Pranks and practical jokes
Americans celebrate many special days throughout each calendar year. Some are religious holidays, while others are patriotic. Some are just days when we practice unique family traditions. But one each year is set aside for nonsensical foolishness and practical jokes.
April 1, or April Fool’s Day, is known for practical jokes. This day has been celebrated for several centuries by numerous worldwide cultures. Its origin remains a mystery, though it continues to be a day of trickery worldwide. People are known to play harmless little pranks on friends and family, while others go to great lengths to fool unsuspecting people.
In modern times even the media has gotten into the fun of April Fools’ pranks. In 1957 the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop. Television stations showed footage of Swiss farmers harvesting vast amounts of noodles from trees.
In 1985 Sports Illustrated magazine ran a made-up story saying a rookie baseball pitcher could throw a baseball 168 mph. Even the Burger King chain got into the spirit in 1998. The fast food company advertised a “lefthanded Whopper.” Scores of duped customers ordered the fake sandwich on that April Fools’ Day.
While we never saw an April Fool’s prank on The Andy Griffith Show, this did not prevent Sheriff Andy Taylor from playing practical jokes on Deputy Barney Fife. When Andy found Barney dozing off in front of Foley’s market one hot summer day, he put lipstick on Barney’s face and then sent him on his way to perform his duties. On another occasion, when Barney was caught sleeping in the back room of the courthouse, Sherriff Taylor hid his shoes and tricked him into going outside barefooted.
The best practical joke in Mayberry was when Barney bought a motorcycle with a sidecar. He insisted that Andy ride in the sidecar when they go to lunch. However, unbeknownst to Barney, several town loafers detached the sidecar from the motorcycle. With Andy sitting in the sidecar, Barney took off, leaving Andy and the sidecar behind.
Practical jokes can be fun, but they can also go horribly wrong. In August 2011, two teens in a small Ohio town thought it would be funny to cover a stop sign with layers of plastic at an intersection. Numerous cars went through the stop sign with no problems. However, an 80-year-old woman went through the stop sign late in the day and was struck by an oncoming vehicle, killing her and her sister.
Hopefully, if you ever consider playing a prank on someone, you will first take time to think about all possible outcomes. It may save you a lot of regret and guilt.
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