Sam by Jack Weyland

Author:Jack Weyland [Weyland, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2004-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Lara and I were coming out of a concert. Parked beside my car was a Jaguar sports car. I stood and admired it.

“Commandment number ten,” she joked. “Thou shalt not covet.”

A few blocks later, I asked how she knew it was the tenth of the Ten Commandments.

“Oh,” she said, a little embarrassed, “it’s just a little memory trick I use. It’s really nothing.”

“I’m interested—tell me about it.”

Her face clouded over. “It’s really kind of dumb. You don't really want me to bore you with it.”

“C’mon, I’m curious.”

“I”m not supposed to talk about it with someone I’m dating.”

“Why not?”

“A guy has to feel superior around a girl, and if he doesn’t, he leaves. That’s what all my roommates in college, who are all married now, used to say.”

“Oh, c’mon, just tell me.”

“All right. Commandment number one—think of one and only. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Okay? One—one and only.”

I nodded my head.

“Commandment number two—think of zoo. A zoo has statues of lions and tigers. Statues are graven images. Commandment number two—think of zoo—Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. Got it?”

“Sure,” I said nonchalantly, but feeling a little threatened.

“Commandment number three—think of tree. A tree has leaves, a leaf has veins. Commandment number three—Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.

“Commandment number four—think of door. A door has a keyhole, which reminds you of holy. Commandment number four—Thou shalt keep the Sabbath Day holy.”

I was looking at her with my mouth wide open.

“Commandment number five—think of drive. Your parents are taking you out for a drive. Five—think of drive—think of parents. Commandment number five—Honor your father and mother.”

“Commandment number six—think of sticks. You could kill somebody with a stick. Commandment number six—Thou shalt not kill.”

I felt a large drop of sweat roll down my arm.

“Commandment number seven—think of heaven. You can’t go to heaven if you commit adultery and don’t repent. Seven—think of heaven—you can’t get there with adultery. Commandment number seven—Thou shalt not commit adultery.

“Commandment number eight—think of gate. You need gates to keep away robbers. Eight—think of gate—think of robbers. Commandment number eight—Thou shalt not steal.”

“Oh, sure,” I said, my head whirling.

“Commandment number nine—think of lying. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

“Commandment number ten—think of hen.You wish you could have your neighbor’s chicken. Ten—hen. Thou shalt not covet.

“It’s so simple, isn’t it?” she said enthusiastically. “On my mission I used the same idea to memorize scriptures. I found it was really easy to learn about five hundred scriptures that way.”

“Oh,” I said, wondering if I knew fifty scriptures.

“It’s sort of a hobby. When I was in college I read this book, let’s see—it was called The Memory Book. It taught all these little tricks. I got so every week I was memorizing a Time magazine.”

I was getting a bad headache.

“Oh, you memorize Time magazines,” I said numbly.

“It’s really easy. I used to do it for my roommates, but they told me never to tell any guy I liked about it. They said it would intimidate him, and he’d never feel comfortable around me again.

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