Not a loud sneeze, but one of those inward convulsions that makes the whole body twitch spasmodically.
It sent a handful of petals from the wilted rose showering down into her lap.

The coin dropped back into her purse as she made an instinctive grab to save them from going to the floor.

Then blushing and embarrassed as the plate paused in front of her, she fumbled desperately in her purse to regain the dropped quarter.

The instant the coin left her fingers she saw the mistake she had made, and reached out her hand as if to snatch it back.

But it was too late, even if she had had the courage to reclaim it.