#inside voices

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C. A. Singh • Inside Voices

39-year-old Tabitha Anthony felt like she was at a crossroads. Cal was already graduated and out of the house, and her baby girl Amelia just started high school. Her loving hubbie Robert and this peaceful life in Suburbia were...fine, but she felt something was missing now.

Still in their bedroom was that mannequin she used, back in the day when she reached the top of her Style Influencer career. But that burned her out, while she was trying to raise two young children.

It was a cutthroat and fickle industry, when she could be on top one day, then given a "what have you done for me lately?" slap in the face. Robert could tell how stressed she was, and gave her a much-needed escape from that, since his career could cover their expenses. But every now and then, she brought that mannequin out, in case inspiration might strike any moment.

But there were always new influencers entering the scene, younger and with fresh ideas. The Great Bea was this goth-style interior decorator out of Magnolia Promenade that quickly rose to the top.

Her niece Cali even introduced her to her classmate Summer Holiday, who was thinking of entering the field, too. Tabitha graciously let Summer interview her, needing someone in that field for a Career Day extra credit assignment at Ocean Crest Academy.

Tabitha had worked hard for her distinguished degree in Fine Arts from Brite U., while in her relationship with Robert, who already graduated a few years before her. She needed something that would feed her soul at 39. Style Influencer felt like it only fed her ego.

But after some solitude in the shower to think, Tabitha felt like she could finally wash away the ego, and start cleansing the soul.

"Yeah, maybe it's time," she announced it out loud to herself, finally accepting her current situation, and making a statement to move on.

Robert had come upstairs to check in on her, so this felt like the right time for ROBITHA to have a meaningful heart-to-heart.

She told him that she was done with her past and her old career, and she wanted to get rid of the old mannequin. Maybe her first step was to find some college courses online or at the community college, which would help her Fine Arts background branch out to something new and completely different.

"Sounds like a plan, my love," Robert fully supported her with a hug. "And I'll be glad to finally get this creepy thing out of the boudoir."

"Can I go full Animal House, chuck it out the window, and let it crash on the front walk?" Robert grinned deviously, rubbing his palms.

"No, Lonnie," Tabitha replied, as her Bro trait appealed to his senses. "Maybe I'll see if that girl Summer needs it, or I could just donate it to the school. Maybe a crash test dummy would be a fitting end to it."

"Hey! We should just go celebrate this momentous occasion!" Robert tried to support her, knowing this was a difficult turning point for her.

"Or..." she tilted her hip. "Remember when I had to sneak you into the women's dorm that one night, way back when?"

"Oh, right. We had to hide out in the closet, at one point," Robert's eyes popped at this tawdry trip down memory lane. "And things... progressed. I guess we can go out SOME OTHER TIME!"

"Wait! Amelia's right across the hall," Robert whispered loudly.

"We'll just have to be as quiet as possible, like that night," she cooed.

"Not quiet enough..." Amelia cringed, playing LOUDER AND LOUDER. Now would be a good time for some video games... IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD!

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