First day in Circle

After a four hour drive we winded our way through town. The ice chunks were larger than the houses they moved. The smell of fuel oil was thick,the town seemed deserted. We drove to the school to find the classes busy and full of life. Mary was busy preparing the school for summer, packing and cleaning. The school's basement had been flooded, the classrooms were untouched.
I would spend the night in the school, we unloaded the truck and filled the multi-purpose room. Now I could start a friendship with these strangers. Mary will leave in five days, my only contact here in town. Kurt is the high school teacher and the principal, we talked for a couple hours. He found me a cot to sleep on.
Kurt didn't paint a Rosy picture of life here in Circle. I'm hoping he just needs a rest from life here in the village. He told me to expect two people from out of town.
I let Mike and Rachael in last night not knowing who they were or if they were from here. I offered coffee, we talked as the water heated. They were from TCC, I felt relieved having worked with Heidi from TCC since the beginning in 2007. They knew of Heidi, but had not met her. I asked them if they had ever been in Arctic Village, we had many of the same friends. Mike said he asked people what are all the buildings aside the houses were for. He was told they're greenhouses, we grow gardens here. That in itself was worth the trip, I look forward to the day, it's seventeen sparkling degrees.