The Confessional
Part IV

        "Well Melva, you remember what the church was like back then. None of that Holy-rolling, talkin' in tongues business."

        "Yes and Miss Winnie must've worn the tightest girdle of all them WMU ladies."

        "That's why it was so peculiar. When she realized what she'd done she went the most perfect scarlet. With that blue hat on she looked like the Fourth of July."

        "Oh for a picture. Why didn't you tell me this before."

        "Didn't I? Anyway she was a sight. Miz Straightlaces all undone and on the floor, with her hat all cockeyed and crushed under her head. The veil wet with gnaw holes and bits of the body of Christ stuck all over it. Reverend Maynard Bartow on one side of her pattin' her hand and Deacon Rickman on the other, moppin his forehead with that specially monogrammed hankie he always carried in his breast pocket. I thought he was likely to faint too, from the way he was carryin' on."

        "I do remember hearing something 'bout him bein' sweet on her. I don't like the way this dress bunches around the middle."

        "Pretty fabric though Melva, you could wear a sweater or blazer over it."

        "What happened with Winnie and the Deacon? Were they ever 'seein' each other?"

        "Nothin' as far as I know. I never heard nor saw anything suspicious about them. Wonder why they never got together. Him bein' widowed and her never married. I think he could have mellowed her some."

        "Yes he was a nice man. I remember he always had penny candy in his pockets to give to any children who'd memorized a new Bible verse."

        "Maybe that's why. Maybe she didn't want to be mellowed. Or maybe she didn't want to appear foolish, after all they were quite old."

        "That's sounds more like Winnie."

        "Which one?"

        "Oh, the lilac one. I like it much better than that traffic light yellow."

        "Not the blouse, Melva. Which one sounds more like Winnie?"

        "Oh! Well you were holding up the two shirts so I thought you meant....... never mind. I think Winnie was more worried about her standing in the community than about happiness."

        "Why do you think so?"

        "Just think about it Alice. Those Sunday School lessons. Every other one she'd say, 'Children! Keep your hearts and your minds open and clean as an empty book. Let Gawd have the only pen that can write in you, foh he wull put only good things theyuh.'   And all with that milk-curdling scowl."

        "And a voice to crack concrete." You're right. She just enjoyed bein' mean too much.   I remember that Joe Dyerle, runnin' around after church apin' her. "