Just Joking!

Practical jokes are the essence of April Fools Day, so use your imagination, choose your victims and set the trap by

Farrha Khan

As we glide through Autumn, the weather in Sydney tends to cool down so slowly that its Winter and cold before you know it. But to brighten up our way before the clouds become a constant feature, there is one day in the calendar year when you can truly let laughter rule your day.

April Fools Day or more boringly known as the 1st April is known as the Day of Pranks. Jokes and laughter are on the menu, and joyously, the victims are usually family and friends.

So how do young Sydneysiders prank each other? Here are a few fresh perspectives on the power of pranking

Double Trouble

Seventeen year old twins Julie and Mary have an obsession. They love to prank everyone, but mostly, each other!

April Fools Day or more boringly known as the 1st April is known as the Day of Pranks. Jokes and laughter are on the menu, and joyously, the victims are usually family and friends

“It’s a challenge because we can usually figure out what we’re going to do to each other, so it always has to be something unexpected,” says Mary.

“April Fools is usually harder because we’re expecting to get pranked. So all day we’re on the look out,” adds Julie.

So how do you prank your own twin?

“Nowadays, instead of one really big prank, we do lots of little ones. Like switching body powder with flour. Or putting ice cubes between bedsheets,” laughs Mary.

“April Fools Day gets pretty crazy for everyone in the house, because of us two,” says Julie, exchanging a grin with her sister which sets them giggling uncontrollably.

I am definitely glad I don’t live with them!

So will they reveal their plans for this year’s pranks?

“Nope!” is Julie’s instant response.

Mary however, explains the rules. “The plans are exposed when the pranks get played,” she says.

But of course, being twins they also like to play pranks together on their sister and friends. “Then we do the big ones. It gets pretty easy, especially if it’s over the phone, because we sound so similar,” reveals Mary.

“We usually just play around saying we’re one or the other, and people get really confused by the end of it,” says Julie and that sets them off into another fit of the giggles. A troublesome duo for sure! With two pranking minds working together, it’s almost scary to think what they could come up with!

Fooling around with food

Now that Ronnie is a qualified chef, he explains that pulling pranks on colleagues has become so easy, he barely bothers to think about what he’ll be doing on 1st April. “I’ll be pranking a friend of mine at work. He struggles with foods that have chilli in them, so when I prepare his lunch, I just might add a few teaspoons of chili powder instead of salt,” he says wickedly.

A spicy prank, he cheekily adds, in which he may also add harmless vinegar instead of water to his friend’s glass, as an accompaniment to his meal…

I sure wouldn’t want to be in this kitchen on any April Fools Day!

Ronnie explains that his April Fools success began during his school days. His most successful prank was on returning to school after the holidays and convincing his friend, Alex that the day was a Monday, when actually it was a Tuesday. “I got everyone involved! He didn’t find out until Saturday when he woke up early to go to school, and his parents convinced him it was actually Saturday!” he chortles.

And does Ronnie have any other targets planned this April Fools Day? With a big grin, he simply replies, “Yep! My girlfriend!”

Now I have no doubt he’ll be successful, but

Tricky tone

Natalie has never pranked anyone before. Why? “I’ve just never really thought about it. I wouldn’t know what to do,” she admits. She may not prank others, but she has been at the receiving end of a few good ones. “Its usually from my friends,” she says, recounting an incident where she and a good friend had gone to the movies. “We watched When a

Stranger Calls and the bad guy does this really scary voice. I was walking home alone right after the movie and I got a call…,”she claims. “Strangely, the caller ID didn’t come up. When I answered, the person had this creepy voice from the movie.” She hung up straight away, a little spooked. “But I figured it out who it was straight away,” she smiles.

Has she thought about a revenge prank on this friend of hers? “No, not yet,” says this non-prankster. Maybe next April Fools Day….

Saucy scam

Meet Rachel, 19, the Queen of Pranks! Her specialty, she explains, are prank calls. But she believes that last year’s April Fools prank was her best ever, and believe me, this young lady’s in a different league altogether. “I covered the front of my shirt and pants in tomato sauce and ran inside the house right up to my brother. I pretended to cry saying, ‘I think I killed someone!’ Shocked, her brother asked who it was and where they were. “I cried harder saying, ‘I don’t know who or how it happened, but he’s outside!’,” laughs Rachel. They ran outside, she continues, and when there was no body on her lawn, her brother freaked out even more. “I had to stop the prank then, he was getting a bit too worried,” she admitted with a grin.

So did she have any new shockers for April Fools Day? “Nothing yet. But I probably will,” says this

I’m glad I’m won’t be her next victim.

Dangerous dupe

Debbie has never pulled a prank before, but she sure has thought about it. This April Fools Day she’s travelling, but if she weren’t on holidays she would have prepared a grand scheme. Her victim? Her ex-boyfriend. The plan? “I was going to tell him I’m pregnant with his baby,” she says mischievously. Poor guy, but why? “It would be the last thing he’d expect. So why not?” says Debbie with a smirk. Some might think this is a bit harsh, but Debbie’s been the victim of some harsh pranks herself, and she thinks this would be a fairly good one.

Debbie explains that the biggest April Fools prank of which she’d been a victim, had involved her friends. “They told me that my closest friends had been in a car accident. They actually said one of them was in hospital. I was so upset!” she reveals.

Does she plan on any revenge pranks? “I wish I could, but I’m overseas. But definitely next year!” she says.

Debbie’s friends had better be careful next year. She’s already planning something stupendous.