A few information about old friends and what has changed

Eve awaits you with a happy smile at the reception desk. She has a map and some keys in her hand. One key is for a car and the other one you assume is for the old doctor’s office. You wonder if the car is really hers.

“I’m so glad you are back,” Eve says happy and hugs you again, “come on, I want to show you everything.”

“You remember I grew up here too, right?” you ask partly amused, “I know the area.”

“Hush!” Eve says and crosses her arms, “I have waited for literally years for you to come back. Don’t ruin this with stupid logic. Get in the car!”

You sigh amused and allow Eve to lead you to a car outside of the building. Your own car is still at your parent’s house. Before unlocking the car, Eve points at the community center.

“As you probably noticed, the community center is used much more often now,” Eve says proud, “that is mostly thanks to my mom. She made sure more volunteers help creating a larger variety of courses and programs. I’m even responsible for one myself. I organize movie nights every second weekend. If you want, you could join us. It has been a great fun so far.”

“I guess I could,” you answer interested, “depends on the movie I would say. Are there many courses? And can you recommend anything?”

“Well, I visited a music class and a cooking course personally. And I know about lots of other stuff like painting courses, Hiking groups, garden club meetings and once a month there is a guy who teaches others about how to fly drones.”

“Impressive,” you say honest, “I need to have a look at this as soon as I settled in. Well, let’s start your tour.”

Eve nods happy and unlocks the car. As you expected, it is not really hers. It belongs to the town and she has to sign in a Logbook. But she seems to be able to drive perfectly well. And she knows the streets very good. However, there isn’t much traffic anyway. The first stop is at the church of Cornflower fields. You went here often with your parents when you were a child. Or rather, your mother **** you and your father to come with her.

The church is still small, but at least it looks renovated. A new layer of color and some new tiles on the roof. The lawn and graveyard are still in very good shape. You know that some volunteers take care of it once a year. There also is a woman in the church yard and waters the plants. She looks a little younger than you and wears the typical clothes of a nun. She winks at you and Eve and looks away shy when you wink back.

“The church of cornflower fields is … still … a building,” Eve says but slows down quickly, “to be honest, I have no idea what to tell you about it. I’m not religious. I could tell you about the renovation a year ago. The old pastor is still there and … well we don’t have a successor.”

“Who is this?” you ask and point at the nun.

“Sister Maria Lazarus,” Eve answers unsure, “I don’t know her that much. All I know is that this is not her real name and she gives some courses at the community center once a week. She was send by her order to live and work here for some reason. This was about a year ago. We haven’t spoken more than ten words since then. Can we continue? I have nothing to say to this place.”

You nod and give Sister Maria a last wink before Eve drives off. Only a minute or two later you arrive at a small rark. It is smaller than the community center and just a square with some trees and flower boxes in the middle of the town. The towns festival takes place here every year and there is a fountain in the middle. A lot of shops and businesses are builded in the houses around.

“The Warrior Fountain,” Eve says and looks longing on the fountain, “monument for people from this community who died in several wars since the beginning of the twentieth century. We had so much fun here as kids. Do you remember when I tried to push you in the fountain?”

“Sure, but you ended up in it yourself,” you reply teasing, “and we often went to the general store over there to buy ice cream with Nad and Jess. Happy memories.”

“The general store is still in property of the family Carter,” Eve explains, “you get everything … well whatever the sentiment offers at the moment. Sadly, our friend Jess doesn’t work for her parents anymore. She makes a baker's apprenticeship. But her brother Marvin works here with his parents.”

“I expected as much,” you mumble, “by the way, how are Jess and Marvin?”

“Marvin is fine,” Eve says “he is still very quiet but gives his best to live up to his parent’s expectations. Jess … well she is kind of a rebel. But we are still best friends and I’m sure she can’t wait to meet you too. Alright, to the next stop.”

Eve drives for a few minutes before stopping in front of the local police department. You remember this place form a visit with your elementary school class and a visit because your mother left her handbag and somebody brought it here to pick it up.

“The county police station is the biggest, and only, law enforcement institute of Cornflower Fields,” Eve explains like a typical tourist guard, “It employs currently five officers. Sherriff Wilson is still the head of the police, but his right-hand Graham unofficially leads the station now. Do you remember Sarah? She is a deputy now.”

“I already met Sherriff Wilson yesterday,” you tell her smiling, “but Sarah? The little nerd with the big glasses? Incredible. I’m glad she got a great job. And I feel pity for all her former bullies.”

“I don’t want to tell too much, because it could make me a target, but there are rumors not all of our former classmates left only to find work in the big cities,” Eve says and fails miserably to sound mystery, “but let’s head off, before she hears us.”

The next stop is the school you went to as a child and teenager. There was only one school building in Cornflower Fields, so elementary school, middle school and high school are in one building. It was sometimes kind of strange to have the math teacher from elementary school suddenly as high school history teacher.

“You remember the old school?” Eve asks and looks at the building, “good old memories. My little sister is currently in her first year of middle school.”

“How is Paula?” you ask curious, “last time I saw her she was not even old enough to enter elementary school.”

“She is fine,” Eve says smiling, “very fine. She has a lot of friends. But mom is worried about her english grades. She got the third C in a row. I don’t think this is a reason to worry but … well you know mom. Do you want to meet her? I’m sure there is a break in a few minutes.”

“Maybe next time,” you offer, “I want to take care of my workplace first.”

“Alright, next stop is the doctor’s office,” Eve agrees, “it’s just a few minutes away.”

Less than ten minutes later, you arrive at a building that looks slightly different than the other houses around. It is more modern, has a bigger parking space and a bigger entrance in case the ambulance needs to enter with big equipment. You haven’t been here since the last doctor retired, but the building has hardly changed. Somebody even took care of the small lawn next to the parking space.

“Well, there we are,” Eve says and looks up the building, “one of the few parts of the town that hasn’t a new history already. Since doctor Brock retired, nobody has used this office. The head bitch of Trayo cooperation wanted to buy if from the town, but my mom refused. And they were not able to present an own doctor to work here so far. But this was just a question of time. You did my mom a huge favor.”

“That wasn’t on purpose,” you joke, “I had no idea what has happened here while I was away.”

“Well, you could have called more often,” Eve mumbles and looks surprising tense, “but let us not talk about this now. You are back now and that is what matters. Just fill in the documents mom gave you and we will take care of the rest. Furniture and medicine you have to order by yourself. And … there is one more thing.”

Eve gets closer to you and you assume she wants to whisper something in your ear. But out of sudden she grabs you and kisses you straight on the mouth.

“I … I need to go …” Eve says and tries to turn around to hide her blushing, “back to work. Here are your keys. I will have the rent contract ready by tomorrow. Just drop by when you are done with the documents. And … thank you for being back, {male name}. I really mean it.”

You are not able to say anything before Eve rushes to the car and drives off. You are stunned too. She just kissed you. She has always been a rather flighty girl, but she never did something like this with you. You take a few deep breaths before you unlock the door to your new workplace.