Tower and Town, June 2022

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April, Originally from Rochester, New York

It's an afternoon in May and warm enough to sit on the steps outside the town hall where my son can finish eating the burger we bought from the open grill in front of the butchers. The ketchup runs down his chin.

A man approaches and says something about the lovely weather and I agree. He stops and asks me where I'm from, what brought me to Marlborough, and how do I like living here. I dispense my usual replies hardly having to think about my answers: I'm originally from Rochester, New York. I married an English man while living and working in Japan, and I love living in the town of Marlborough.

The man continues on his way, and my son, having finished his burger, asks me how the man knew I was American.

It's true. I met and married a guy named Guy whom I met while teaching English in Japan. Wanting to have children and preferring the support of family, Guy applied and accepted a job back in the UK. We eventually had two children, Phoebe and Max, and have lived in the town since 1995.

When I arrived, the one-horse-town didn't immediately strike me as special. Where were the winding roads leading to the off-the-beaten-track shops? Where was I supposed to buy bedding and underwear? And why didn't any of the shops stock peanut butter or molasses? And finally, what about a cinema? The nearest one was 25 minutes by car.

I've since discovered, through patience, children and friends, I love living in Marlborough. The town has everything my heart requires.

When I think of newcomers, I am reminded of 'The Parable of the Two Villages':

April's parable

A man who was travelling came upon a farmer working in his field and asked him what the people in the next village were like. The farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The man responded "They were kind, friendly, generous, great people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

Another man who was travelling to the same village came up to the same farmer somewhat later and asked him what the people in the next village were like. Again the farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The second man responded, "They were rude, unfriendly, dishonest people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

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