Cassie had disappeared. There was no sign of her anywhere in Bristol. She had left no indication of what had happened to her. She had just vanished into thin air.
Sid did not know what had happened to Cassie. She had just disappeared from his life without a trace. He was utterly disconsolate. She was his life, his joy, his world. With Cassie gone, he was like a living zombie. Nothing could cheer him up. His friends were getting very concerned for his well being. In company, he put on an outward show of normality but it was a thin veneer and his anguish was not far below the surface.
Chris had died in Cassie's arms due to a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a congenital defect in the blood vessels in his brain. Although she was apparently in a happy and stable loving relationship with Sid, this experience really unhinged her. Regrettably, Sid was not with her when this happened. He would have known what to do and been able to console and pacify Cassie. She packed her rucksack and walked - to the coach station. She went to Heathrow airport and caught a flight to New York, landing at John F Kennedy Airport. She hadn't told anyone where she had gone.
Tony knew that Cassie meant everything to Sid. In short, Sid lived for her. Tony felt responsible for the fate of the relationship between Sid and Cassie as he had introduced them to each other. The original purpose of the meeting was just so that Sid could cease to be a virgin by having sex with Cassie. What Tony had not expected was that they would fall deeply in love with each other. The relationship had not started well with Sid making several serious blunders in his dealings with Cassie. However they had, in the last few weeks before the death of Chris, found real happiness in each other's company. Sid was saying and doing the right things by Cassie and they were very very much in love. Both of them were changed people. Sid was coming out of his shell and gaining confidence. Cassie was really sparkling, smiling nearly all the time and wanting all her friends, particularly Jal to be as happy as she was.
Tony realised that with Cassie gone, Sid was really deeply depressed and in denial. When asked about Cassie, Sid always said that she was just a passing fancy and no longer meant anything to him. Tony knew otherwise. Sid often called her name in his sleep and was obviously having romantic and erotic dreams about her. Her picture was still on his bedroom wall. He quite often had a faraway look in his eyes. He didn't smile anymore. Although he tried to act as if Cassie was no longer part of his life, she dominated his thoughts.
On the morning of Chris's funeral, together with his 'A' level results, Sid received a clue about Cassie's whereabouts; a postcard from New York. He knew at least that she was alive, but a long way from home. The motto on it suggested that she was very lonely. Sid did not know quite what to do about this.
A couple of weeks passed.
In an act of considerable generosity, Tony made arrangements for Sid to travel to New York to try to find Cassie. Michelle's mother, Anna had also helped, as one of her American soft furnishing design contacts was able to provide Sid with some free accommodation on Grand St. in Lower Manhattan.
On the flight across the Atlantic, Sid felt more and more depressed as he considered the enormity of his task. He looked down at the endless sea of clouds passing below him and thought about Cassie. When he thought about her, memories of his time with her flooded back and he felt tears welling up in his eyes. He really missed her, but he knew he had to keep his hopes alive if he was to succeed in his quest.
Finally, the flight was over. Sid passed through the immigration and customs formalities and had set foot in the USA. He had now arrived in one of the world's great cities or, at least, he had arrived near it. He had touched down at Newark Airport in New Jersey and, since it was now evening, stayed the first night at a cheap motel near the airport. He was on what seemed a hopeless quest to find the one and only person he really loved, his darling Cassie.
Early the next morning, he travelled into Manhattan to start his search. At first, he was overwhelmed by the pace of the city. It was so much more frantic than Bristol. He had travelled in by train, arriving at Penn Central Station. He had a gut feeling that Cassie would probably be working as a waitress or something similar, probably in mid-town Manhattan. However, he did not know where. New York is a big city and looking for her was like searching for a very small needle in an enormous haystack. He needed luck
The first thing he did was to find the accommodation provided for him. He picked up a map of Manhattan at the station together with information regarding travel within New York City. He found the address and was greeted by Anna's contact, Grant. He was shown to a furnished room on the fourth floor. Grant gave him the keys and told him he could stay there as long as it took to find Cassie. He parked his rucksack and made himself at home.
