"This town is a little creepy, you know that?" "That may be, but it's not for you to say, is it? I mean, you're new here. You should walk cautiously, for a while. If you don't want an upper apartment, I have a basement over at Central Presbyterian. You'd have to share it. There are two women in there now." "I don't want to share," Cecelia said. "I want a place of my own." "Why?" the real-estate man asked curiously. "For what purpose?" "Purpose?" asked Cecelia. "There is no particular purpose. I just want . " "That's not usual here. Most people live with other people. Husbands and wives. Sons with their mothers. People have roommates. That's the usual pattern." "Still, I prefer a place of my own." "It's very unusual." "Do you have any such places? Besides bell towers, I mean?" "I guess there are a few," Mr. Phillips said, with clear reluctance. "T can show you one or two, I suppose."