Sometimes when we prank people, it might be funny at the time till it's not.
This prompt reminded me of what transpired between my sister and I some years back.
I was at home one day when I received a call from her.
"Hey sis, what's good?", I said very happy to hear her voice.
"I am good, finally done with exams. I did my last paper this morning", she said sounding very happy to finally be done with school exams.
She schools in an another state and whenever she leaves for school, I don't get to see her for months.
"That's good, so when will you be coming home?" I asked as I have missed her.
"Probably in two or three days time. One of our classmate wants to take me and my friends out tomorrow to celebrate the completion of our exams" she explained.
"Oh wow, that means you will be going out to have fun"
"Yes, I guess. What about you? What are you up to?", she asked.
"Well mum and dad traveled for few days so I am home alone with our siblings"
Then an idea struck me and I decided to make up a story and see if she would buy it.
"But I also have a planned hangout. I will be going to the beach with our neighbors in two days time", I said trying to trick her. I did that so she would think I will also be going out to have fun.
*"You are going with who?"" She asked obviously interested.
"We are about 7 in number, myself, Samuel, Junior, Uwana, Anu, Rachael and Dami". It's been a while since we went to the beach so we decided to go have a nice time"*. I said trying so hard to convince her.
I knew there is no way she would reach out to any of our neighbors to confirm if I was telling the truth because she never suspected I was tricking her.
"Wow, you guys are going to have fun". She said sounding excited.
*"Of course that's what beaches are for, isn't it?
"Too bad you are not here to join us. We have gotten the drinks we would be needing already and by tomorrow Dami and I would go to the market to get the things we need for the cooking. We will be preparing rice and chicken", I explained further and there was no doubt,she believed me.
"Alright, you guys should have fun", she said sounding not too happy that she would be missing out.
"Of course we will and you too have fun", I said trying so hard to hold my laughter.
We talked about other things before we both hanged up the call.
After the call, I couldn't help but laugh at my skill at deceiving her.
To further make her believe my story, I went to a neighbor,Mummy Lydia's shop who sell drinks and took pictures of her canned malt and and other drinks and sent it to my sister which she acknowledged.
The next day, I was in my room watching a movie on my phone around evening when I heard my siblings saying "Aunty Omotola, welcome"
I was wondering what they were talking about when the door to the room opened and revealed my sister standing on the doorway.
"Surprise!", she screamed as she came into the room.
I removed my earphones and looked at her, surprised to see her since she didn't mention she was on her way home.
"Why are you home without telling me you were on your way?"
"You didn't think I would miss that hangout did you?", she asked smiling at me.
"I didn't stay long at our outing as I told my friends I want to surprise you by coming home today" she explained sounding excited.
It was then that realization dawned on me that she came home early because of the "planned hangout" I made up.
"Oh My God! Madam I was just pulling your legs", I said opening my mouth in shock.
I watched as color drained from her eyes.
"You're joking right?" She asked me.
"No, I am not" I said bursting into laughter. She didn't believe me as she went into the kitchen to check for drinks or any sign of the "supposed foodstuffs" I had gotten from the market and saw none.
She opened the pot of soup in the kitchen and saw only leftover soup in the pot.
"There is no hangout, I was only joking", I said again laughing while she gave me a glare.
"No, no, I don't believe this", she said as she quickly went outside to ask some of our neighbors who I said we were to go together. Her fears was confirmed when they all told her that there was no planned hangout.
As she was coming back home, I could clearly see that she was frowning.
She came in and I tried to explain to her that I was only joking but she just walked past me and went into the room.
I decided to let her be so she could calm down. I decided to make her dinner in order to pacify her as I knew she would never turn down food no matter how angry she was.
After she had the dinner, she went to have her shower and went to bed.
I don't like it when she is angry with me and I felt bad about the whole thing. I was only pulling her legs but I never knew she would take it seriously and besides It wasn't entirely my fault that she didn't bother to call me before coming home. I would have told her the truth had she also told me she was coming home.
The next morning I thought it would be water under the bridge but she kept on frowning, she only mumbled a good morning and went by her daily chores.
Afterwards she came to show me the pictures the friends sent to her as they prepared for another outing and they told her they await her own pictures as well. She told me that the only way she would forgive me for what I did to her was for us to plan that hangout anytime I have the funds.
She made sure she pestered me until I gave in and we went for that hangout at the beach at a later date.