The Prank

Introduction Jamie Winslow was tired of everyone playing pranks on him. This year Jamie vowed to pull the ultimate prank. But what could he do that would top all the pranks that have ever been played on him? Chapter 1 Jamie didn’t want to start middle school. In fact, he dreaded it. He just knew some jerk would pull some prank on him. And this year would be worse. He would be in 7th grade. The bottom of the chain. How he wish he could just curl up and die at this moment. As Jamie rolled over and tried to go to sleep, his mother knocked on his bedroom door, her predictable early morning ritual—call him and his older brother, Ronny, and older sister, Becky—to get up for school. “Alright mom, I’m up!” Jamie yelled through his bedroom door. Jamie got up and grabbed his clothing he picked out the night before and hurried to the bathroom before Becky got to it. She was always the first one in the bathroom, and she was there for 30 minutes, not to mention, usually hogged the hot water so he had to take a shower in cold water. This time, Jamie would beat Becky to the bathroom. But alas, he didn’t make it—Becky was in there already! “Damn you, Becky!” Jamie yelled through the bathroom door. “It’s not my fault you’re so slow!” Becky yelled back. “Besides, I need to doll myself up for Brad!” “Yeah, I wouldn’t Brad to see the real Becky!” Jamie yelled back. “Screw the shower!” Jamie said to himself, as he headed back to his bedroom to get dressed. Jamie headed downstairs to join his family for breakfast, a ritual his father demanded every day. “A meal the first thing in the morning with the family is the best start!” Jamie’s father always said. And he meant it. No one could do anything until they had the first meal with the family. No exceptions. Everyone was eating breakfast when Becky finally strolled downstairs to join the family—as always—and dad let her get away with it. “Good morning family!” Becky said cheerfully as she kissed mom and dad. “Becky, so glad you could finally join us!” Jamie said sarcastically. “Can I help it if I need to pretty myself up for Brad?” Becky explained. “Kids! Please stop the bickering!” Jamie’s mother told them. “Let us enjoy breakfast in peace!” “You’re mother is right!” Jamie’s father agreed. Becky and Jamie gave each other nasty looks as Ronny wolfed his breakfast down. “Mom, dad, can I go now!” Ronny asked after finishing his breakfast. “Where you off to so bad, Ron?” their father asked. “I have to see the counselor about a class before classes start.” “Okay, Ron. Go ahead.” Jamie’s father said. “Have a great first day at school.” “So, Jamie, how do you think your first day at middle school will go?” Jamie’s father asked him. “Probably the usual way.” Jamie said bitterly. “What do you mean?” “Some jerk will probably play a prank on me as always.” “Don’t be so overdramatic, son. I don’t think that will happen this year.” Jamie’s father said optimistically. “I hope you’re right dad.” Jamie replied unconvincingly. The rest of the family finished breakfast and headed out for work or school while Jamie’s mother, cleared the table to do the dishes. Jamie’s mother was a stay-at-home-mom, something she loved. Her only desire was to be there for her family. Jamie’s mother enjoyed taking care of the family and the home. After Becky and Jamie and their father said their good-byes, they hopped into the family car where Jamie’s father dropped Becky and Jamie at their prospective schools, before heading to his own job where he worked as an architect. Jamie looked at his middle school before heading in, dreading going in. it looked so massive, like it held so many secrets from alumni—and they were all laughing at him. “Hey, watch where you’re going!” some big 9th grader said as he knocked Jamie over as he gave Jamie the finger. Jamie got himself up from the ground and dragged his body inside the school and waited for the days events to begin.