Interesting opening piece. It feels a tad disjointed to me, like there was more you were trying to fit in here than there was room for. Otherwise, I’m intrigued not only by this Widow Fletcher but by these townsfolk who seem both concerned and indifferent at the same time.

Thanks for the comment. You’re right. Not just a tad either. It’s a piece of a story I had put away. A rather poor editing attempt to fit Ficly. After uploading a portion of the story here, some of these characters came to life—your feelings about it ( A tad disjointed) are spot on. The assessment of Widow Fletcher and the townspeople is exactly what I felt when I first conceived the story. Then I became overwhelmed with how to proceed and put it away. This has happened with other stories. I run out of steam and put them away. Writing has a way of revealing your inmost weaknesses and strengths. I love writing, but hate what it sometimes forces me to face about myself. Thanks.