AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Monday September 10^th 2001
Tiffany poured herself a cup of coffee and walked towards the living room.  She glanced in her sister's bedroom on the way to the kitchen and noticed that Starlene's bed was empty.
"Starlene…." She called out into the empty living room.
She quickly decided that her young sister must have gone out to get bagels as she frequently did the morning after a late evening.  She took a seat on the sofa and noticed the wineglasses still on the coffee table from the night before.  She thought about the fact that she had almost walked into the living room hoping Stanley had left the apartment last night.  She planned to tell Starlene that Stanley had made a pass at her before she came home.  After walking around the corner in the hallway she was surprised to see Starlene and Stanley on her sofa sharing an intimate moment.  She heard the front door of the apartment open and close.
"Starlene," she called out from the sofa.
"Yeah, got us bagels," Starlene said in her slow southern accent closing the door behind her and walking into the living room carrying a brown paper bag.
"Here you go," Starlene said handing Tiffany a fresh bagel as she took a seat on the sofa beside her.
"Thanks," Tiffany said unwrapping the hard bagel and taking a bite.  She watched as Starlene opened the newspaper she had bought and took a seat beside her on the sofa.
"Did you and Stanley have a good talk last night after I went to bed?" Tiffany asked still surprised by the activity she had seen.
"Oh yeah.  Did you sleep okay?" Starlene asked not looking up from the newspaper so as to avoid her sister's eyes.
"I had some trouble getting to sleep.  I have so much on my mind."
"You and Amir?"
"That's part of it," Tiffany said placing the bagel on the coffee table and taking a sip of her coffee.
"Something bothering you?"
"I worry about your relationship with Stanley too."
"You shouldn't worry."
"I do though."
"He loves me."
"He loves loving you maybe," Tiffany said watching Starlene closely.
"What are you saying Tiffany?"
"Maybe he's using you Starlene."
"Stanley loves me.  He can't keep his hands off of me."
"That doesn't mean he loves you Starlene."
"It's a good sign."
"That he would get intimate in my living room when I'm right down the hall."
"So you heard?"
"Yes and I think that's what he wanted too."
"Why do you say that?" Starlene said dropping the newspaper on her lap and staring at her sister angrily.
"Because. I don't know how to tell you this without hurting your feelings Starlene…"
"What? Tell me what?"
"Stanley has made passes at me before."
"When?"
"From the first time I met him."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I'm afraid he's using you Starlene."
"Did anything happen between the two of you last night before I came home?" Starlene asked suspiciously.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.