The old woman was hungry.

  She moved along the sidewalk with her walker.  How long had it been since she'd had a decent meal?  Even she could not remember.  Up ahead, she saw an all-you-can-eat breakfast bar.  A church bus was parked in the lot.  The banner on the side of the bus said:  ATLANTA REVIVAL TABERNACLE.

  The old woman entered the restaurant.  It was filled to capacity.  People crowded in the lobby waiting to be seated.  The old woman moved up to the hostess.

  "Excuse me, dear," she said in a shaky voice.  "I need to use the little girl's room."

  The hostess smiled and pointed to the back of the restaurant.  "Through the double doors on the left, ma'am.  Would you like some help?"

  "I've been doing this myself since before your parents were born, dear.  But thank you for offering."

  She placed the walker in front of her and began the long trek through the restaurant.  Halfway through, she saw the table with the church youth group.  A large group of dashing young men, all studying to be preachers, no doubt.  And they had an empty chair at their table.

  She was hungry, so she moved toward them.

  "Pardon me, young man, but I'm so very hungry.  Would it be all right if I sat here with you so I don't have to wait?"

  The eldest of the young men was barely old enough to drink.  He rose and smiled.  "Why certainly, ma'am.  We'd be honored to have you eat with us.  Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior?"

  "No, dear.  I haven't."

  "Do you mind if we tell you about Him?"

  "Not at all, dear."  She folded her walker and sat down.

  One of the young men went to the food bar and brought her a plate filled with eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes and a blueberry muffin.  Another poured her a glass of orange juice from a pitcher.  She smiled at them, pleased to have the attention of such handsome young men.

  The young man beside her reached for the salt.

  The old woman took a breath.

  They started telling her about Christ.  She listened attentively.

  The young man returned the salt shaker to its holder and slowly reached for the pepper.  He sprinkled some on his eggs and when he returned it to its place, his hand shook.  The man smiled at her and tasted his food.

  The old woman took another breath, deeper this time.

  The man on her other side reached a shaky hand for his orange juice.  He took a sip and slowly set the glass down.

  The woman smiled, breathing easier.

  The men continued to tell her about the god they worshipped and why she should accept him into her heart.  She nodded, asking them to tell her more, which they happily did.

  She closed her eyes, feigning fatigue, and took a much deeper breath.

  The old man beside her lifted a piece of toast with a decrepit motion.  He thought better of it and let it drop to the plate.

  The old men forgot what they were saying about their god and their breathing grew weak.

  The woman took one more deep breath.

  The vibrant young woman rose from the table.  She didn't touch any of the withered old men seated there for fear that they would crumble to dust.  "Thank you," she said.  "You were all so very sweet."

  She left the restaurant to begin her new life.