"Have there been any enrollments?"

Haya glanced up from her computer as her young, pretty boss breezed in and shook her head. Kelly Ashton’s face fell, just for a moment, then the quick grin returned.

"Oh well, not to worry, these things take time," Kelly said.

"We need more publicity," Haya suggested. "Maybe we should give the local papers a call. I could prepare a press release."

"Good on you," Kelly agreed. "And maybe we could organize an event or something – like a coffee morning? That might interest the press."

"Leave it to me," Haya said, and her fingers started flying over the keyboard.

Kelly left her and went into her own office, closing the door behind her. Alone, she allowed herself the luxury of a sigh. She wanted to keep her spirits up in front of Haya. She had worked so hard since the Glengarry Cottage Community Centre had opened two months ago, but sometimes she felt the strain.

Maybe Haya’s publicity drive would work, although the cottage had been mentioned in the paper when it opened. But all the response they had received from the neighboring estate was a few scattered phone calls, lonely people who would talk on the phone for ages, but who could not be persuaded to leave their homes and venture down to the cottage. In just one week’s time, the activities they had planned for the next six months would begin, and so far, they didn’t have one person registered for anything.

If only there were some way to win the community’s trust, she thought. But she knew the problems on the Glengarry Estate were far deeper than a simple press release or coffee morning could hope to address.

Glengarry was a sadly typical new housing estate on the edge of nearby Forbestown, poorly planned, with no shops, no child care centre or play areas and inadequate public transport. There was trouble with some bored young teenagers and most residents – particularly young mums with small children – preferred to stay in their homes. The people of Glengarry Estate were used to being alone. If only she could let them see they didn’t have to be lonely.

"And that’s good, coming from you," she told her reflection on the computer screen as she logged on. She had come here to ease the loneliness of the estate residents and she had never been lonelier in her life. Far from family and friends, she had begun to feel isolated herself.

At lunchtime, Haya went home. The cottage could only afford a part time assistant at the moment, and Kelly dreaded the long afternoons, when she had little to do but answer the phone. She sat at Haya’s computer near the front door, hoping someone would venture inside and see what the cottage had to offer.

"Maybe we need an outreach service," she thought. But the funding wouldn’t stretch to another employee, and she couldn’t leave the cottage unattended.

"Hello, is there anyone here?"

Kelly glanced up, startled by the ringing of the bell at the door as it opened. A young man’s face peered round the door, and it took her no time at all to register that it was a very nice face indeed, with soft dark brown eyes.

All the Lonely People -2 (Continue)