Denmark, a Kangaroo, and an Orange

This trick is simple, but it requires a good deal of memorization.  This will work best with a small audience (actually, preferably an audience of one) that doesn’t want to foil your tricks, as some do.

Procedure:

• Ask the audience to choose a number between one and ten.
• Next, ask them to multiply their number by nine.
• Ask them to take the two digits of their resulting number and add them together. (For example, 5×9=45; 4+5=9)
• The two digits together will always equal nine.  Ask them to subtract five from the number, so as to equal four.  (But don’t say that it will equal four, or else it would spoil the trick.)
• Ask them to convert their number to a letter.  For example, 1=a, 2=b, etc.  They will end up with the letter d.
• Ask them to think of a country starting with their letter, but to not say it out loud.  This is where it is possible for the trick to fail.  They will probably choose Denmark.
• Next, have the person choose an animal starting with the last letter of their country.  Again, they shouldn’t say this out loud.  Most people will think of the kangaroo.
• Lastly, have them think of a fruit starting with the last letter of the animal (again, silently).  They will likely think of the orange.
• After they are done, announce that you know what they chose.
• Reveal the fact that you know that they chose Denmark, kangaroo, and orange!
• If that were wrong, you could then try Denmark, komodo dragon, nectarine.  This combination is very unlikely, though, so not too many people will likely choose this.  There are also a few other possible answers, but if you didn’t get it with one of the first two, it’s not worth it to try to keep guessing.

Normally I would say that you should practice the trick thoroughly before showing it to an audience, but this time I’ll make an exception.  All you really need to do for this one is make sure you know the routine inside and out.