The little old couple walked slowly into McDonalds that cold winter
evening.
They looked out of place amid the young families and young couples eating
there
that night. Some of the customers looked admiringly at them. You could
tell
what the admirers were thinking. "Look, there is a couple who has been
through
a lot together, probably for 60 years or more!" The little old man walked
right
up to the cash register, placed his order with no hesitation and then paid
for
their meal. The couple took a table near the back wall and started taking
food
off of the tray. There was one hamburger, one order of french fries and
one
drink. The little old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut
it
in half. He placed one half in front of his wife. Then he carefully
counted
out the French fries, divided them in two piles and neatly placed one pile
in
front of his wife. He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip and
then
set the cup down between them. As the man began to eat his few bites of
hamburger
the crowd began to get restless. Again you could tell what they were
thinking.
"That poor old couple. All they can afford is one meal for the two of
them."
As the man began to eat his french fries one young man stood and came over
to
the the old couples table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the
old
couple to eat. The old man replied that they were just fine. They were
used
to sharing everything. Then the crowd noticed that the little old lady
hadn't
eaten a bite. She just sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally
taking
turns sipping the drink. Again the young man came over and begged them to
let
him buy them something to eat. This time the lady explained that no, they
were
used to sharing everything together. As the little old man finished eating
and
was wiping his face neatly with a napkin the young man could stand it no
longer.
Again he came over to their table and offered to buy some food. After
being
politely refused again he finally asked a question of the little old lady.
"Maam,
why aren't you eating. You said that you share everything. What is it that
you
are waiting for?" She answered, "the teeth".