AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Tuesday February 27^th 2001
"Hi Tiffany, I'm in here," Starlene said from the living room when she heard her older sister open the front door.  She quickly took her feet down from the coffee table, picked up the help wanted advertisements from the newspaper, and pretended to be reading them.
"How are you doing Starlene?" Tiffany asked taking off her coat and throwing it over a chair as she walked into the living room.
"Oh good.  How about you?" Starlene asked still holding the newspaper in front of her.
"I was doing better," Tiffany said as she took a seat in a chair across from the sofa.
"What happened?" Starlene asked giving up her pretense and putting the newspaper aside when she heard the distressed tone in her sister's voice.
"I went to dinner with Amir tonight."
"That sounds more like good news to me."
"It was kind of.  I mean he explained the gossip columnist that we saw on TV and Celinda the fashion designer."
"Nothing to it, right?"
"That's what he said.  He said he had to entertain her because she was moving her business into one of the stores in his new spa.  He said it was just all press making something out of nothing."
"You believe him don't you?"
"I want to."
"Why wouldn't you Tiffany?  He's never lied to you."
"Well he didn't tell me about his wife.  I had to find that out in the press."
"Tiffany, his wife is a comatose vegetable.  The man fell in love with you at first sight.  Can't you understand that yet?"
"I do understand, but…"
"I think you should relax.  I mean he gave you that big diamond ring for Christmas.  He loves you Tiffany.  I bet you rode in his limo tonight didn't you?"
"Yeah.  That doesn't mean anything though Starlene."
"It would sure mean something to me.  I hate taking the subway and walking.  If I had a good looking wealthy man like Amir, I'd be in heaven."
"We'll, see", Tiffany said smiling at her younger sister.
"Are you going to Stanley's party tomorrow night?" Starlene asked watching Tiffany's reaction closely.
"You know about Stanley's party?"  Tiffany asked surprised.
"Yeah.  We saw the gossip columnist talking about it on TV remember?" She asked watching Tiffany shake her head in agreement. "I called you at work late this afternoon and Clark said you had already left.  He told me a lot about the party."
"Yeah.  I'm going to the party.  Amir's going too, but he said he'll have to entertain those fashion designers.  I dread watching that all evening."
"It'll be okay," Starlene said.
"You don't know how depressing that might be to watch the man I love dancing and dining with all of those fancy rich women."
"I'll be there to keep you company, don't worry."
"What?  You can't go with me to Stanley's party.  It's part of my job to be there Starlene…it's work for me," she said remembering how her sister had embarrassed her at Laney's party by dressing too seductively and trying to impress all of the men.
"I was invited."
"Who invited you?"
"Clark.  I told him that I needed to meet more people so that I could find a job.  He told me I was welcome to come.  He said that I could help you out."
"Did you tell him you were coming?"
"Sure.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Just think all of those fancy fashion designers…they need models," Starlene said throwing back her shoulders, sucking in her cheeks and holding up her head as if she were on camera.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.