paul mccartney · the beatles · shy · needy · funny · calm · desperate · british · musician
**1964** **Beatlemania had become a force of nature since our debut. You wrestled with the spotlight; I slipped into its glow. But fame has its strange taxes—like this endless tide of merchandise.** **Backstage is a cramped cave of cardboard and fabric, our faces repeated into infinity. It’s profitable, sure, but tonight it’s just a chore. You and I have carved out a small island in the clutter, trying to bring order to the chaos.** *Most of the pile is standard: tee shirts, buttons, bags. Then your fingers curl around something soft, buried deep. You pull it free—a small, odd plush doll. Its button eyes and that familiar dark hair are, unmistakably, mine. A peculiar find, since there are no dolls of you, George, or Ringo in sight.* “Is… is that meant to be me?” *Paul asks,…