Dear Diary,It's bye to you,
New York, New York!When will this torment end?'It is all part of life's rich tapestry' as Mrs Norris would say, ' there have to be black parts to make the colours stand out.'I fear my tapestry is completely black!Of course we hurried to the docks, yesterday, in the hope of catching Willow before he boarded a ship home but, alas, it was not to be. The Fates cruelly toy with me!I have secured passage back across the ocean, and to add to my misfortune it is upon 'The Titan Nick' as it returns, laden with tobacco.To be sure I would not miss it I enquired of the Captain, "Are you leaving Thursday?""Very! let's go get a drink!" he replied.The boat sailed at noon today and I stood on deck and watched the city slip away. I left Miss Dixon behind. She says she cannot return. Woody has said he will attend her and keep her from harm and has told me he is quite keen to introduce her to his Father."Willy Dicker?" I asked."If he gets the chance!" He winked.So it is just you and I, Diary as we journey homeward, but I must be sparing with my entries, for few pages remain and our days together are numbered.
Dear Diary,I'll find a brand new heart in it,
In old New York.I was up early after very little sleep and was eager to be off but had to remain in a state if intense agitation for the arrival of Woody. When he finally appeared it was Miss Dixon who delayed our departure with some fussing over her petticoats. Finally we departed and oh, how my heart was racing. Woody had arranged a carriage to convey us to Greenwich but it was not upto the standard I am used to. My eyes darted about as we neared our destination in the hope my eyes might chance upon the face I longed to see, but no that joy was not to be. We dismounted on the corner of Christopher St and Bleecker. There was some fellow standing upon the corner shouting about the right to marry and he wore a placard denouncing 'Prop 8'. He approached me and holding out some paper asked me to sign his petition for marriage equality for same sex couples."Are you for it?" he enquired."Indeed I am," I replied, " just as soon as I get my hands upon the one who has stolen my heart. My friends shall sign it too." They hesitated."Shall you not?" I asked aghast. They signed forthwith.Woody led the way through a door and up a narrow staircase and we found ourselves standing before a closed door. Miss Dixon held a kerchief to her nostrils for the aroma thereabouts was hardly pleasant. My heart was in great palpitation and I felt in danger of swooning. Woody rapped upon the door and I held my breath in anticipation. Seconds, that felt like minutes, passed and then it slowly slipped open.The face that peered out was not one I recognised."We are looking for a Mr Woofter," I gabbled, "We believe he has a room here."A baby began to cry in the room beyond the door and the woman, we gazed upon, glanced behind her then turned back to us."Ees gone. Ee left dis morning," She made to shut the door, but I stuck out my hand and held it back."Gone!" I gasped. "Where has he gone?"She shrugged, pushed away my arm and shut the door as my hopes began to fade once more.I could hardly breathe. Woody helped me back to the street and I leaned against the wall as he and Miss Dixon fussed about me."What ails you, Sir?" It was the fellow with the placard.Miss Dixon briefly told him of our predicament."Oh, I know 'im. He were a gentleman.""D'ya know where he's gone?" asked Woody."Aye," said the fellow, "back 'ome.""Back home?" I found my voice, "Where is his home?""England, o'course." He said.We stood there in a stunned silence and then the fellow spoke again."It were that over there," he said pointing across the street, "it haunted 'im he said and in the end, he decided it were a 'sign' telling him to go 'ome.""It is a sign," said Woody." I know that......Doh!" The fellow was exasperated."But look what it says," gasped Miss Dixon.There across the street was the sign above a doorway, and it read....." W. Austen."
