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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 11/14/2023
Prank
Born 1940, M, from Portsmouth, United KingdomThe Prank
It was Monday and nearing the end of October; the mornings were bitterly cold, but as usual, sixty-year-old George Acott was the first to set foot in the little engineering factory of F. Shaper & Son.
Yes, George’s reliability was one of the reasons Fred Shaper had made him a foreman and entrusted him to oversee his engineering works. George opened the factory door most mornings by seven; thirty minutes before the official start time. In the tiny room that served as a rest and locker room, George opened his locker, removed his new trilby hat and smiled at it lovingly before placing it on the top shelf of his locker. Hanging up his coat and donning his overalls he checked the wall clock before sitting down to study the daily crossword in his paper.
It was just past 7:20 am when George heard the first loud ding from the works record clock. He guessed that it would most likely be Paul Pratt or Brad Jordan clocking in. Paul and Brad were both in their early twenties and were both skilled machinists. The two were also well-known as the company’s pranksters and were rarely seen apart. The sound of the clock’s bell was fairly regular now and would be until all the workers had clocked in.
“Morning, George,” said Paul as the young man entered the locker room. “How does it feel, being another year older?”
“Another year another set of aches,” said George. “That’s how it goes when you reach sixty.”
“Great, that gives me something to look forward to,” Paul answered with a giggle as more workers donned their overalls and made their way to their designated machines.
“Good morning Bill, morning Alex,” George said as another two arrivals came through the door to get changed.
“By the way where’s Brad, this morning?” George said to Paul. “You two jokers usually get in around the same time don’t you?”
“We did but Brad got waylaid at the clock, some argument about last night’s match. Did you watch it?”
“No, I’m not into football. Besides, the missus likes her Coronation Street,” George said, as he made his way towards the restroom door.
“Don’t they all? So what did she get for your birthday?”
“Usual stuff, shirt, socks, you know how it is,” George said, not wanting to discuss the subject and moving over for Bradley Jordon to get through the door.
“Morning, George,” said Bradley.
“Good Morning. You better get a move on, Brad.” George said looking again at the clock “You got five minutes to get your arse in gear and that lathe started, You’re behind with the threads on those stainless components.” With that, George left the two pals and strode off towards his office.
“What’s biting his arse,” Brad said to Paul. “He’s a bit sour this morning.”
“Yeah, maybe old man Shaper’s been giving him some ear hole over this new aircraft contract, or maybe he never got the birthday present he expected from his...hey, he’s left his key in his locker.” Paul opened the locker “...Look Brad what have we here, how do I look?” Paul said, posing in George’s new Trilby.
“I think it gives your name real meaning..., wait a minute, let me see that.” Paul handed Brad the hat.
“I don’t believe it! This is the same as the one my old man bought. Even the colour. Oh, I see it’s from the same shop. I remember when dad came home with it on. Mum told him he looked like James Cagney; he hasn’t worn it since. Old George must have a little head, this is only size 6.1/2.” Paul said, looking at the leather band inside the hat. Brad didn’t answer but appeared deep in thought.
Later that morning as the two young men were sitting on oil drums having their tea break, Paul said, “You know that new trilby you said your old man wouldn’t wear?”
“Yes. What about it?”
“Has he still got it?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Do you think he’d miss it if you borrowed it?”
“No not in the least. Why?” asked Brad
“Well, I had this idea, look.” With that, Paul pulled two locker keys from his pocket. “I got Peddler Palmer in the fitting copy one for me.”
“What do you want two locker keys for?”
“It’s not mine, it’s the one George left in his locker, which reminds me, I better put the original back before he misses it.”
“I think I’m getting the picture, what have you got in mind...?”
On the following week, nothing concerning George’s hat happened, until Wednesday, but then…
~~~~~
“Morning George,” said Paul, entering the locker room.
“Morning George,” said Brad.
“Good morning boys. Hell, this is a first,” George said glancing up at the clock, “The two of you getting in this early. What are you two jokers up to?”
“Nothing George, my bus was early, that’s all,” Brad said.
“Good, so maybe for once you could start work on the button.” With that, George closed his locker, put the key in his pocket and strode off into the machine shop.
