Town (Chapter 3, Story 1)

The receptionist smiled at Kella as she walked past the front desk. "Would you like me to make an appointment for next week, Hon?" she asked. "No, thanks," Kella replied, "I'm busy." "Well how about the next week?" The receptionist raised an eyebrow at Kella. "I have to check my calendar," Kella replied, turning away from the desk. "I'll let you know soon." Kella breathed a sigh of relief when she finally exited the building. The warm rays of the afternoon sun caressed her face, and Kella could hear birds chirping and a dog barking somewhere in the distance. At one time, Kella had despised living in this small town. She hated how everyone knew her name--and her business--without ever formally meeting her. She hated the regularity of the town, how it never seemed to change, and how everyone living there had the same ideas about everything. But the town had grown on her, and now she couldn't imagine being without its quiet tree-lined streets and old-fashioned buildings.