Flash Fiction / There Was An Old Lady Who Lived In A Pew

     Her name was Violet.
     She was 77 years old.
     She had been living in the pew for nearly two weeks.
     She had no place else to go.

     “How wonderful to see you, Violet.” Mrs. White hugged her briefly and kissed her pale cheek. “How are you?”
     “I’ve been lonely,” said Violet.
     “Oh, look at the time! I have to run, dear. Take care.”

     It was a beautiful pew.
     Elaborate panels depicting the life of Christ were set in its massive oak sides.
     Violet loved to run her gnarled hands along the polished surface of the wood.

     “Hello, Violet,” said Mrs. Green, pausing beside her in the aisle. “My, that’s a lovely dress.”
     “It’s kind of you to say so,” said Violet, smiling. “It needs mending, but—”
     “There’s Red! I’ll see you later, Violet. Bye bye.”

     Violet had not eaten in nine days.

     “G’mornin’,Violet,” said Mr. Brown, squeezing her hand fondly. “How’s my girl?”
     “I’m afraid I’m rather ill,” Violet admitted.
     “Well, I’m sure sorry to hear that. I’ll keep you in prayer. You have a good day.”

At night the pew served as Violet’s bed.
She borrowed tiny blankets from the nursery to warm her frail body.

Reverend Black automatically greeted her at the door, clasping her blue-veined hands in his. “May God bless you richly, dear sister.”
Afterward, Violet slipped unnoticed back to her pew.

     The congregation had long since returned home.
      Violet leafed through the tattered pages of her time-worn Bible.
     Golden shafts of sunlight slanted through the stained glass windows above her.
     She found the blessed passage again: “In My father’s house are many mansions…”
     Tears welled in her tired eyes and she began to sing, “I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord…”
     The great, vaulted sanctuary echoed faintly with the sound of it.
     The song ascended into heaven and wept before the throne of God.

     A Man of Light with arms outstretched appeared beside the pew.
     Violet recognized Him immediately.
     She uttered a cry of joy and fell into His arms.

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