“Quick,” said Brad. “He might come back.” Paul quickly delved into his duffle bag and produced a trilby hat, then took the roughly fashioned key from his pocket and opened George’s locker. The two quickly swapped the two hats and locked George’s new hat in Paul’s locker. The two then made their giggling way to their machines.
“Do you think he’ll fall for it?” Paul said.
“You plonker, he’s bound to notice he’s now got a hat that’s a size bigger. He’ll probably check the label and come looking for us. Anyway, we won’t know until tomorrow morning. George always works overtime on a Wednesday.”
Thursday Morning was exceptionally cold and the two lads only just made the clock on time. When they entered the cloakroom they were surprised to see George sitting on his usual chair gazing at the floor.
“Morning George, you okay?” said Brad.
“Yes,” said Paul, “you’re usually halfway through the day’s crossword by now, George, Is something bothering you, you look lost my old mate.”
“No I’m all right, lads,” he said quietly. “Just a slight headache that’s all. You better get to your machines, I’m expecting old man Shaper in today.” George got up and slowly made his way to his shop floor office, leaving the two of them in the locker room.
“Hey, what do you think is eating him?” said Brad.
“I don’t know do you think it has anything to do with the hat?”
“I don’t know, I wonder if he wore it in this morning. Quick, have a look,” said Brad.
Paul quickly produced his key and opened George’s locker. “It’s here, so he must have worn it in this morning...Hey, look what he’s done.” Paul held out the hat for Brad to see as he pulled back the inner band to reveal a folded sheet of newspaper that had been inserted inside the inner band.”
“He’s done that to make it a tighter fit, so I don’t reckon he’s caught on.” said Brad “Quick, slip that paper out while I get his original hat out of my locker. We’ll swap the hats again and put the packing in his original.”
“But that will make it too...oh! I see. Hell, I hope I’m not around when he finds out.”
Having done the deed and locked their cabinets the two made for their work posts giggling as usual. The hat-changing prank went on for almost two weeks with George apparently having no idea of the ongoing prank. Then one evening Brad Jordon received an odd phone call. It was a woman’s voice.
“Hello, am I speaking to Bradley Jordon?”
“Yes?”
“This is Mrs Acott, George’s wife. I wonder if I can ask a favour of you, Bradley. Could you call at my address in the morning to pick up George’s factory keys, he wants you to open up the works tomorrow?”
“Yes of course I will, but what’s wrong, I’ve never known George to take time off work?”
“I know and I’m really worried about him. He’s been acting very strange this last week.”
“I’ve not noticed anything, Mrs Acott. He once complained about a headache but nothing...”
“Oh but he has been doing some strange things lately, I keep finding him putting a tape measure around his head. I think he’s had some kind of a mental breakdown.”
“I’ll come and get the keys right away Mrs Acott. Maybe if I could speak to him I could...”
“You won’t be able to see him tonight Bradley. Visiting time finished at 8 o’clock”
“Visiting time! Are you saying he’s in the hospital?”
“Yes, the doctor thought it best. Can you believe it? After the measuring tape episode, he started to wear his hat all the time, I even found him taking a bath with it on. Anyway, Bradley, I’d like you to collect the keys on your way to work in the morning if you would. I believe it’s on your way?”
“...Yes Mrs Acott...okay”
“Goodbye for now then and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Y-yes...bye, Mrs Acott” Brad put the receiver down and immediately picked it up again to dial Paul’s number.
“Hello, Paul?”
“Yes, is that you Brad?”
“Yes, I think we’re in trouble.”
“What do you mean, why?”
“I think we went too far with George and his hat. He’s in hospital, he’s had a mental breakdown. His wife phoned, asking me to pick up the keys to open the works in the morning...Hello...Paul, are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what are we going to do Paul?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well try to think of something, Paul; I don’t know how we’re going to talk our way out of this one. This is bad; I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
Brad left the bus four stops earlier the next day, as he walked down the street to where George Acott lived he suddenly felt sick to his stomach to see George’s car parked outside his house. He looked at his watch knowing George was always at work by that time. Nervously Brad knocked on the door when it opened all he could do was stand with his mouth agape.
“Morning Brad,” said George, cheerfully grinning as he stood holding the door open with his hat and coat on, “Come on, I’ll give you a lift to work.” George and Brad got in the car as Brad said,
“But your wife said...”
