She knew it must have looked silly to anyone looking...it certainly drew a bemused smile from a little girl who happened to walk past at that moment, but sing she had to do.
As she drew to the close of her song, she checked her watch...it was time for work. Letting out a nervous laugh for anyone still bemused by her impromtu session, she quickly ran to the bus stop.
At work, her editor pulled her to one side. "Suzy...you've been out in the field chasing a story and I like that kind of initiative" he said. "However, we need articles. Now, with all that research you've done, do you have a story?"
"Well, almost one" Suzy replied. "I'd like more time to gather evidence"
"Give me a first draft of what you've got by the end of the day. That way I'll see if it's got any merit to it" he said.
She went to her desk in the open plan office, shut the noise and hubbub of fashion, pop music and movie gossip and got typing. She wrote about the rivalry between the Landgraabs and the Fengs, how the Goths fit into high society in the city but she didn't have anything near enough a consistent thread. How would she write about the Landgraab's alleged criminal activities? If she got any detail wrong she and the magazine would be sued. She kept it vague for now.
When she handed it in to her editor, he read it through very quickly. "I like your writing style..." he began. "But you talk about a trilogy of power and yet that's incomplete. You allude to criminal goings on with Malcolm Landgraab but your source is one anonymous person. I can't print this."
Suzy looked down. She knew she'd be lucky if it did get published.
"We're a trendy fashion and lifestyle magazine for the youth of today" said her editor, standing up and pacing around his office. "Will they go for any of this? Dusty old politics? Middle aged rivalries? The fuddy-duddy Goths? No, they won't go for a blow by blow account of Victor Feng vs Geoffrey Landgraab"
"I know...it's just I found some information on them and just ran with the story" said an apologetic Suzy.
"But...there's definitely something here" said the editor. "You've got an angle: Malcolm Landgraab. He's young...our target audience. He's one of Sim City's most eligible young men and has a reputation for being a bit of a bad boy. How bad? You find out."
"So...you want me to continue?" asked Suzy
"Yes, but focus on the Landgraab boy. Follow up with your contact...oh, and Suzy?"
"Yes sir?"
"Dang fine work you've done. In fact, I'm so impressed by the quality of your writing and photography that I'm giving you a promotion!"
"Thank you sir!" said an elated Suzy. She was going up in the world and, well, she could do with the extra money.
At the end of the work day she went home and cooked a celebratory dinner for one. There was a knock at the door; as usual, it was Summer Holiday. Summer had become Suzy's closest friend and the two shared a trust as well as a friendship: They told each other everything that was on their minds and this evening was no exception.
"I got a promotion at work today!" exclaimed Suzy.
"Congratulations!" replied Summer. "Let's celebrate"
The two went inside and Suzy started to tell Summer about how her boss liked her writing and that she should pursue the Malcolm Landgraab angle on it.
"So I guess our little stake out the other day paid off then?" said Summer.
"Definitely. So you'd be up for more snooping around?" said Suzy.
"Well, Malcolm Landgraab is too young for me and not my kind of guy but...hey. The other day was fun"
"Hey, you wouldn't believe what happened with me today" said Summer.
"Go on" replied an interested Suzy.
"Well, I was down at the Rattlesnake Juice Bar with some friends and this guy comes up to me and says I'm stunning and asks if I was a model"
"You don't say!" replied a shocked Suzy. "Who was he?"
"Some guy I'd never heard of but he said he ran a magazine and was always on the look out for beautiful young women who had modelling experience"
"And you think he was on the level?" said Suzy. "I mean, you could easily be a model but there's a lot of creeps out there..."
"I know and I treated him a bit cool...I'm suspicious of that kind of flattery"
"Did he say the name of his magazine?" asked Suzy.
"Lochnivar? Lottery? Erm...Lothario! That's it. Lothario magazine"
"Never heard of it" replied Suzy. "Hey, if you're interested in modelling I could hook you up with some genuine fashion photographers. There's a demand for good clothes models at the moment"
"Thanks but that's something I'm not really interested in" replied Summer. "I'm a bit two left footed and gangly"
"So...we haven't talked about our sucky love lives yet" said Suzy. "I'm getting nowhere...fast. Where are all the decent, single guys?"
"Hey, I know that Jeremy and that Barbara girl he's been seeing are getting serious now. Twice she's stayed over"
"Woooo! Good for him, he's such a nice guy!" said Suzy. Suddenly, another urge hit her....she had to dance this time. Switching on the radio she got up and had a boogie. Summer wondered what was going on.
"Don't ask me..." said Suzy. "It's been one of those days!"
