An Interview with Amateur Detective Bel Barrett
Name: Sybil Barrett, but call me Bel. Only my mother calls me Sybil.
Sidekick(s): Illuminada Guttierez, PI, an adjunct (read slave) in the Criminal Justice Department at River Edge Community College in Jersey City, NJ, and Betty Ramsey, Executive Assistant to RECC'S president.
Hometown: I was born and raised in Passaic, NJ. At one point in my life I was living in Hoboken, shopping in Secaucus, visiting my parents in Passaic, and teaching in Jersey City. When it comes to Jersey, I not only talk the talk, I walk the walk.
Age: Fifty-something, but who's counting?
Occupation: Professor of English (tenured, thank you very much) at River Edge Community College.
How did you get involved in sleuthing? A former Speech 101 student of mine, a culinary arts major, was accused of murdering RECC's president, but even though he wasn't much of a public speaker, I knew he would never do anything like that. Besides, I've never been able to resist an underdog in distress.
Pet Peeves: Beepers and cell phones that sound during class, control freaks, stress incontinence, and murderers. I can't remember all the others.
Role Models: RECC's President, Dr. Altagracia Garcia, and my mother when she's not driving me crazy.
Hobbies: Collecting miniature china shoes, doing Kegel exercises, yoga, walking, worrying, reading, and making lists.
Distinguishing characteristics: I sweat a lot lately, wear no make up, and have salt and pepper hair. What you see is what you get.
Marital Status: I've been divorced from Lenny (don't ask), the father of my "adult" children, for years. Now I live with Sol Hecht whom I met a few years ago at a meeting of the Citizens' Committee to Protect the Waterfront in Hoboken. We went out for coffee after the meeting and...
Quote: "Stop! Stop! Or I'm going to wet my pants! I mean it! Stop!"
E-mail Address: bbarrett@circle.com
Favorite Websites: Are you kidding? I teach fifteen credits a semester and serve on a zillion committees. When do I have time to surf the net? Now e-mailing my on-line menopause support group is a different story.
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