We met Varnsey outside a tumultuous pub in Kemp Town - I thought I saw Kit Marlowe, swaggering through the tee shirted bravos - I imagined mermaids, waiting at the end of the narrow street - they were looking up at the esplanade, with their backs to the ageless sea -
We had drinks in a bar nearer the magical waves - Varnsey lolled, like an exhausted emperor, upon a red sofa - Jane sat upright on a straight backed chair - Anne wore a beautiful green dress -
Later, Sally led the way to Bom Banes - she wore high heels - a raven haired slender woman greeted us - the interior of the raffish eatery was shadowy and mysterious - we were beckoned down a wrought iron spiral stair case -
The tiny basement smelt of spilled wine - there were alcoves, with bench seats from Ford Zodiacs to canoodle on - ukuleles hung from distressed walls - there was a bar with an exciting regiment of bottles -
There, in front us, was a rough hewn monastery table - sitting around it, upon benches, were Paul and Clare, together with Paul's two daughters, Natasha and Jessica - the girls had their boyfriends with them - the two young men were courteous and attentive to their darlings -
We toasted Paul with icy Prosecco - I slyly drank bumper after bumper of fiery red - we fell upon the buffet - I babbled to Clare about Coleridge - she was very patient with me -
Then the raven haired woman reappeared - she wore an elongated gold fish bowl upon her head - I swear I could see the fish darting about inside the glass -
She sung us a haunting song, accompanying herself upon a venerable harmonium -
Her face as she sang was like a stylised mask - she smiled as might a siren, beguiling a lost boy - she told me later her song was about falling in love -
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