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gotta help me here. Everything’s just so . . . different. But I want to learn whatever You want me to learn this weekend . . . I think.

5
    T he line for the breakfast buffet wound clear out of the hotel café when we arrived at eight, but Avis, Nony, and I managed to get a table for four by the time we got through the line about eight-thirty. The line had thinned, and a few minutes later Florida hustled over with a cup of coffee and a sweet roll. I waved her into the fourth chair beside Nony. “Someone offered us a hundred bucks for this seat, but . . . we saved it for you.”
    Florida chuckled. “You did right.” She tore her sweet roll in half. “So . . . was the prayer group good?”
    â€œYou’re looking at it,” I said.
    For a blink Florida stopped chewing. “Well, thank God! At least I wasn’t the only delinquent.” She waved her sweet roll at the rest of us. “Though I’m sure God was pleased that a few of you showed up to get your praise on.”
    I stifled a grin. Florida talked about “getting your praise on” like it was a blouse or a pair of shoes. Then her forehead wrinkled up. “It was optional, right? I mean, they’ll probably have the prayer groups get together again during the conference, don’t you think?”
    â€œI’m sure they will.” Nony slipped cream into her tea. “But I was just as glad there were only a few this morning. The prayer time was precious.”
    I studied the beautiful woman across from me. I’d never met anyone who seemed so totally unself-conscious when she was praying. Besides Avis, I mean. I thought maybe Avis had some special connection to God that was on “high” all the time. But Nony slipped Scripture in and out of her prayers so easily, it was like a second language.
    With time slipping away and the first session of the day starting at nine o’clock, we mostly paid attention to our bagels, plastic cups of yogurt, and fruit juice amid small talk. I gave a quick glance around the room to see if I recognized anyone else from the night before. But mostly I saw women in a variety of “casual dress” with an occasional color-coordinated jogging suit. Guessed I was dressed okay in my beige slacks and off-white cotton sweater. Nony was wearing another African-print tunic over black pants, but she’d left off the headgear. Instead, a head full of tiny cornrows met at the top of her head and cascaded in a ponytail of coppery braids down to her shoulders. Gosh, it was gorgeous. I felt slightly cheated. My thin wash-and-wear hair would never do something like that.
    â€œHellooo, Jodi. I said, do you want to go back to the room with me?”With a start I realized Avis had stood up and was waiting for me. “I want to . . .” She pantomimed brushing her teeth. “ . . . Before the session starts.”
    â€œIf you get on up in there before me, save me a seat!” Florida called after us, still intent on her coffee.
    Teeth brushed, a fresh application of lipstick, and Avis and I made our way to the ballroom. Once again the worship band and singers were up and running already by nine o’clock, even though women were still finding their seats. Once more we ended up in row five from the front with Avis next to an aisle. I piled my purse and Bible on the chair beside me to save a seat for Florida. Unless Adele comes and dumps them back into my lap, I thought ruefully. But that would mean she’d be choosing to sit beside me in a room with hundreds of chairs, and I was sure that wasn’t going to happen.
    Soon the lady in the red suit—except it was a creamy tan today that complemented her skin to a golden glow—was back on stage with the hand-held mike, song lyrics were up on the screen, and the place was rocking.
    We’re blessed in the city! We’re blessed in the field!
    We’re blessed when we come and when we go!
    After six or