AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Tuesday December 26^th 2000
"I know you're upset about losing your job, but I'm kinda glad you aren't working right now.  You'll have time to show me more of the city," Starlene said in her southern accent as she picked up her first NYC  bagel and took a bite.
"I thought we'd take one of those tour buses around.  You know I haven't seen the entire city myself.  I went to work as soon as I moved here," Tiffany said.
"Do they have any Krispy Crème shops here?"
"Sure".
"Good.  Why don't we stop by one of them and get a doughnut.  I can't eat this beagle thing," Starlene said dropping the hard bagel on her plate for emphasis.
"You get used to them," Tiffany said laughing at her younger sister.
"I guess."
"You get used to a lot of things here." 
"Have you looked for another job?"  Starlene asked.
"Yeah.  I looked some.  Most of the places were hiring Christmas help though.  I lost my job a little late for that.  There's an outside chance I might get my job back.  It's remote though."
"That sounded like a totally cool job.  You don't have to worry though."  Starlene said glancing at Tiffany's hand and the large diamond and sapphire ring that Amir had given her for Christmas.
"It's not an engagement ring Starlene."
"Oh yeah.  It looks like an engagement ring to me.  Did he say anything about marriage when he gave it to you."
"Well he implied it, kinda.  But he's still got that sick wife back in his country, so it'll be a while."
"I'd never work another day if I were you.  I mean I'd be his woman," Starlene said brushing her long hair from her eyes and picking up her coffee mug.
"And be a kept woman?"
"Kept… oh yes," she said smiling.
"What's up in Lillard these days?  We haven't had a minute to talk since you got here yesterday."
"Same old stuff."
"Tell me.  Are you still seeing Roger Cunningham?"
"Not lately".
"He was a nice guy though Starlene.  Didn't he want to marry you?"
"For a while I thought he did then he put it off so long. I don't know anymore.  His plans for the future only seem to consist of driving his Daddy's tractor on his Daddy's land.  I don't know if that's the future for me.  Besides, he's got that older brother and he'll probably inherit all the property."
"So you split up with him?"
"I dropped him then I met a guy a few weeks ago at the theater."
"Really tell me about this guy."
"He drives a Pepsi truck.  He's new on the job.  Good looking too".
"Did you go out with him?"
"Yeah.  We went to Atlanta one night."
"Well, well…what else?"
"I spent the night with him.  He's okay."
"You spent the night with him, but he's only okay?"
"He sings in a band and thinks he'll make it big one day.  I'm not willing to wait as long as it might take him to make it.  Wish there were more eligible men in Lillard.  Slim pickin's.  You know that Tiffany."
"I know.  Well what about your job.  Did they give you any trouble when you wanted to take time off to come here for Christmas?"
"Yeah, you know how old man Jones is.  He said he wouldn't pay me if I left.  He had to get his daughter to come in and work in my place.  Blah, blah, blah". 
"So how'd you get off then?"
"I told him I quit."
"You quit your job?"
"He can get his fat daughter to work a few nights.  It's his fault they were busy anyway.  He started that Senior's Day thing and everybody in town's been coming to see Miracle on 42^nd Street for half price."
"Then business was good?"
"Yeah if you want the whole theater packed with old people that sneak in with their own popcorn.  That's not the future I'm looking for," Starlene said brushing her long hair from her eyes and crossing her long shapely legs.
"Well what are you going to do?"
"I thought maybe I'd move to New York. Stay here with you if that's okay."
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.