(no subject)
This little drabble was inspired both by a talk in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago and my trip down to southern Utah last weekend. It has made me realize that I really should have an editor for everything I write.
“Ooh, this talk will be good, he’s got props,” whispered Sally to Shawna as Sam got up to speak.
“I have here a collection of rocks,” he began, emptying out a small bag and scattering chunks of mineral all over the podium. “My family has collected them from every national park we’ve visited - there are some here from Yellowstone, from Bryce, Zions, Capitol Reef...we picked them up because we wanted to remember. Similarly, in our lives we can find spiritual “remembering rocks” that help us along the path of life....”
Shawna poked Sally, who seemed rather interested in the speaker, and pointed at Stella, who had suddenly gone very stiff.
“Uh-oh, looks like she’s about to go into extreme law-abiding mode,” a girl behind them whispered, and the whole row craned their necks to see before cringing away as if from a bomb about to blow up.
When Stella made a sudden movement, the surrounding congregation gasped, but she was only reaching down to grab her cell phone/walkie talkie. Those especially near her heard her whisper, “We have a code red in the East Chapel, a breach of federal law, backup requested.”
Sam was still plodding on, blissfully unaware that his life may shortly be in danger. “This rock is particularly special to me. We got it from the top of Delicate Arch, and it reminds me of one of the greatest times I ever had with my family. This “remembering rock” is our patriarchal blessing....”
Suddenly, a siren sounded that drowned out the rest of Sam’s words. All six doors to the chapel burst open, revealing menacing figures dressed all in black.
“Hands in the air!” stated one of them, pointing at Sam. He jerked his head at Stella. “Gather the evidence.”
“Yes sir!” she replied, vaulting from the middle row to the front of the chapel, easily clearing the ducked heads of the congegration. The bishop looked frozen.
“You know, Sam, you really shouldn’t encourage criminal behavior in church,” the organist heard Stella whisper as she scooped all the rocks into a bag with a program.
“But-but, Stella!” Sam spluttered as the cuffs went on. “They’re just some rocks! There’s plenty of those to spare at the national parks, it’s not that bad!”
She looked shocked. “But it’s against the law, Sam.” She turned away then turned back, eyes narrowed. “You can consider our date for this Friday cancelled.”
“Nooooo!” cried Sam as he was dragged away by the people in black.
The bishop came to himself enough to realize that it might be time to end the meeting. The closing hymn was strangely muffled and stilted, and the benediction the shortest in known history. The ward hardly waited for the “Amen” to start chattering loudly.
“Well, I’d have to say that’s one of the most enlightening meetings I’ve ever been to,” Sally commented. Shawna couldn’t help but agree.
by the way, is anyone else's AIM acting up? I haven't been able to sign on all day! I think it's the fault of my connection, though...took about 10 tries to post in the Burrow today. Well, I'm off to waste a little more time before going to pick peas! Yay!
“Ooh, this talk will be good, he’s got props,” whispered Sally to Shawna as Sam got up to speak.
“I have here a collection of rocks,” he began, emptying out a small bag and scattering chunks of mineral all over the podium. “My family has collected them from every national park we’ve visited - there are some here from Yellowstone, from Bryce, Zions, Capitol Reef...we picked them up because we wanted to remember. Similarly, in our lives we can find spiritual “remembering rocks” that help us along the path of life....”
Shawna poked Sally, who seemed rather interested in the speaker, and pointed at Stella, who had suddenly gone very stiff.
“Uh-oh, looks like she’s about to go into extreme law-abiding mode,” a girl behind them whispered, and the whole row craned their necks to see before cringing away as if from a bomb about to blow up.
When Stella made a sudden movement, the surrounding congregation gasped, but she was only reaching down to grab her cell phone/walkie talkie. Those especially near her heard her whisper, “We have a code red in the East Chapel, a breach of federal law, backup requested.”
Sam was still plodding on, blissfully unaware that his life may shortly be in danger. “This rock is particularly special to me. We got it from the top of Delicate Arch, and it reminds me of one of the greatest times I ever had with my family. This “remembering rock” is our patriarchal blessing....”
Suddenly, a siren sounded that drowned out the rest of Sam’s words. All six doors to the chapel burst open, revealing menacing figures dressed all in black.
“Hands in the air!” stated one of them, pointing at Sam. He jerked his head at Stella. “Gather the evidence.”
“Yes sir!” she replied, vaulting from the middle row to the front of the chapel, easily clearing the ducked heads of the congegration. The bishop looked frozen.
“You know, Sam, you really shouldn’t encourage criminal behavior in church,” the organist heard Stella whisper as she scooped all the rocks into a bag with a program.
“But-but, Stella!” Sam spluttered as the cuffs went on. “They’re just some rocks! There’s plenty of those to spare at the national parks, it’s not that bad!”
She looked shocked. “But it’s against the law, Sam.” She turned away then turned back, eyes narrowed. “You can consider our date for this Friday cancelled.”
“Nooooo!” cried Sam as he was dragged away by the people in black.
The bishop came to himself enough to realize that it might be time to end the meeting. The closing hymn was strangely muffled and stilted, and the benediction the shortest in known history. The ward hardly waited for the “Amen” to start chattering loudly.
“Well, I’d have to say that’s one of the most enlightening meetings I’ve ever been to,” Sally commented. Shawna couldn’t help but agree.
by the way, is anyone else's AIM acting up? I haven't been able to sign on all day! I think it's the fault of my connection, though...took about 10 tries to post in the Burrow today. Well, I'm off to waste a little more time before going to pick peas! Yay!