Sunday 26th October 1808

Dear Diary,
I want to be a part of it.....New York, New York!
How tall some of the buildings are here, why today there must have been one with at least 6 floors!
"Have you ever seen such big erections?" Miss Dixon exclaimed.
Such a diversity of people too and the noise and the bustle is quite unlike anything I have ever seen. We passed some fellow on a street corner shouting for the abolition of slavery. Miss Dixon was keen to add her voice to his but I lead her away for her own safety.
We came upon a shop selling musical instruments and I enquired within as to whether anyone of Willow's description had been in fingering the oboes but, alas, no one had.
We wandered for much of the day, my eyes searching the streets for that familiar face while Miss Dixon gasped and cooed at the fashions and goods available in the boutiques and emporiums that we passed.
As dusk began to fall I became more and more melancholic and all hope of ever seeing Willow again began to seep from me. My feet were aching but my heart ached more.
Then something unexpected and amazing happened...
Returning to our accomodation in defeat I collided with a fellow coming in the opposite direction, for I was distracted by a Willow-alike upon the opposite pavement.
"Oi!" exclaimed the fellow, "Watch where yer goin'!"
"Pardon me." I apologised and head bowed stepped aside to allow him to pass.
"Well, blow me!" The fellow exclaimed again, "If it ain't Mr Austen himself!"
That is when I looked up and beheld the grinning and familiar face I had not seen in a long time. A smile crept upon my face and I surrendered easily to his hug.
" Are you going to introduce us Wayne?" asked Miss Dixon.
"Of course," I replied, " this, Miss Dixon, is Woody Dicker."