CHAPTER EXCERPT PREVIEW : THE SEQUEL FOLLOW-UP NOVEL TO PETER JARRETTE'S BRIGHTON BABYLON...MEET 'DIXIE'.

Dixie   

“Do you see that?” I asked Frau as we sat people gazing in the sun one very hot late summer’s weekend at the al fresco tables of Bar del Surf.

“Oh yes.” she answered and kept staring as did I.

“Who is that?” she asked.

“No idea. Must be new. I couldn’t miss that in my movements around the city now could I?” I assured her and we kept staring. We weren’t the only ones to be captured by the sight. Men and women, boys and girls and even small children in pushchairs broke off from their own distractions to stare. Their paces would slow as they strolled and were wheeled past. Some young lads stopped altogether and settled on walls nearby pretending not to notice but obviously egging each other on to actually do, say something...or even make an approach.  The apparition sat calmly, coolly enjoying a vanilla single scoop ice cream cone purchased from the vendor yards away at the side of the sandy volleyball courts. She had her small dog nestled happily in her lap. Older men sitting close by taking in the sun who had been enjoying their own ice cream cones on the low stone wall with their wives or partners would have their attentions yanked back to the admonishing, nervous and threatened eyes of their women. The women would fuss at the melting, dripping cream running down their partner’s hands from the warming cones now forgotten and held at lap level. A few of these older couples who were settled next to the vision on that curving stone wall would actually elbow their distracted men up and away from the area altogether. The spaces left would be filled quickly by younger lone men. One would offer out a cigarette. It would be declined with a slight sideways look in the eager male’s direction. He would flip the cigarette up between his lips and light it slowly taking time it seemed to conjure up his next attempt at engagement. Another man would lean forward and say something across him towards the vision. She would smile, stand and walk off waving a small wave of goodbye and disappear into the crowds on the walkway. Behind her wake would be a sea of curious, turning heads, pointing and a great deal of smiling. I’d never seen anything like it. I’d never seen anything like it because I’d never met Marilyn Monroe.

“Who is that?” Frau had asked five minutes earlier. The young girl emerged slowly out of the east bound pedestrian traffic on the busy seafront walkway. It was a sizzling afternoon. Everyone it seemed was either in their bikini tops or the men, shirtless in their customary baggy shorts to the knee and white trainers or flip flops. Immediately the girl stood out. Not only was she dressed to an inch of her life in casual summer chic; black ballet pumps, black Capri trousers, white 50’s shirt with collar turned up, black sunglasses and covering most of her searingly white hot platinum hair she wore a plain white silk scarf. She carried a small dog tucked under her arm, holding a freshly scooped ice cream cone in one hand and she looked like a film star. Every head turned and all eyes in the vicinity locked on her. She approached the low, curving stone wall and sat down. She released her pooch on to her lap, gave him a few strokes as he lay down and raised the single scoop cone to her nude matte lips. This wasn’t Hollywood’s Marilyn. This was New York’s Monroe. This was Monroe in Washington Square Park taking the air. This was a star moving around in public asking quietly with body language not to be recognised and if she was please do not disturb. Eyes covered, face forward gestures small and contained. This was the UK’s up and coming most popular Monroe impersonator. This was performance art at work. This was a calling card to the city, a test run. This was Dixie and I absolutely knew I would meet her again and when I did, I didn’t know it.       

  

BRIGHTON BABYLON THE NOVEL IS RELEASED MARCH 2013 NATIONWIDE UK AND INTERNATIONAL TO KINDLE VIA AMAZON

DYNASTY PRESS LTD. LONDON

THE ABOVE CHAPTER IS A PREVIEW TO THE CONTENT OF THE SEQUEL TO BRIGHTON BABYLON  FROM THE SECTION 'ALL THE LADIES, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES AND THE REST'.