Loretta McKinley

For those who live in the desert, an outsider who comes to fast for three days and three nights is peculiar.  It is wondered what he or she is doing.

After Loretta McKinley had sat for just such a time on a rock near the tribe, hallucinating and coming as close to death and God as she ever had, she walked into the camp and asked to speak with the elders.

            “I have had a vision,” she announced to them.  There was silence.  She thought they were stunned, but then they began to laugh.  At every earnest word she spoke, they laughed harder.

            “Yes,” said one of the elders said finally, “that happens.”  This was followed by another outburst of laughing and knee slapping.  

When the elders had calmed, and they had wiped the tears from their eyes, Loretta was graciously invited to eat.