Old Maid -5minutefreewrite

For https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mariannewest/day-283-5-minute-freewrite-sunday-prompt-old-maid

The church gossips whispered at Sunday Service as she sat, with her little black purse and her dull gray pantsuit right up at the front.

"Matilda has been eyeing Pastor Crisp ever since his wife passed." "She has no shame." "Well, you can't when you've got no man at her age." "Has she ever even-" "Oh, hush Gwennie!"

Matilda could hear them all, of course. The church was silent as the pastor led them in prayer. He asked for silence and he got it from everyone except the church gossips. Matilda couldn't say they were wrong. Except about the no shame part. She felt plenty of shame for her feelings, but her feelings were stronger than her shame. Pastor Crisp was so kind. He helped all the town navigate through the unfortunate fire that had blown through last July. He was strong. He'd helped his neighbors rebuild with his own two arms and had kept up his