Appearances

Stomach grumbling, Ella found a beautiful blue shirt and her nicest black pants to wear to church.  She carefully pulled on her clothes, noticing that they were starting to hang on her body.  Frustrated, she found the only belt she had in her closet and put it through the loops on her pants.  She had just bought new pants one month ago.  There was no way she could afford to buy another pair.  Plus, last time she went to the Goodwill store, some of the people gave her funny looks.  She supposed that she may have been dressed a little too nicely, having just come from work.  Refocusing her thoughts, she walked to the mirror to fix her hair.  She carefully ran the brush through her hair to pull out all the tangles. Her face was beginning to get thin again, the circles under her eyes getting darker. After fixing her hair, she put on make up to cover up the dark circles and to add color.  Picking up her keys and her Bible, she walked out to her car and drove to church. She couldn't wait for the sweet cake or pastry that her Sunday School teacher always brought.

After Sunday School, Ella's best friend in the class exclaimed, "I love your blue shirt, Ella.  Have you lost weight? You're looking pretty good."
Cringing, hoping nobody noticed, Ella smiled, "Thank you! This is my favorite shirt.  And, yes, I have lost weight."
Interrupting their conversation, Bill asked, "Are you two going to join us for lunch? We're going to go to the Mexican place down the street."
"No, thank you," Ella replied.  Trying to find an excuse not to go, she said, "I have some things to take care of at home before I go back to work tomorrow."  She picked up her keys and her Bible, she walked out the door, as soon as she was sure she wouldn't be missed.

Finally home, after what seemed like forever, Ella immediately took a look at her kitchen cabinet.  She saw a few cans of soup and vegetables.  She didn't really want any of that right now, but she was so hungry.  She could hear and feel her stomach rumbling.  That small piece of apple turnover she had in Sunday School was quickly beginning to wear off. She grabbed a can of chicken soup, poured it in the bowl and popped it in the microwave.  She couldn't wait to go to work tomorrow, so she could finally eat more than one meal.