“Yes, convincing wasn’t she? Did I tell you she used to be an actress? I could never carry something like that off on the phone, I’m afraid I’d start laughing, I almost did when she added the bit about the tape measure. Christ! She almost had me believing it, she’s brilliant,” said George, starting the engine.
“So you finally discovered our prank with the hat.”
“Finally? No, I caught on to your prank on day one. Was it you that had the locker key made?”
“No it was Paul, but I went along with it so we were both to blame. It was the fact that my old man had the very same hat that gave him the idea.”
“Well I must admit it might have worked, but one of you screwed up by leaving the wrong key in my lock. It had no number on it, and that was the first mistake. Then I put your hat on and it fell around my ears, I checked the size and knew our company comics were up to their tricks.”
“So why didn’t you say something?”
“Well it was funny, I’ll give you that, so I thought I’d play along but it went on too long and I got tired of stuffing newspaper inside your dad’s hat. Then my wife came up with the idea of turning the tables on you.” George said as he pulled into the factory car park.
“Well, you certainly got your own back, George. Your wife had me worried. I didn’t sleep much last night.” George parked the car and they made their way to the factory entrance. As George inserted the key they heard the firm’s phone ringing inside. George hurried into the office while Brad waited outside. Through the office window, Brad watched George pick up the phone and put it to his ear. Then, as if the person on the line had mentioned Brad’s name, George turned to stare at him and his face became the epitome of sombre. George wasn’t on the phone more than a minute and didn’t appear to say very much before he slowly replaced the receiver; he came out of the office and with a serious expression he said,
“Did you phone Paul and tell him that I had a mental breakdown last night?” Brad’s face was almost white as he stammered,
“Y-Yes—why?”
“That was my wife on the phone. Paul was found this morning with a letter on him.”
“Oh my god!”
“Yes, it was addressed to my wife. It just said tell George I’m so sorry”
“Oh, no..., are you saying Paul’s committed...?”
George’s face then broke into a wide smile, “No, that was my wife on the phone. She caught Paul posting the letter through our door this morning. Paul’s on his way here on his bike. I just hope this has been a lesson to the two of you. Pranks are not always funny.”
Prank(Barry Doughty)
The Prank
It was Monday and nearing the end of October; the mornings were bitterly cold, but as usual, sixty-year-old George Acott was the first to set foot in the little engineering factory of F. Shaper & Son.
Yes, George’s reliability was one of the reasons Fred Shaper had made him a foreman and entrusted him to oversee his engineering works. George opened the factory door most mornings by seven; thirty minutes before the official start time. In the tiny room that served as a rest and locker room, George opened his locker, removed his new trilby hat and smiled at it lovingly before placing it on the top shelf of his locker. Hanging up his coat and donning his overalls he checked the wall clock before sitting down to study the daily crossword in his paper.
It was just past 7:20 am when George heard the first loud ding from the works record clock. He guessed that it would most likely be Paul Pratt or Brad Jordan clocking in. Paul and Brad were both in their early twenties and were both skilled machinists. The two were also well-known as the company’s pranksters and were rarely seen apart. The sound of the clock’s bell was fairly regular now and would be until all the workers had clocked in.
“Morning, George,” said Paul as the young man entered the locker room. “How does it feel, being another year older?”
“Another year another set of aches,” said George. “That’s how it goes when you reach sixty.”
“Great, that gives me something to look forward to,” Paul answered with a giggle as more workers donned their overalls and made their way to their designated machines.
“Good morning Bill, morning Alex,” George said as another two arrivals came through the door to get changed.
“By the way where’s Brad, this morning?” George said to Paul. “You two jokers usually get in around the same time don’t you?”
“We did but Brad got waylaid at the clock, some argument about last night’s match. Did you watch it?”
“No, I’m not into football. Besides, the missus likes her Coronation Street,” George said, as he made his way towards the restroom door.
“Don’t they all? So what did she get for your birthday?”
“Usual stuff, shirt, socks, you know how it is,” George said, not wanting to discuss the subject and moving over for Bradley Jordon to get through the door.
“Morning, George,” said Bradley.
“Good Morning. You better get a move on, Brad.” George said looking again at the clock “You got five minutes to get your arse in gear and that lathe started, You’re behind with the threads on those stainless components.” With that, George left the two pals and strode off towards his office.
