Today I was Punk'd...
Yes that's right just like Ashton Kucher on MTV my BOCES co-workers were able to Punk me. That wouldn't be the term they would use since none of them would ever even admit to watching MTV but it only seemed fitting. On a normal seeming day at Textbooks where we played some games, ate chinese and did actually a whole lot of work they were able to trick me. I have no idea where this idea came from but it was kinda funny. And it might only be funny to us at textbooks because we know all the work that goes into filling one order for a stupid private school kid. I'll try to explain to you. Every kid that goes to private school in the 31 school districts we serve submits a form requesting books. I then take that form and order/find all the books they have requested and then individually assign each book for that kid a barcode that only belongs to that book and that kid. It sounds kinda simple and it is..but it really takes a lot of time and organization. If at the end of the year that kid returns a book with a different barcode he/she will be charged for the book that we assigned them. So its fairly important. Each kids books are then placed in individual paper bags which are sealed, and then a plastic bag put around it. They get really kinda heavy and I hate lifting them up onto the shelves.
Today I had finished about 5 out of 12 grades at one of my schools. Quite the accomplishment for it only being August 4th. I was feeling pretty good about all I had accomplished. Towards the end of the day I am sitting there talking with Tom(my desk neighbor) and helping him with some stuff. Craig comes walking over and asks me if I have any more of the books that he has in his hand. I think back quickly to how many of those I really do have and I say "Sure, they're right there" and I point to the end of the aisle where I had some extras. Craig says thanks and smiles walking all the way into the aisle. I proceed to tell him that they are right there on the end. He comes out of the aisle with a completed bag for a 2nd grader(the grade that uses the book he was requesting), he rips it open and throws all the books to the floor. He finds the one he was looking for and picks it up and begins to flip through it. I stand there absolutely stunned. I have no idea what has happened. Everyone on my side is just shocked and somehow everyone from the other side is standing in the aisles. Craig is acting like nothing happened, I keep saying "Omigod, why did you do that? They were right there." I'm laughing so hard I'm crying and by this point so is everyone else. Still no one really knows what happened. Finally I look down at the books on the floor and I realize that those aren't even my books. The name on the bag I recognize, but its not in my hand writing nor is it spelled correctly. It dawns on me and everyone else on my side that is was a trick. The bag was a plant and they just wanted to see my reaction. Well it was definiately funny....I thought Craig had lost it...and just gone completely insane. What makes me laugh even more was that they had apparantly been planning this trick all day. They looked up on the computer the name and grade of an actual kid, found an actual 2nd grade book that I use...almost a little bit too much effort. But it was appreciated by all...it was pretty funny, to us at textbooks at least.
Now the only thing is...we gotta get them back. Our side sticks together and now we have to come up with a really good practical joke...it's not like it has to be done to all of them...just one person on that side. Any suggestions?
On another note...Dana wants to go see Backstreet Boys at SPAC this weekend. And although I am not a real fan or anything I do enjoy some of their songs and I always enjoy a nice concert at SPAC. She offered to buy my lawn ticket if I drove cause she hates traffic. I felt like that was a pretty good deal. Maybe if I'm real lucky I can meet Amanda's new crush. ;-)