The Last Laugh

I found so much pleasure in April Fools jokes up until I got, got. It wasn't until I had a dose of my own medicine that I threw in my April Fools towel. So one year I decided to call my grandmother on April Fools day with the biggest scare I could think of. I called her whispering, telling her that someone was in the house and I had locked myself in my room. She told me to go to the window and scream for help. I went on to tell her, that the assailant in the house would hear me. She said, "Lanae, please go to that window and jump up and down screaming; someone will see you." I don't know if it was my empathy for carrying this on for so long or the fact that my inner laugh was about to explode. But I finally gave in and said it was just a joke. And a dial tone is all that I heard next. Sorry grandma. On to my payback. My loving sister, not! Called me one morning on Aprils Fools which I should have caught on to being the pro that I am. (#Fail) It was the sense of urgency in her voice that made me believe every single word. She called on her cell from work, whispering. Check the irony! Saying her school was on lockdown, someone had a gun and she doesn't think she's going to make it out. At the time school shooting were very current. And happening way to often and I fell for it. I was in tears immediately. I kept reassuring her she was going to be okay and just calm down. Stay quiet 😒. After letting me cry and panic for at least five minutes, her laugh finally caved. And there I was on the other end faced with the terror of April Fools. And I've never fooled anyone since. Lesson learned. Smh.