“What’s biting his arse,” Brad said to Paul. “He’s a bit sour this morning.”
“Yeah, maybe old man Shaper’s been giving him some ear hole over this new aircraft contract, or maybe he never got the birthday present he expected from his...hey, he’s left his key in his locker.” Paul opened the locker “...Look Brad what have we here, how do I look?” Paul said, posing in George’s new Trilby.
“I think it gives your name real meaning..., wait a minute, let me see that.” Paul handed Brad the hat.
“I don’t believe it! This is the same as the one my old man bought. Even the colour. Oh, I see it’s from the same shop. I remember when dad came home with it on. Mum told him he looked like James Cagney; he hasn’t worn it since. Old George must have a little head, this is only size 6.1/2.” Paul said, looking at the leather band inside the hat. Brad didn’t answer but appeared deep in thought.
Later that morning as the two young men were sitting on oil drums having their tea break, Paul said, “You know that new trilby you said your old man wouldn’t wear?”
“Yes. What about it?”
“Has he still got it?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Do you think he’d miss it if you borrowed it?”
“No not in the least. Why?” asked Brad
“Well, I had this idea, look.” With that, Paul pulled two locker keys from his pocket. “I got Peddler Palmer in the fitting copy one for me.”
“What do you want two locker keys for?”
“It’s not mine, it’s the one George left in his locker, which reminds me, I better put the original back before he misses it.”
“I think I’m getting the picture, what have you got in mind...?”
On the following week, nothing concerning George’s hat happened, until Wednesday, but then…
~~~~~
“Morning George,” said Paul, entering the locker room.
“Morning George,” said Brad.
“Good morning boys. Hell, this is a first,” George said glancing up at the clock, “The two of you getting in this early. What are you two jokers up to?”
“Nothing George, my bus was early, that’s all,” Brad said.
“Good, so maybe for once you could start work on the button.” With that, George closed his locker, put the key in his pocket and strode off into the machine shop.
“Quick,” said Brad. “He might come back.” Paul quickly delved into his duffle bag and produced a trilby hat, then took the roughly fashioned key from his pocket and opened George’s locker. The two quickly swapped the two hats and locked George’s new hat in Paul’s locker. The two then made their giggling way to their machines.
“Do you think he’ll fall for it?” Paul said.
“You plonker, he’s bound to notice he’s now got a hat that’s a size bigger. He’ll probably check the label and come looking for us. Anyway, we won’t know until tomorrow morning. George always works overtime on a Wednesday.”
Thursday Morning was exceptionally cold and the two lads only just made the clock on time. When they entered the cloakroom they were surprised to see George sitting on his usual chair gazing at the floor.
“Morning George, you okay?” said Brad.
“Yes,” said Paul, “you’re usually halfway through the day’s crossword by now, George, Is something bothering you, you look lost my old mate.”
“No I’m all right, lads,” he said quietly. “Just a slight headache that’s all. You better get to your machines, I’m expecting old man Shaper in today.” George got up and slowly made his way to his shop floor office, leaving the two of them in the locker room.
“Hey, what do you think is eating him?” said Brad.
“I don’t know do you think it has anything to do with the hat?”
“I don’t know, I wonder if he wore it in this morning. Quick, have a look,” said Brad.
Paul quickly produced his key and opened George’s locker. “It’s here, so he must have worn it in this morning...Hey, look what he’s done.” Paul held out the hat for Brad to see as he pulled back the inner band to reveal a folded sheet of newspaper that had been inserted inside the inner band.”
“He’s done that to make it a tighter fit, so I don’t reckon he’s caught on.” said Brad “Quick, slip that paper out while I get his original hat out of my locker. We’ll swap the hats again and put the packing in his original.”
“But that will make it too...oh! I see. Hell, I hope I’m not around when he finds out.”
Having done the deed and locked their cabinets the two made for their work posts giggling as usual. The hat-changing prank went on for almost two weeks with George apparently having no idea of the ongoing prank. Then one evening Brad Jordon received an odd phone call. It was a woman’s voice.
“Hello, am I speaking to Bradley Jordon?”
“Yes?”
