No, but next day, you meet an old face

When you wake up in your old room of your parent’s house, you think you are dreaming at first. The whole situation still feels kind of unreal. Just a few days ago you had a bright future in sight and now you are back at your old room in your parent’s house. Full of happy memories, but nothing more. At least it seems to be a funny day.

Your mother tries to chat and find out as much about your private live as possible while you have breakfast. Your father is already up and likely doing some work in the garden or the garage. When it comes to your plans for the day, your mother suggests you take a few days off to get to know the town and your old remaining friends again. But you insist in getting everything done as soon as possible. You have a loan to pay back after all.

The townhall is still part of the community center. The old mayor ordered the construction of this building to be an intergenerational meeting place for integration and strengthening of the community. And the current mayor gives his or her best to keep the project alive. When you moved away there were a weekly gymnastics group or old ladies, a church choir and a poorly visited play and handicraft group for children from 4 years of age.

You are indeed surprised when you see the popularity of the community center has more than doubled since you moved away. You can see several offers for groups and clubs at the community center. Some are even interesting for people your age. Like a course in drone flying.

You walk down the floors and even meet a few guys who are part of some kind of music learning group. Finally, you reach the part for town administration. A bored looking secretary guards the entrance and either writes messages or plays a game at her mobile phone. She has blonde hair and wears a blue summer dress. You are surprised at first, but you think this is Eve, one of your oldest childhood friends. Your mothers were best friends and you played together when they had a coffee together.

“Excuse me, please,” you begin carefully, “Eve, is this you?”

Eve looks up. Her face is as flawless as ever, but looks very disinterested. But when she sees you, her eyes wide and she almost jumps up.

“Oh my god, oh my god,” Eve cries excited and hugs you so stormy you stumble two steps backwards, “you are back. You are really back. I missed you so much, Max. I can’t believe you are really back in town.”

You don’t get the chance or the breath to answer this. Only a few moments after Eve glued herself to you, a tall woman with an elegant suit appears next to Eves desk. You know her too. It is Eve’s mother Claire. She has also blonde hair, but you can see a few single gray hairs also. Despite this she hasn’t changes a bit. You always called her aunt Claire, even if you are not related in any way.

“I just felt that my daughter feels something like joy at work,” Claire says and doesn’t even bother acting strict, “unacceptable. Will I at least get a hug too?”

“Sure, aunt Claire,” you answer and hug Claire, “so, you both work here now?”

“Mom works here,” Eve answers quickly, “I’m just here because daycare is more expensive than my salary.”

“I’m surprised your mother didn’t tell you,” Claire says and chuckles about her daughters jokes, “she just called me about your situation and that you are here to support our wonderful town as a new local doctor, right? And you are here to meet the mayor about the advertised funding if I understood her correct.”

“Well, I see she didn’t left much to explain,” you mumble and shake your head amused, “you are right. I need an appointment with a record section employee and whoever is responsible for medical matters in this town. I assume in a small town like this it is the mayor himself. Can you tell me who it is and how I can get an appointment?”

“Stands right in front of you,” Claire says proud, “and I have time for you.”

“You are the current mayor of Cornflower Fields?” you ask impressed “that’s impressive. Congratulations. I had no idea you wanted to participate.”

“Well, I was surprised too,” Claire admits, “but after mayor Bishop retired we had a ... well, questionable new mayor and I decided it was time to improve this town. I couldn't just let everything vegetate like that. The city needed something new. Almost all the young people here are moving away to work in the big cities. If that doesn't change, this place will slowly get smaller and eventually die.”

“And how is it going?” you ask with little expectations, “have you already reached something worth to be mentioned?”

“She has,” Eve answers immediately and nods, “didn’t your parents told you how much changed in the last two years?”

“They told me that almost nothing happened,” you answer surprised, “I thought everything was still the same.”

“We should probably continue this talk in my office,” Claire says calm and looks at Eve, “Eve, dear, I know you're about to burst from holding back showing him everything. But I need you to take care of all visitors and calls while I have this appointment.”

“That obvious?” Eve asks surprised, “sure mom, I take care of the phone and all pigeons who eventually fly through the open door”