IN ‘THE MESSAGE”, MY CHARACTERS MATTIE AND
CLARE ARE IN DEMAND FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ONLINE DATING SCAMS. TODAY THEY’RE
HEADED FOR AN INTERVIEW ON A LOCAL T.V. PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM, AND THEY’RE
LATE, VERY LATE.
The
two women rushed into the lobby of MTNC Television Studios. A solemn Diane Paige greeted them with a cool,
“Welcome, ladies.” With a hasty glance at her watch, she added, “I thought
perhaps you’d forgotten our interview. We’ll have to hurry.” One could almost
see icicles forming on her lips as she spoke. She whisked the women away to a cozy
little set. A television camera was aimed at the seating area, its operator
standing by with an elbow propped over the camera. He directed Mattie and Clare
to their seats while Diane took a third seat, facing them.
Mattie was wearing a sharp yellow pantsuit and Clare
wore a black dress and stockings and her sexy black pumps to make her legs look
“long and slender,” she’d bragged earlier to her pal.
After
the director fit the women with small microphones, he said, “Now just sit back
and relax and everything will be fine. Ready in three . . . two . . . “ He nodded at
Diane.
“Hello,
everyone, and welcome to Neighbor to Neighbor Live! Our guests today are Mattie Mitchell and her friend Clare
Tibbitts, two outstanding women on a mission.” Mattie noted a strain in Diane’s
voice while attempting to sound sincere. “Two women,” Diane continued, “on a
mission to fight online dating scams. Two pillars of the community who—“
“Oh,
crap,” Clare moaned loud enough for the microphone to pick up. She was checking
her stockings and slumping. “A run! How’d that get there?”
Diane
Paige’s eyes widened while Clare smoothed the run with her hand, only to snag a
fingernail and spread the run into a good-sized hole. “Oh, great, now there’s a
hole. Of all days to wear stockings!”
“Clare,
we’re on television!” Mattie scolded, her sharp whisper caught on air. “Just
ignore it.” She turned to Diane and attempted to carry on the interview.
“I
can’t ignore it!” Clare hissed. “Look at that hole. It’s bigger than a sumo
wrestler’s butt!”
Ms.
Paige gasped. The director stifled a grin. And the camera rolled.
“Claaare,”
Mattie whispered louder, still oblivious to the microphone, “stop fussing!”
Shaking her head, she turned back to her hostess and attempted to get on with
the interview.
“Easy
for you to say,” Clare interrupted, “you’re wearing slacks!”
Mattie
sniffed. “Well, you’re the one who had to wear stockings today!”
Eyes
narrowed, Diane Paige glared. “Ladies,” she said with restraint, “can we please
get back on topic? We want to hear about your endeavors.”
Mattie
turned and displayed an angelic smile for the camera.
Fists
clenched, Ms. Paige said, “Mattie, tell us about your quest to curtail online
dating scams.” Her words sounded stiff, her lips pinched in an affected smile.
“What spurred you into this challenge?”
“Well,
a friend was taken in by a no-good predator online. That’s how it all began.” Mattie
went on, explaining the purpose of her investigation, while Clare squirmed
trying to conceal the torn nylon.
Diane
frowned. “You’re not suggesting all online dating sites are risky, are you?”
“No,
not at all. In fact, many people go on to form meaningful relationships.”
The
director twirled his index finger, giving a wrap-up signal. With stiff
propriety, Ms. Paige thanked Mattie and Clare. When the camera shut off, her
icy smile disappeared. Grumbling to herself, she stomped off in a huff, but a
silver-haired man in a booth waved her over.
Mattie was rehashing the show with Clare when Ms. Paige rushed back to them. “Ladies, wait,” she said, her eyes dancing with false enthusiasm. “It seems our phone lines have been flooded with callers. They want to know—“ she swallowed hard “—when you’re
. . . coming back.”
