As I grew up, practical jokes were played on each of us from
time to time. When any of us succeeded
at playing a prank on my Dad, it was considered a great accomplishment. I have been able to reach this goal a few
times in my lifetime.
One day while we were in Bolivar, MO, we were shopping in
the Ben Franklin Five and Dime Store. “Hey, Mom, look at this!” I held up a pink-colored postcard sized plaque
with a dark gray donkey kicking its hind legs up. There were words that read, “Kiss Mine!” I laughed out loud and said, “Wouldn’t it be
funny to put this in the mailbox just to see Dad’s reaction when he picks up
the mail!” My Mom laughed, “Yes, it
would, but you better make sure you tell him the truth before it goes too
far! You know, how fast your Dad can
become excited and agitated!”
I wrapped the plaque up in a box and wrote “To: Billy” on
the front. I walked across the road to
the mail box, opened the lid, placed the plaque inside, closed the lid, raised
the flag up on the mailbox, and returned to the car. My Mom, my brother, and I were traveling to
church that morning. I snickered all the
way anticipating my Dad’s reaction.
A couple of hours later we arrived home to see my Dad
sitting with his leg crossed at the kitchen table drinking coffee and fuming
with his face all red. “What is the
matter?” my Mom asked. Each of us had
forgotten about the plaque in the mailbox.
“Would you just look at this?” my Dad exclaimed as he shoved
the plaque across the table. I stifled a
laugh! My Mom laughed a little. We knew she could get by with that laugh
because it was just her personality to laugh at serious situations at
times. It was her way of coping with
pressure. She asked, “Well! What is this?
Where did it come from?”
“Someone put this in our mailbox. The flag was up for some reason, so I checked. I found this wrapped up. This really makes me MAD!!!!! I know exactly who sent this!” We looked at my Dad asking, “Who?” “Why our stinking neighbor did this to rub
political issues in my face! You all
know how many discussions we have had! I
have a notion to take this over to his home to tell him what I think of him and
his politics! He has no reason to be
messing with our mailbox or my political opinions! I have already talked to Dad (my grandfather)
about this!!” My Dad said these things;
all the while he raising a pointed index finger, wagging it up and down, as his
voice grew louder with each sentence!
My Mom said, “Now, Bill, do not be hasty! I am sure there is a reasonable explanation. My Mom looked at me saying, “Teresa, don’t
you think you ought to tell him?” I
busted out laughing. My Dad turned to
look at me, confused. “Dad, I put the
plaque in the mailbox just to tease you.
I had no idea that you would accuse our neighbor”, I said with laughter
in my voice. Dad said, “No! Really, you did this?” He was quiet letting it all soak in. A moment later, my Dad laughed and
laughed. He said, “That was a good joke!
I better call my Dad to tell him.”
Honestly, I think my Dad was a little disappointed that it
was a practical joke. He wanted to give
our neighbor a piece of his mind!
Dale Carnegie said, “Do you remember the things you were
worrying about a year ago? How did they
work out? Didn’t you waste a lot of fruitless
energy on account of most of them?
Didn’t most of them turn out all right after all?” My Dad spent a lot of time worrying and
wasting energy about something that never happened. However, it was an awesome practical joke!!!
