful smiling faces, a welcome sight for a second-grader, who loved their long but simple hair. They became instant friends to this only child living in a much too adult world. That Sunday night they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show I was sitting on the floor as close to the TV as I could get — those black and white images flickering four young men in dark suits and ties singing “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah…” and “I want to hold your hand….” I had to strain to hear them sing over all ...
Flying Island is the Online Literary Journal of the Indiana Writers Center, accepting submissions from Midwest residents and those with significant ties to the Midwest.