AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday August 9^th 2001
Starlene heard the front door to the apartment overlooking Washington Square Park close.  She glanced quickly at the clock in her bedroom. Her older sister Tiffany was home from work early.
"That you Tiffany?" she called out glancing at the dresses she had placed on her bed trying to make a decision on her attire for the evening out with her wealthy, older lover Stanley Morgan.
"Yeah, it's me," Tiffany said throwing her purse on the sofa and taking a seat. She glanced up when she saw her younger sister walk into the living room wearing only a T-shirt.
"What's the matter, you're home early?  Did he fire you?" Starlene asked in her southern accent as she took a seat in a chair across from the sofa.
"No.  He didn't fire me.  He told me I could come home early and think," Tiffany said disgusted with her situation.
"Think…think about what?"
"Starlene this whole thing is getting more out of hand every day.  Now he says that he's been getting so many calls from newspapers and TV stations that he thinks we can use this to his advantage," Tiffany said.
"I told you!" Starlene said excited for her sister.  Her first instinct was that the picture the detective took of her sister and the mayoral candidate, Amir in a compromising position would only serve to increase Tiffany's job opportunities. "Tell me what happened," Starlene said.
"He wants me to give interviews and talk about how I met Amir while working at Manhattan Party Planning,"
"Wow! That's great!"
"No it's not Starlene.  How can Amir ever get elected mayor if I talk about our affair?"
"It's not going to hurt anything now.  The cat's out of the bag Tiffany."
"I haven't talked to Amir since the newspaper published the picture yesterday.  Why would he ever want to speak to me again if I talk about him?"
"Well, it's up to you Tiffany.  I would certainly do it.  I think you could get job offers to model without the blurry spot after this," Starlene said referring to the blurry spot the newspaper had put over Tiffany's bosom in the photo. She and Amir were kissing and her sundress had fallen open in the front.
"That's not what I want Starlene.  All I want is to have a good job and marry Amir one day if his wife doesn't make it," Tiffany said referring to Amir's comatose wife.
"Well, you still have your job."
"Maybe not.  He implied I'd lose my job if I didn't do this."
"Oh…" Starlene said thinking about the implications this would have.
"See?  See what I mean. If I do this I might lose Amir.  If I don't do this then I will lose my job," Tiffany said as tears started to roll down her cheek.
"Maybe you should explain it to Amir and see what he says."
"He hasn't called me Starlene."
"Then call him."
"I can't.  I mean his phone might be tapped or something."
"Oh…I don't think so."
"A detective was hiding in the bushes that night to get the picture of us on the veranda.  What makes you think they wouldn't tap his phone?"
"Gee. You're probably right.  So what are you going to do?"
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.