“This is Mrs Acott, George’s wife. I wonder if I can ask a favour of you, Bradley. Could you call at my address in the morning to pick up George’s factory keys, he wants you to open up the works tomorrow?”
“Yes of course I will, but what’s wrong, I’ve never known George to take time off work?”
“I know and I’m really worried about him. He’s been acting very strange this last week.”
“I’ve not noticed anything, Mrs Acott. He once complained about a headache but nothing...”
“Oh but he has been doing some strange things lately, I keep finding him putting a tape measure around his head. I think he’s had some kind of a mental breakdown.”
“I’ll come and get the keys right away Mrs Acott. Maybe if I could speak to him I could...”
“You won’t be able to see him tonight Bradley. Visiting time finished at 8 o’clock”
“Visiting time! Are you saying he’s in the hospital?”
“Yes, the doctor thought it best. Can you believe it? After the measuring tape episode, he started to wear his hat all the time, I even found him taking a bath with it on. Anyway, Bradley, I’d like you to collect the keys on your way to work in the morning if you would. I believe it’s on your way?”
“...Yes Mrs Acott...okay”
“Goodbye for now then and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Y-yes...bye, Mrs Acott” Brad put the receiver down and immediately picked it up again to dial Paul’s number.
“Hello, Paul?”
“Yes, is that you Brad?”
“Yes, I think we’re in trouble.”
“What do you mean, why?”
“I think we went too far with George and his hat. He’s in hospital, he’s had a mental breakdown. His wife phoned, asking me to pick up the keys to open the works in the morning...Hello...Paul, are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what are we going to do Paul?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well try to think of something, Paul; I don’t know how we’re going to talk our way out of this one. This is bad; I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
Brad left the bus four stops earlier the next day, as he walked down the street to where George Acott lived he suddenly felt sick to his stomach to see George’s car parked outside his house. He looked at his watch knowing George was always at work by that time. Nervously Brad knocked on the door when it opened all he could do was stand with his mouth agape.
“Morning Brad,” said George, cheerfully grinning as he stood holding the door open with his hat and coat on, “Come on, I’ll give you a lift to work.” George and Brad got in the car as Brad said,
“But your wife said...”
“Yes, convincing wasn’t she? Did I tell you she used to be an actress? I could never carry something like that off on the phone, I’m afraid I’d start laughing, I almost did when she added the bit about the tape measure. Christ! She almost had me believing it, she’s brilliant,” said George, starting the engine.
“So you finally discovered our prank with the hat.”
“Finally? No, I caught on to your prank on day one. Was it you that had the locker key made?”
“No it was Paul, but I went along with it so we were both to blame. It was the fact that my old man had the very same hat that gave him the idea.”
“Well I must admit it might have worked, but one of you screwed up by leaving the wrong key in my lock. It had no number on it, and that was the first mistake. Then I put your hat on and it fell around my ears, I checked the size and knew our company comics were up to their tricks.”
“So why didn’t you say something?”
“Well it was funny, I’ll give you that, so I thought I’d play along but it went on too long and I got tired of stuffing newspaper inside your dad’s hat. Then my wife came up with the idea of turning the tables on you.” George said as he pulled into the factory car park.
“Well, you certainly got your own back, George. Your wife had me worried. I didn’t sleep much last night.” George parked the car and they made their way to the factory entrance. As George inserted the key they heard the firm’s phone ringing inside. George hurried into the office while Brad waited outside. Through the office window, Brad watched George pick up the phone and put it to his ear. Then, as if the person on the line had mentioned Brad’s name, George turned to stare at him and his face became the epitome of sombre. George wasn’t on the phone more than a minute and didn’t appear to say very much before he slowly replaced the receiver; he came out of the office and with a serious expression he said,
“Did you phone Paul and tell him that I had a mental breakdown last night?” Brad’s face was almost white as he stammered,
“Y-Yes—why?”
“That was my wife on the phone. Paul was found this morning with a letter on him.”
“Oh my god!”
“Yes, it was addressed to my wife. It just said tell George I’m so sorry”
“Oh, no..., are you saying Paul’s committed...?”
George’s face then broke into a wide smile, “No, that was my wife on the phone. She caught Paul posting the letter through our door this morning. Paul’s on his way here on his bike. I just hope this has been a lesson to the two of you. Pranks are not always funny.”
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