Prompt 11 of 31

The Writer's Book of Matches pg. 107 "An elderly woman decides to rebel against the conventions of socially acceptable behavior."

"It happened in church, Bella May, it surely did." Clara Anne said, while she daintily fanned herself in the shade of her massive hat.

"Oh, my," Bella May said, clutching at her pearls.

The two elderly ladies, with broad brimmed hats of vibrant colors, with matching dresses and pumps, sat out on a fine spring afternoon in Clara Anne's beautifully kept garden. Beneath a gazebo she begged George to build for her, the two ladies shared the local gossip of the small parish of Jefkey.

Placed before them were two large glasses with sweet tea and cookies baked fresh that morning.

"The ruckus she must have caused," Bella May took a sip of her tea. He pinky held up ever so delicately. "And that poor Reverend Smith."

"It's Smithe, Bella May. Smah-Eye-the."

"Yes, him too."

Clara Anne rolled her eyes and fanned herself ever faster.

"Sissy Jons stood up in the midst of a full congregation and began speaking at the top of her voice."

"-Oooh-"

"Jabbering on. We thought she was drunk on the spirit the way she was carrying on so. George thought she was speaking in tounges. Turns our she didn't have her teeth in at first."

Bella May snorted from a stifled burst of laughter, causing a gob of snot to run out of her nostril. She quickly grabbed her laced hanky from her purse and wiped it away.

"Did you hear what she had to say?"

"Darlin', you know you would have known if you had been there." Clara Anne raised and eyebrow over the glass she set to her lips.

Bella May wiped the subject from air.

"Preparation for the Ladies Society function. Being head chair has it's obligations."

"Surely," Clara Anne replied.

"Well obviously you didn't hear-"

"You must be pulling my leg, Bella May. The congregation was so overtook by her sudden outburst that every one got utterly silent. You could have heard a church mouse fart."

"Oh, Lord."

"Once her teeth were placed securely in her jowls she knocked her large caboose around to get to the end of the aisle. Poor Mr. Longley got a mouthful of buttock."

"I daresay he probably liked it." Bella May said. She smiled mischeviously.

"Oh, Bella," she swatted at her playfully, "How dare you. He's currently caught betwixt the widow Douglas and Ambbey. They are totally in the dark. I even heard," Clara leaned in closer, "That Mrs. Douglas arrived with a platter of finger sandwhiches right after a very vocal love making session."

Bella's eyes widened.

"I heard it from Yvonne Smirk after the book club."

Bella took a cook and ate away. She waved her hand at her dear friend and sad with a mouthful of cookie, crumbs flying all over the lovely lace table cloth, "Back to Sissy!"

"I'm getting there," Clara said, "DOn't stretch out your girdle." She took a deep breath. "Well once the poor woman finally freed herself from the pew she bustled up to the head of the congregation and nudged Reverened Smithe right out of place. The poor man was so overcome with shock he just stood there gaping."

Bella May chewed and shook her head absolutely enthralled.

"That's when the woman leaned against the pulpit. For a second I swear she pushed her teeth back in but George says I'm big fishing. Either way she opens her mouth and says, 'What the hell are we doing here.' I was just shocked. George still thought she was drunk on the spirit but I saw right through it. Now no one said a word so she went on. 'I have been coming here since I was born,' she said, 'and for the life of me I don't know why I kept coming. I've heard every story this book has to tell me at least three times each and not once has it made my life any better.'

"That's when the Reverend stepped in. He tried nudging her aside but Sissy just wouldn't budge. Instead she went on sayin, 'Instead of spending my days living life out with people that just enjoy life I have spent seven decades listening to all of you ladies just jabbering on about the other. One cruel thing after another. How dare you call youselves Christians. If there was a God I don't think he would want to spend a minute with you.'"

"I can't believe she could say such a thing."

Clara tucked her tongue behind her bottom lip and nodded, her eyes intense.

"And can you believe it, I look at George and he has this puzzled look on his face as if he's thinking it over. I give him a quick smack and he looks at me as if I'd been the one sayin such horrible things. The nerve.

"Sissy goes on to say, 'If there was a god I don't think he'd even want us to be reading from a book so easily manipulated by mankind. The verses are so generic they can be twisted and turned into anything you people feel petty enough to complain about. It's despicable.'

"Can you believe she has the gall to call us despicable."

"How do you know she was talking to you?" Bella May inquired.

Clara Anne's mouth hung open like a caught fish.

"She was gesturing to everyone in the church," she assured her companion.

Bella nodded.

"Finally someone takes it upon themselves to stand up and say something, but before old Mr. Clekney could get a word in edgewise Sissy swoops on in and cuts him off. 'Do you agree Mr. Clekney? I have heard you many a time tell me how tiring you get of your wife and her friends gossip. And how you feel that we should be taking on the poor people of our parish and caring for the poor. Has this place ever given you the opportunity or the chance?'

"the poor man was dumbfounded. Probably because he's been smoking the marijuana. I smell it, wafting into my bedroom window night after night."

"You don't think it might be your grandson Michael? His parents were very liberal ones. His mind might have been poisoned."

Clara's eyes and mouth narrowed to thin, severe, lines.

"My Michael is a holy man of God."

Bella held up her hands, "I meant no offense, Clara. It wouldn't be your doing. But his parents. May they rest in peace."

Clara turned her head to the side.

"It was that husband of my daughters. He corrupted her."

The two sat in silence for some time. The wind blew through the weeping branches of the willow creating a high pitched chorus that went along perfectly with the birds chirping in it's bows.

"Was that all?" Bella asked finally.

"Oh no, the woman went on and on bad mouthing the lord and the bible. It was amazing that more people didn't get up and storm out."

"You didn't?"

"Lord, no. I had to see the train wreck til the end."

"You know, Clare, I don't think it was such a thing. She just had an opinion and needed to get it out."

Bella May readjusted herself in the wicker chair.

"I beg your pardon?"

"She's right, I don't know why we've gone to that church for so long. We were just raised that way."

Clara sat up straight in her chair and looked down her charp nose at her table mate.

"We?"

"Sissy and I."

Clara was stunned.

"She and I have had it with all of you. It's finally time that we just come out with it. We're tired of you busy bodies. I'm just ashamed that I wasn't there to see her finally stand up and do what is right. I for one am proud of her."

"Surely you are joshing me."

"No, as a matter of fact."

Bella May stood up, her bag already in hand.

"Thank you for the tea and cookies."