The West Enders: Episode Twenty, a Day on the Beach

It’s a warm summer day and quite a few of the West Enders have headed to the beach to relax…

Or catch up on gossip…

… or both!

“Steven, mate,” says Ken in surprise. “I haven’t seen you for ages. Where have you been? What’s up with your hair – growing it out I see.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a music video to do coming up in Jamaica and I have to have a kind of ‘island’ look. I think they’re giving me a weave and I need some hair to get it going. Who knows, if I like it, maybe I’ll keep it.”

“You mean if the ladies like it,” laughs Ken. “I know what you’re like. Who’s your agent these days? You seem to be getting a lot of work.”

“Tommy Lu. He’s doing a good job for me.”

Barbie and Audrey’s conversation isn’t quite as cheerful.

“What’s wrong, pet?” asks Barbie. “You okay?”

“Not really,” Audrey sighs. “It’s Marcelo.”

“Oh, no, he’s not cheating on you, is he?” asks Barbie anxiously. Marcelo has quite the reputation.

“Not that I know of. He just seems bored with me. And I don’t know why I put up with it. He’s a nobody, a has been model, who manages a nobody rock band. I mean, c’mon, I’m a star! He should grateful I even look at him.” Audrey looks angry now.

“Well, dump him,” says Barbie. “You deserve the best.”

As they talk, they pass Jake, who is working as a lifeguard, his normal summer holiday job. Jake is shocked to look up and see Jenny has approached him. He hasn’t seen her since the May Bank Holiday. “Jenny!” he exclaims in surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

 

“Hi, Jake,” says Jenny shyly. “I haven’t seen you in ages, so I thought I’d come and see how you’re doing.”

“I’m doing great, thanks, and you?” Jake asks but his tone is puzzled and polite rather than the warmth Jenny is hoping to hear.

“I thought maybe we should talk,” she continues, “Before school starts again, I mean. So it isn’t awkward…”

Jake looks away. “I’m not going back to school, Jenny.”

“What! What do you mean?”

“Sixth form is for university prep and I’m not going to university. My family isn’t wealthy and I don’t want to borrow the £9000 I’d need for tuition, plus have to find a way to eat and support myself. And what would I do with a degree? Sandra says I’ve got enough talent to make it as a musician and she’s going to help me learn music theory and work on my song writing…”

“Sandra?” asks Jenny, puzzled.

“Sandra, the pianist from the Ladies in Black. We met when we played at the music festival together, back in May – the day you broke up with me.”

Suddenly Jenny hears a voice say, “Hi, you must be Jenny.” A beautiful woman, an ADULT woman, is sitting at their feet and speaking to her.

The woman stands up and puts her hand on Jake’s shoulder in a gesture of possession. “Jake’s told me all about you,” she adds. “I don’t think you realise just how talented he is and how important it is that he develop his passion… for music.”

Jenny is dumbstruck. Next to this beautiful woman, she feels like a little girl. Without speaking, she turns around and walks away.

“I won’t let them see me cry, I won’t let them see me cry…” she thinks as she walks.

Don’t miss the next episode as we catch up with the rest of the summer adventures of the West Enders.

Advertisement

Interlude: Where are the West Enders?

Dear Doll Lovers and Followers –

I haven’t posted in ages. I had hoped to finish up Midge’s wedding as a sort of season finale for the West Enders, but instead, I’ve left the story dangling. I had to go to Germany for a couple of weeks as part of my other scientist persona and I have a number of PhD students with looming deadlines that are keeping me pretty much completely occupied at the moment. As a result, I’ve had no time for my doll obsession except to add new dolls, rebody old dolls, and work a little bit on the beach house. I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave the West Enders until the next season starts in the autumn. Here’s a few photos from my phone shots so you can see what I’ve been doing.

Noa has a new body and a haircut.

Sam has a new brother! Meet Jamie, a wonderful OOAK doll from Euphoria Dolls on Etsy.

Jamal’s twin sisters, Chrisandra and Michelle, have new M2M bodies so we may be seeing more of them.

I’m still tinkering with the beach house. That’s Kevin’s brother Alistair downstairs and Katie with yet another M2M body. I’ve been doing a lot of swapping.

Katie loves being able to pose! She has the new Pink Top M2M’s body, which is much darker than the original. Bonnie is in the background with the original body.

I’ve covered Deangelo’s plastic hair with flocking (and his tee shirt, alas).

Marvin has new flocked hair and some jazzy facial hair. I’ve ordered a new Steven – wait until you see his hair!

This stunning Greek beauty has arrived – Ariadne Kostopoulos is her name.

Sitting here with Charlotte is Hanna Haywood, another yogi. I bought her to rebody Katie and her skin tone has changed completely from the original blue top M2M doll. I was gobsmacked when she arrived. Charlotte has her old body – look at the difference. The new pink top M2M dolls also have much darker bodies than the originals. Buyer beware! Since nobody else needing a body had Hanna’s skin tone, I decided to keep her.

Rikki is learning how to be a DJ. The younger dolls should have a party when the new season begins.

And most of the dolls are doing what they do best – partying! I hope everyone is having a great summer and I’ll post more new arrivals next month. The West Enders will resume for Season Two in the autumn.