"I don't know what kind of food you like to eat," said Grant. "But we're in Little Italy and Chinatown ain't far away."
Despite his depression, Sid was beginning to feel very hungry, but neither Chinese nor Italian food appealed at the moment.
"Any chance of a curry around here?" asked Sid.
"It won't be an Indian one, Sidney, but there's a Malaysian restaurant two blocks away at 199 Grand Street." said Grant. "It's very good, quite cheap but they only take cash. It's called Nyonya. You should try their home made roti cenai, that's a flatbread with a chicken curry dip. It's excellent. If you have an English appetite, you'll find one portion quite enough. I'll leave you now. I live downstairs. I really hope you find her. Let me know when you do. She must mean a lot to you."
"She does." said Sid.
Sid sat down and started to plan his search. He did not know how long it would take him, but at least all he would have to pay for was food and transport.
He called Tony.
"Hello Tony." said Sid. "I've arrived. I've met Grant, Michelle's mum's contact. I'm on Grand Street. It's some way from Times Square, but it'll do."
"Good." said Tony. "Let me know how you get on. We're all with you in spirit. You really must find her, Sid; for her sake as well as yours."
"I know I must. Thanks for the support, Tony." said Sid. "but this is a big city and she could be anywhere."
"Anyway, best of luck. Gotta go now." said Tony. "Bye Sid."
"Bye Tony." said Sid.
Sid studied the transport information and decided to buy a 7 day Metrocard as he guessed that this was going to take him at least one week. He then set out for the restaurant recommended by Grant.
Fortified by a portion of Roti Cenai, a portion of Chow Kueh Teow and a lychee drink, Sid set out to start looking for Cassie. He looked closely at every blonde girl he passed. He looked into the window of every diner he passed until he reached Herald Square.
At this point, he gave way to temptation as he felt that it would not be right to be in New York without visiting the Empire State Building. He went to the viewing gallery and enjoyed the panorama of the city. It was a clear, sunny afternoon and he could see for miles in all directions. He vowed to bring Cassie up here if he found her.
After his visit, he headed first for a subway station, where he obtained his metrocard and then for Times Square. When he reached the square, he had to decide which side of Central Park he would search first. He decided to go to the West side as it looked, on his map at least, to be a more likely location in which to find Cassie.
Leaving Times Square, he started his systematic search by looking at the streets round the Lincoln Center and between there and the Hudson River. He found no sign of Cassie. He walked across Central Park with eyes downcast and headed towards the Metropolitan Museum.
He had no better luck on the other side of Central Park, between the Guggenheim and the East River. On the third day, he tried the area immediately South of Central Park around the Carnegie Hall. On one occasion, he looked into a diner and saw a blonde girl serving. He went in, asked for a coke and waited till she reappeared. She was not Cassie. He left, disappointed.
He carried a photograph of Cassie with him. He showed it to random passersby, gaining varying reactions from offers of help to downright hostility. He walked a lot, but used his Metrocard to travel between his room and mid-town.
Each evening, he returned to his room then came out again to eat at Nyonya, trying something different on each visit. He found that he really liked the food on offer there.
He was beginning to lose hope of ever finding her. He tried to look into the eyes of every blonde girl he passed to see if they were brown. All the ones he saw had blue eyes. This was his fourth day and he had worked his way back to Times Square. He looked round some of the shops and into every diner. He still did not find her.
Another day of searching started well. It was cold and cloudy and by mid morning, Sid felt he wanted a hot drink. He was working the area between Grand Central Station and the United Nations Building. He went into the Starbucks at 42nd and 2nd. He showed the photo of Cassie to a barista. He said that he thought he had seen her working at a diner a couple of blocks away. Warmed by a Grande Latte and a Panini, he set out for the diner. There was a girl looking a bit like Cassie working there, but she was not his Cassie. In any case, her name badge said Mary. He left, disappointed once again.
He returned to Grand Street feeling dispirited. He was beginning to think that he was on a wild goose chase and that he would never find her. He tried to put such thoughts out of his mind as she meant so much to him.