Yes, you can go home again

My car needs new front brakes. I've never changed them in the five years I've owned it. So I decided to stop into the local auto parts store. A huge black cat lying on the counter greeted me. Well, I shouldn't say he greeted me because he never twitched a muscle when I petted him. "His name is Mulligan. Got hit by a car and we kept him." The nice fellow behind the counter gave me the full story. We chatted more and I found myself glad I'd picked this store over the chain across the bridge.

When I walked out, a huge Texas gas truck had parked next to me blocking my exit.

I wasn't in Kansas anymore.

We decided to move home after an almost thirteen year hiatus. Tunkhannock, when we left, looked like any small town that time forgot. In our absence, gas was discovered. Wells along with out-of-state people popped up. Rents increased and everyone talked of getting rich. We just wanted to get away from cities.

Town no longer has its mom and pop hardware store. The downtown has painted many of its buildings and the old hotel has new owners. Traffic has doubled with all the trucks and business and it takes longer now to get anywhere.

But yesterday when I heard a loud sound coming from my car  and my husband wasn't answering my calls, I knew where to go. My best friend lives just around the corner.