Getting Even with the Prankster

Zach is a good kid, especially for being a twelve year old boy who is only weeks from being thirteen. But, Zach is a prankster, and every year it seems that he tries to find more creative ways to scare me.

He had been boasting for weeks that he was the best prankster in the family, and that no one could out prank him. So, his father and I decided to pull a little prank on him.

My husband and I had gone to the local costume store and purchased the scariest mask we could find, and since we knew Zach was scared of clowns we settled on a flaming red haired, bloody faced clown mask. We also bought a voice changer. We hid our purchases in our room.

The plan was to wait until midnight, when we knew Zach would be fast asleep, and creep into his room, but I couldn't wait. I decided that I would sneak into his closet while he helped his dad unload groceries from the car. Since Zach had been mostly bragging towards me, I would be the clown.

I peeked outside my bedroom door and Zach was no where insight. I opened his door and carefully shut it, not making a sound. Then I walked past his Dallas Cowboy footlocker and climbed into his closet. I waited patiently.

It seemed like forever before Zach opened his door. But, eventually he did. I held my breath, afraid he would hear me. Then I began speaking into the voice changer.

"Zach, Zach, I have come to get you, Zach."

He turned, he smiled at me and said. "Hi, mom, I like your new look."

I was so disappointed.

The next morning I decided to find another way to get him. We have a six-foot tall animatronic butler that we affectionately call George. He was originally a Halloween decoration, but he now stays out all year long. He has a bald head, large black eyes and wears a black pin striped suit with a red velvet vest. He has a habit of scaring people just by looming around, so I decided to stand him in front of Zach's bedroom door, then call him for breakfast. I knew for sure he would scare Zach, and I would be crowned Queen of the Pranksters.

I carefully, carried George down the hall, and placed him in front of the door, and then headed back to the kitchen. When I reached the sink I called Zach for breakfast. Then snuck back down the hall so I could see what happened.

I perched quietly behind George waiting anxiously for Zach to open his door. Suddenly his door opened and Zach was standing face to face with George. He didn't seem surprised at all. He just said, "Hi, George, Hi, Mom."

By this time I was feeling pretty defeated. I left George where he was, and then went into the bathroom. It was the room closest to Zach's.

I called to Zach and asked him to put George up, and started brushing my teeth. I could hear Zach outside the door, and I knew he had moved George back to his perch in the living room. I finished with my teeth, then opened the door. I was standing face to face with George, and I started screaming. I could hear Zach and his dad laughing from the other room. I was not amused, but finally I decided that I would just let Zach reign supreme as the King of Pranksters!