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28
The doctor’soffice was on Main Street, a short distance from Momma’s house.Katie thought of the sprawling city she lived in and how far she had to drive to get to places.The traffic was a nightmare, especially around rush hour—except it wasn’t just an hour, but more like two to three hours.
She’d inherited her thriftiness from Momma.Katie lived in a small apartment in a complex with a common green space.It was the one thing that was non-negotiable when she looked for a place to live.Having a granite countertop kitchen, fancy bathroom, or a stylish building wasn’t a big deal for her.But that piece of green made it feel like home.And it was a welcome sight, her piece of heaven, after a long day at work.If she had to stare at slabs of concrete instead, it’d be so depressing.
Katie had carved out a life in the city and a routine consisting of working late, grabbing fast food or settling for a frozen dinner, checking work emails on her laptop, showering, and sleeping.Then repeat the next day and the day after.On weekends, she did her chores, laundry, shopping, and errands.
She was often too tired to go out on Friday nights.The only exception was work-related social events, which she felt obligated to attend.If she had a date or went out with friends, it was on Saturday night.She had little free time.Her friends had to literally drag her out, or else she’d still be working, even on the weekends when she brought work home.They kidded her, too, and said she was married to her job.
She heard some grumblings after she got the big promotion.It was fair to say nobody envied her when she was at the bottom of the ladder, but she didn’t stay there long.Katie had to work twice as hard as any man and work smarter.She was good at what she did.When she earned her way to success, she also earned the respect of her male colleagues.But she found out the hard way that some women resented her success, especially the one woman who made life most difficult for her on purpose.
She was still fuming when Momma directed her from the passenger seat, “Make a left turn there to the doctor’s office.”
She parked and walked around to help Momma out, but she waved her off, muttering that she was quite capable of it herself.Katie waited, standing in the parking lot and surveying the one-story, neatly painted house.“This place hasn’t changed a bit.”
“It’s been this way ever since Doc Judy opened the practice over thirty years ago.”
“I remember.You took me here to get my first glasses.”
“You were in second or third grade?”
“Third.I didn’t know I needed them until they gave us eye and hearing tests at school.”
“And you rebelled.Stamped your tiny feet and said they looked ridiculous.”
“Well, I didn’t want those ugly black frames.”
“But when Doc Judy pulled out those pink ones and said she’d saved them just for you, that did the trick.”
“They were so cute!I got a pink lollipop, too, that day.”Katie burst out laughing, then checked her phone.“Mom, it’s almost time for your appointment.Shall we go in now?”
“I’ll go.Why don’t you wait outside or walk around?You’ll get bored in the waiting room.I’ll see you when I’m done.”
Katie nodded and waited until she disappeared inside the building.She strolled leisurely down to the sidewalk and picked a bench to sit on and enjoy the sunshine and do some people watching.At this time of the day, most of the pedestrians were elderly townsfolk out and about, getting their exercise, walking and stopping to chat with people they knew.She didn’t see kids who were in school and working-age adults who were too busy during the day to be loitering.
Along the street, she glimpsed a flower shop, a lawyer’s office, and a clothing store.Farther down were the dry cleaner and hair salon.Other shops stretched beyond her line of vision.
Across from her, the shiny bank building stood in a central location on Main Street.To its right stood an old-fashioned drugstore.Inside, the pharmacy and shelves filled with sundries took half of the space, and the soda fountain and dining area, famous for its malt shakes and faux-red-leather booths, occupied the other half.It was a popular gathering place for retirees who picked up their prescription medications and loitered, meeting up with people they knew for a drink or a meal served at the counter or booths.
An elderly woman exited the pharmacy and crossed the street.As the woman approached the bench where she was sitting, Katie recognized her former second-grade teacher, Mrs.Bell, and almost ducked like a kid playing hooky from school.
Now white-haired and walking with a slight stoop, this woman differed from the Mrs.Bell that Katie remembered—a stern, middle-aged teacher, taking no flak from any of her students when they misbehaved.If a kid wasn’t paying attention in class, she’d go around with the pointer and rap it hard on the wooden desk, making loud thwacks when metal met wood, shocking whoever was sitting there to attention.It was effective, though, and did the job… enough to wipe the smirk off a kid’s face and make them sit up and listen.She remembered her dedication and soft side, too, when Mrs.Bell spent hours helping the struggling students like her who strived to succeed.
“Well, if it isn’t Katie Simmons.”Mrs.Bell was standing inches away, peering down at her former student through her bifocal glasses.
Katie squirmed and looked up into those no-nonsense gray eyes.“Mrs.Bell.I’m so surprised to see you.”She stood up to greet her, brushing her pants to wipe away some imagined fluff.
“Have you moved back to town?”
“No.I was just in town for the weekend to attend a wedding.”She tilted her head toward Doc Judy’s place.“Waiting for my mom, then flying out today.”
“Young lady, I hear you’ve got a busy career, but we don’t see much of you.”
Katie blushed.“I applied what you taught me, you know, and worked really hard.”
Mrs.Bell’s lips upturned in a terse smile.“And you’ve accomplished a lot.Are you happy now?”
“I thought it was what I wanted, more than anything.I left everything behind and everyone I loved to pursue my goal in the city.”