Dear Diary,I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps,
And find my wonderful Will...I love him heaps! The weather has taken a turn for the worst! We have had glorious blue skies for the past few days but today the Heavens opened and vented all their sorrow upon us. Miss Dixon and I had ventured downtown and at one point were startled by a sudden flash and a loud clap of thunder! We took shelter in a nearby emporium, Afercrombie and Bitch and perused the garments upon show therein. There was a very handsome fellow gyrating upon the threshold and I found myself entranced by the pertness of his buttocks in his tight fitting breeches. How lovely men are!I began to regret our entrance for it was all I could do to get Miss Dixon out of there. I fear once in the presence of beautiful things she has to handle them all and try them out for size. Eventually I was able to extricate her from the building though I fear her purse was considerably lighter. Exhausted we returned to our rooms and I had only just collapsed upon the divan when there came a frantic knocking upon the door. It was Woody with news.Dwight Schnitz had come up trumps and had heard of a 'Woofter' in lodgings down in the Village on the corner of Bleecker and Christopher St. I was all for setting off there at once but Woody indicated the fading light and warned it would not be safe to wander those streets after dark. I bowed to his advice but was frustrated to be so close to a happy reunion and yet held back from it. However my heart soared with the hope that tomorrow I would gaze into those lovely blue eyes once more.
Dear Diary,These five guinea shoes,
Are longing to stray,
Right through the very heart of it,
New York, New York.How fortuitous a meeting! Woody has been in these parts for some months. It transpires he is good with his hands and has had a hand in or on many of the new erections hereabouts. It seems that he is very well connected in this city and ever grateful for my assistance back in the Nethers, is keen to assist me in my search for Willow and has said he will meet with us later in the day to relay what he has discovered from his enquiries.Miss Dixon and I had some time to spend at our leisure. We wandered Broadway and it's environs. How difficult it is to refrain from looking up when there is so much to see but one has to pay attention to the pathway ahead for fear of ruining one's footwear. Much of the city appears to be in a frenzy over the fate of some Oboomer Barracks. If I had a dollar for everytime I was solicited about their fate upon a street corner I should be a very rich man indeed. I just smiled politely and held up my hand declaring "I am from England." and then quietly, to myself, "I care not a jot!" I care not for the trappings of war. I am for peace and love, but especially love.As for their eating habits, it is a wonder all these people are not obese from the size of the portions they dish out and such strange offerings they are too. I swear I saw, upon a board outside one roadside eatery, a 'hot dog' on offer with the boast of it being over a foot long! Poor thing! If this is what Independence brings, Heaven help them!Our rendezvous with Woody was in the early evening in some well known 'Deli'. I passed on the pickled gherkins I was offered as they put me in mind of slugs with rigor mortis. I daresay I would have rather slipped in a 'hot dog' than those repulsive objects. Woody's face was solemn as he bit on one. I thought, serves you right. What is wrong with a cucumber sandwich?! He had had no luck and had no information that could give me hope but said that I should not despair yet. He had a few other avenues to go down and had arranged to speak with a Dwight Schnitz in the morning. I await with bated breath.
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."
Dear Diary,Start spreading the news!
I'm arriving today!Such excitement aboard 'The Titan Nick' as we sailed up the Hudson and berthed on the Lower East Side around noon. I have seen 'bustle' but nought to match this. A great deal of building is going on and this appears, very much, to be an up and coming place. We thanked the Captain but he thought we wanted to 'spank' him, which perked him up no end, but we hurried down the gangplank and set foot in the Colonies for the first time. My conversations with Ivor Biggen were most enlightening and I was made aware of areas of the city we should avoid, as well as knowing the best place to find ladies who welcome those who have been at sea for many a lonely night or, if utterly desperate, sheep who offer the similar comfort.I made enquiries at the harbourmaster's office and discovered that Willow's ship had arrived two days earlier but he was unable to give me any further assistance in my search.As we wandered the streets I became more and more apprehensive of ever being able to find him in such a vast and growing city as this.We found lodging in Midtown, which is close to the most populated and frequented haunts and a good place to begin a search as any. Miss Dixon does not appear to be in any hurry to find the fellow who wants her so and when I broach the subject quickly changes it. I am glad of her company however and am grateful for her friendship. We spent the evening acquainting ourselves with the area hereabouts and found a place for an adequate meal but retired early to our beds.I am overcome with a fatigue yet how nice it is to feel solid ground beneath our feet once more. I grew tired of the constant tossing. One can you know.
Dear Diary,'Land Ho!'This afternoon the cry went up and I left my self imposed incarceration to get my first glimpse of New England.How welcome the sight! I cannot wait to feel solid ground beneath my feet. We are sailing down the coast and shall sail into the harbour at New York sometime tomorrow.I sought out Ivor Biggen and probed him intently for some hours.
