Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Gossip/Rumors (either or both) (10/28/10)
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TITLE: AS THEY SAY | Previous Challenge Entry
By Veronica Winley
10/30/10 -
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The outer door opened once again, admitting other late comers. Jeannine turned and smiled at the young couple and the elderly lady who had entered, then tried again to quiet her spirit. The soft organ music emanating from the sanctuary helped but was suddenly drowned out by laughter and high heels tapping on the tiled floor. Two women hurriedly entered from the side hallway which led to the nursery; they had probably just dropped off their children. Standing behind Jeannine and the others, they continued their conversation in exaggerated whispers.
“Where did you get those shoes? I absolutely LOVE them! I‘ve been looking for a pair in that color!”
Jeannine opened her eyes but kept her head bowed, although she was tempted to turn around and give them an admonitory look. Instead she twitched her shoulders, to show her irritation.
“Girl, I lucked out at Macys a few days ago. These were the last pair in my size.” The voice then dropped a bit, although it was still loud enough to hear. “But guess who I saw in there. Harold Foster!”
There was a pause and then a puzzled, “You mean Deacon Foster?”
“Yes Ma’am! And he was with a very pretty young lady who was NOT his wife. They were at the perfume counter.”
Jeannine stiffened, and then turned around to stare at the whisperers. However they were looking at each other and didn’t see her glaring at them. Deacon Foster and his wife Daisy had been very welcoming when she joined the church five years ago and were the first to invite her to their home. At the time, she was new in town, friendless and lonely. There was no finer Christian couple! Jeannine fumed. How dare them!
In response to a question too low to hear, “New Shoes” said, “I know, I know. I didn’t want to believe it either. However they were standing pretty close together and acting very …well, you know, familiar. As they say …”
Just then the doors to the sanctuary swung open and the ushers beckoned them in to join the congregation that was now standing and singing. As she feared, her favorite seat was taken so Jeannine took a seat a few rows from the back. Daisy Foster, who was sharing a hymnbook with her husband, waved from across the aisle. Jeannine gave her a small smile and a nod, as she reached for a hymnbook. When the song was finished she sat down and surreptitiously studied her friends. It couldn’t be true…could it? Harold Foster was a handsome man though, 40ish and graying slightly at the temples. And Daisy had been looking a bit, well, dowdy lately. Just last week Jeannine had thought about inviting her to go shopping. She shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss those thoughts and turned her attention to the pulpit as Pastor Pauley stood to welcome visitors.
Retrieving an offering envelope from the pew in front of her, Jeannine fished around for the check she had written and shoved into her purse in her mad dash out of the house. She was filling out the information on the front of the envelope when she heard Pastor Pauley say, “And we’d like to extend a special welcome to Cynthia Foster, Deacon Harold’s sister, who is visiting from Dallas. I expect you all to make her feel so welcome, she’ll consider staying.” As a few folks chuckled, Jeannine noticed the lovely young woman who was sitting on Deacon Foster’s other side and who now waved her hand in acknowledgement. His sister!
Jeannine looked around to see if she could spot “Shoes,” so she could see the expression on her face. Then a strong conviction made her bow her head in shame. She prayed silently “Lord, forgive me for everything I’ve thought or felt this morning that was not like you. Please let me live out Philippians 4:8.” She raised her head then and began singing with everyone else, “Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy praise.”
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I, for one, will take this well-done message to heart.
Very well written!
I'll give you the same comment I gave the previous story, though--your writing exceeds your plotline. I've read several stories this week with a similar misunderstanding (it was the brother/sister/cousin, etc.) I'd love to see something farther out of the box--your skills are outstanding!