Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day – probably my least favorite of all ‘holidays’ or whatever you call a day that is widely celebrated but has no official status.  I have never really understood the point of playing practical jokes on others.  That sort of amusement is right up there with hoaxes and tickling and other occupations which, in my mind, have a perpetrator and a victim.  They are mean. I’m not sure why I feel that way.  When I was a little girl and my friends would say things like, “Sydney, you have a big green worm on your collar… April Fool!” I just thought they were stupid to think I would be stupid enough to believe them.  But everyone seemed to think such antics were great fun.  Everyone but me. By the time I was seven or eight, I had figured out that only those on the delivering end were laughing at such foolishness.  Being the kind of little girl that wanted to join in, I decided to play a trick on my father at breakfast that would make a great story to tell all day long.  I replaced the sugar in the sugar bowl with salt.

Sydney and Dad, circa 1940

When dad stirred in his usual two spoonsful and took that first big swallow, I awaited in great anticipation.  Simply put, he was not amused, and my squeaky “April Fool!” was not at all well received.  I adored my father and causing him to be annoyed with me was not a fun experience.  (In retrospect, I also think that the ‘joke’ might have been suggested by my mother; I really was not a very imaginative child.   Plus, I have no memory of her falling for my trick that morning.  In fact, I think dad was rather cross with us both. I don’t know it that was the incident put an end to my interest in practical jokes of all sorts.  I remember not liking “Candid Camera” although everyone else seemed to.  And I’m still not very fond of “The Three Stooges” sort of slapstick.  All those sorts of humor – the kinds that make someone else the butt of a joke – have always seemed to be right up there with bullying to me.  Instead of being amused, I end up feeling squirmy and uncomfortable. So, tomorrow, I’ll be keeping a low profile.  I certainly won’t be on the giving end of any pranks and I do hope that I can avoid the receiving end.