AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Tuesday January 2^nd 2001
"Yes Daddy, Starlene will be fine here in New York with me," Tiffany said into the phone after her Father had protested her younger sister wanting to stay in New York after visiting for the holidays.
Amir watched Tiffany's fingers nervously play with the cord on the telephone as she spoke long distance to her Father in Lillard Georgia.  He knew she was worried about her younger sister.  He thought that perhaps her fears were stemming from the fact that she was unemployed and felt responsible for her sister.
"Daddy don't worry.  I told Starlene she has to work.  She's gone to an interview now.  Don't worry.  I'm taking responsibility for her.  If she doesn't behave I'll send her home to Lillard", Tiffany said.
Amir got up from the sofa and walked towards the window to look down on Washington Square Park. He watched two women in the park dressed in heavy coats talking as they held the leashes to small dogs dressed in fur dog coats.
"I will Daddy.  I promise," Tiffany said hanging up the phone.
"Your Father he want Starlene to come home?"  Amir asked in his broken English.
"Yeah.  He's really upset with her.  He can't believe she quit her job to come visit.  She never told him she wanted to stay here in New York."
"No one know this," Amir said feeling a little guilty that he had furnished the ticket for Starlene and now it was turning into a family quarrel.
"Isn't that the truth.  I'm a little worried too."
"Why?"
"Well, she's young and doesn't have any experience other than working as a ticket clerk at the cinema in Lillard.  How will she get a job?"
"Perhaps I arrange position at the spa", Amir said speaking of his new celebrity spa.
"That would be nice Amir.  I want her to see what it's like in New York but I think we should wait and see what she comes up with on her own.  I don't know.  This is all such a surprise.  I thought she was coming for a visit over the holidays.  I never dreamt that she would quit her job and want to live here.  I guess it would be different if I was working.  But I don't have a job, it makes me nervous."
"I take care of everything.  Enjoy visit with sister", Amir said walking back to the sofa and taking a seat beside Tiffany.
"Thanks Amir. It's not just the finances that bother me though.  It's Starlene.  I worry that I can handle her.  Daddy's worried about it too.  He said she was coming home late at night in Lillard.  He said he wasn't so sure that she wasn't fired from her job.  I mean what if Starlene turns out to be a handful?"
"I think Starlene find good position.  It take time", Amir said putting his arm around her and pulling her closer to him.
"I'm a little worried about how impressed she is with Laney too," Tiffany said.
"You are friend with Laney, no?"
"Yeah.  I like Laney a lot.  But you know what I mean…Laney's a model for Playbody.  You heard Starlene at dinner the other day, she thinks that's so cool.  What would I do if she did something like that?"
"She never do this.  She only enjoy how you say…dream… of movie star and model.  She nice young girl," Amir said.
"I hope you're right Amir.  Daddy would kill me if anything happens to her," Tiffany said.
Amir pulled her into his arms.  As their lips met the telephone on the table beside the sofa started to ring.  Tiffany reluctantly reached for the ringing phone.
"Hello.  I thought you were interviewing at the movie theater for the position as ticket sales clerk.  What do you mean you're taking a cab to Laney's apartment," Tiffany said into the phone.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.