The two New Yorkers, possibly hit-men, otherwise, probably something of low repute, for sure, certainly nothing requiring high levels of industry as they spent about 25 days out of 26 at the pool, were an odd couple. Steve was the ‘old man’ of our group at about 34. A big, burly, hairy New York Jew. Joey was about 23 and Eye-talian to the core. The name, the family and the odd word thrown into a conversation in traditional Long Island Latin.

Steve’s girlfriend had come over for a vacation and one day Joey told us a couple of his old, dear friends were paying him a visit. Schoolfriends, family friends, bad’a,bad’a,bad’a. And we were just hanging there one day at the pool (where else??) when along came Jackie and Debi. Two more ‘Talians from Noo Yawk.

They weren’t modelesque, like Susan was, they lacked the leg length and the high gloss polish. In fact these girls would rub off the polish as being ‘tacky’ because they were dressed in ‘street smart’ and ‘demi-punk’ and were the coolest things ever. And they were New Yorkers, and thus moved with a self-assured confidence that was almost a challenge. They simply exuded the Taxi Driver line, ‘you talking to ME???’ with every stare. And they swore a lot. Which, coming from basically, petite and gorgeous brunettes, I found rather alluring. Oh and they were funny. Every comment met with a put-down, every sentence barbed, especially Debi. So I let Craig (my flat-mate) take Jackie and I went to sharpen my wits on 7 stone of solid, New York rock.

Debi was (and still may be; who knows?) a psychiatric nurse. Like Nurse Ratched in One flew over… but seriously cute. And she started work at the Cedar Sinai hospital in Beverley Hills. No shortage of rich nutters there, for sure. And then when she finished, she had me, her own, private, poor nutter. And I was still seeing Susan. But that was ok cos Debi was going out with one of the doctors at the hospital too. Well, ok-ish, obvs.

And just when I thought that my cup was well and truly runneth over, I got a letter from Brazil. Ivani was coming over to do an advanced English course at Redlands University in the Desert. So we can get together and spend lots of time. But… but… but…

You know how ‘you can never have too much money’, well it doesn’t apply to all good things, that’s for sure. Life was getting really complicated. Yeah, in kind of a ‘pinch me and tell me this is real’ kind’a way, but seriously. I mean: SERIOUSLY!!

Happy Friday

A xxxx