Senior Pranks
It’s a busy time of year for my school administrator honey. Bittersweet for him; tart and sour for me.
My husband spends more time at school than he does at home these days, often returning to shower, eat and head back. This happens routinely.
Our evening was off to a good start until I overheard (eavesdropped) a few calls about a planned senior prank happening at the school around 8:30-9:00pm.
Typically, we look forward to seeing how clever the kids can be every year. After all, kids should be kids and fun is fun. But this year was different. This year there was talk of a potential felony 😳 and some kids were legit scared.
‘Not on my Boo’s watch.’
After multiple incoming calls and anonymous messages (How does one send an anonymous message?) from people telling my husband the prank “had gone too far”, “could result in a felony” and “Dugan, I have nothing to do with it.” my husband began making his way back to school. He was going to sit in the parking lot to wait for any impending madness.
We were on the phone talking when he pulled in and saw a single chicken roaming. They have an amazing FFA and agriculture program.
“Oh, shit. They let the chickens out.” Dan said miffed.
I thought this was hilarious and totally a prank I could get behind. But then I remembered a very recent post on FB about a cougar feasting on animals in the area.
I thought about my husband chasing chickens around campus instead of being home with us. This made me resentful. It made me mad!
‘Those little brats. My kids are going to arrive to a bloodbath tomorrow if that cougar gets those chickens!’
Turns out, just one chicken managed to escape and the door was indeed secure. Phew, no herding chickens and no cougar attack bloodbath!
I fumed and hoped they wouldn’t go through with it, but felt helpless. I hate being privy to information I wish I wasn’t.
A Sticky Situation
I impulsively and anonymously wrote a post on the FB community forum page. The community is tiny. I knew I would have a captive audience within minutes. Once I get the word out that we’re on to them, the seniors would think twice and instead do something safe and acceptable, nothing too stupid. Easy peasy.
The administrator for the community page is affiliated with the school, but I did not care. I was on a mission. When FB asked if I still wanted to post it, as the administrator would see who the anonymous poster was, I gave no fucks and proceeded with no caution. Currently, I don’t have the mental or emotional capacity to care what any of these people think of me.
‘I’d do it again… if you’re wondering.’
It’s not terrible. I’m not trying to ruffle feathers. I was making sure necessary people got the message that we were onto them. I didn’t know if my stern, anonymous warning would do anything at all.
Within minutes— a senior commented. (‘Bingo!’) Then a mom posted in fierce support of her kiddo. Had I been a grad’s mom, I probably would have written something similar, but more vile and with no less than two F words.
How could I be such a killjoy? I was ruining their fun!😂
A while later, another Mom commented about how she was being blamed for writing my anonymous post and I knew it was time to take it down. This was going sideways and my intention was already fulfilled. I deleted the post and called Dan to tell him what I had done, but I didn’t tell him any of it.
Another staff member was at the school to make sure things wouldn’t get out of hand and others would follow into the night. Dan was on his way back home.
‘Finally. Why am I so needy lately??’
Dan still doesn’t know I did this. He will soon, obviously, but like Special Ed raps, “Sorry Baby, but I gotta do what I gotta.”
The night remained felony free and most importantly, safe and reasonable. No harm, no foul.
The following day, the seniors parked their cars all over the parking lot in no order and brought their trailers to occupy all the spaces so others would have to park in the far lot. There was something about my husband’s office chair and other furniture being moved to the football field and multiple solo cups filled with water. Those were the pranks. All great, innocent fun. Unfortunately for the pranksters, my husband didn’t see much of it because a staff member dismantled it all before Dan’s arrival to prevent an even bigger clean up and potential damage to electronics.
This is the best and funniest part…
People from the FB community forum page think an anonymous buzzkill was writing a post about haphazardly parked cars, red solo cups and a chair moved out of reach.😂 Assuming those were the pranks the same folks knew they were planning. They think–that I think– the pranksters shouldn’t walk for graduation because of a parking lot stunt that hurt no one. Because of water filled solo cups and my husband not having a place to sit.😂
They don’t know what Dan knows. Dan and his eavesdropping wife know there’s more to the story. Kids were at the school until 1:30am. There was another plan. It simply wasn’t executed because the kids made the right choice and thought better of it. It’s doubtful my post had influence on it either way.
Their future is just beginning. The world is at their feet. That’s the sweetest and my husband’s favorite part. This time of year is very much why Dan often drives to school three times in one day. Thirty minutes each way. This is why he answers his phone at 8:30pm (My time) to soothe an irate parent. He really has a gift. The art of communication is finely tuned for Dan. It is not for Me and I can’t say that I’m too interested in working on that right now. Just being honest.
Don’t judge my husband by your perception of me after all this. Life can be much worse and I’ve chosen to laugh about it this time. I actually have the energy today. Enjoy it with me and have a laugh. What would you have done had you been in my shoes?
This will provide days, if not weeks of amusement to my friends. You. Are. Welcome!
‘Sorry, Mom’s! I just wanted my fucking husband home for once this week. Did you not read my last post? I’m struggling over here. Some people are in dark spaces.‘
After seventeen years, I don’t know many people personally in the community myself. That’s by design. I dislike social events because they make me uncomfortable. I can’t be myself when I’m an anxious mess. It’s more work to be superficial and on my best behavior. Especially with where my head is at these days. They can think what they want. There are a chosen few I communicate with semi-regularly and adore. Everyone else doesn’t know me or what it’s like to be married to my ultra-dedicated husband and their school district.
Sometimes I am privy to information because people insist on calling my husband about issues that can’t wait until business hours. My husband enables this because he loves his school and he loves the staff. He has always loved the community and the families he’s watched grow through the years. I do love that about him and why I’m so patient and willing to take a back seat from time to time.
The truth is, I often come second and I’ve known I sometimes would since I met him, but I will be damned if anyone thinks I’m going to let some kids with an out-of-hand prank idea hurt my husband’s legacy and beloved community.
Not on my watch! Mission accomplished. Congrats Class of 2024!
JD- Driving the Killjoy Express
