On A Clear Day In August -- Thanks to Lapham

[Gita]

Because the character of religion in the South is more activist than contemplative, Rory and Betty Sloan entered the first of 40 rooms in the new Motel 6 to place Holy Bibles in 40 night tables. It was the mission of the Bethel Evangelical Church of God  to aggressively spread the Word, with the blessing of the motel manager, furthering God's work on Earth and adding stars to the crowns the Sloans would wear in Heaven.
They moved along the breezeway onto which all the rooms opened, smelling the fresh paint and carpet glue, taking their time on that warm and glory-filled August day.

The night table in Room 211 had been sitting undisturbed in a dark warehouse for two years, and a brown recluse spider, who had set up housekeeping in the drawer, did not like the blue-veined hand that slipped into her domain with a large square object, and she did what hermit spiders always do.

Had it been you or me whom the spider bit, we might have gone to the emergency room or perhaps to an Urgi-Care Center to have the bite looked at, but Betty Sloan believed that the Lord would protect her, in a general way because He was merciful and also in a specific way because she had been doing Good Works when the hurt occurred.

She said nothing and soldiered on at Rory's side, a frail osteoporotic woman with a weak heart, until her hand -- afire with poison -- fluttered once, and Sister Betty Sloan went Home.

[Jenny Darlington]

I absolutely did NOT see that coming!

[Andre DeCuir]

I really enjoyed this Gita. The line about the brown recluse spider and blue-veined hand was chilling!

[Gita]

No, my 125-lb ass would have dialed the front desk and asked for a different room and an escort to get there!

[Angela]

The whole thing just makes me sad.  Trying to "do good" and "live right", and so very narrow in their hearts and certain of their "special relationship" to God.

By the way, have any of you women ever been alone with your kids in a Hotel 6 with a gang of drunk and rowdy bikers outside your door?  My little 125 lb. narrow ass would read a couple Psalms, no shame.

[Teresa]

Why am I laughing?  And why do I hate the frail osteoporotic Betty?  Probably because I've been assaulted by these people.  They've poured holy water on me, pulled me aside to pray over me, blown holes in my privacy with the one question that makes bright orange flames shoot out of my eyes:  Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior?  How f*****g rude!  That's like me asking:  Did you have an absolutely stupendous orgasm last night?  I'm sorry.  You stirred my little coals.  I love this.  I hate this.  I love this.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

No good deed goes unpunished. 

[Robert Crisman]

@Gita: Don't let my mother hear you say that.

[Jadie Jones]

fantastic

[Gita]

@Crisman: The hearts a mussel, not a cockle.

[Joey Delgado]

Poor, misguided Betty Sloan. Great six from the first sentence to the last. I especially enjoyed how her hand "fluttered one, and Sister Betty Sloan went Home."

I always wonder if these people who are absolutely sure divine intervention will save them from a medical condition with a definite scientific pathology are crazy. Or maybe they want to go "home".

Great stuff. Today's sixes are so thought-provoking, blowing my mind.