henry

[dock98]

atilda, the church gossip, self-appointed monitor of

the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other

people's business. Several members did not approve of

her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough

to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused Henry, a

new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his

old pickup truck parked in front of the town's only

bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Henry and

several others that everyone seeing it there would

know what he was doing.

Henry, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment

and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain,

defend, or deny. He said nothing.

Later that evening, Henry quietly parked his pickup in

front of Matilda's house . . .. walked home . . and

left it there all night.