Prank

The inmates of a mental institution turn out to have a strange (?) sense of humour

Last Sunday was an exceptionally exquisite day. The sun was up, the sky was blue, it was beautiful and so was I. I’d just taken a bath, see, was clean shaven and smelled like a million dollars. Anyway, I was walking down the street, minding my own business, humming “Dear Prudence” and smiling at everyone I met. I was in high spirits. Don’t know why. Could be because I’d just taken my medication.

As I turned the corner, I heard singing. The sound seemed to be coming from the mental institution of the town. A huge building with 467 beds, 20 padded rooms, wonderful doctors and caring orderlies. The garden is our.. I mean their pride and joy. It is tended by us.. them, the inmates. Anyway, a friend of mine told me all this, if you were wondering.

At first, I couldn’t make out the words of the song. Then as I approached, it became clear that our jolly bunch were singing

“FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FEEELLOW…..”.  

Probably a birthday party, I thought. As I approached the fence surrounding the hospital’s garden, it became clear that the words were a little different from the ones I was used to hearing. They were clearly yelling:

“FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD SIIIXTEEN, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD SIIIXTEEN…”

Well, what was I expecting? Why were they locked up after all? Or maybe they were celebrating the birthday of someone who’d just turned sixteen. Go figure. Suffice it to say that my curiosity was such that I wanted to take a peek, but the fence was too high. I inspected it and found a little gap in the planks. I put my eye to the opening to look when some idiot poked me in the eye with a stick and they all went:

“FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD SEEEVENTEEN, FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD SEEEVENTEEN…”   

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This one flows well & leaves the reader curious all along. I love the misleading descriptions that suggest the narrator is really on a different side of the fence . . . or has been inside there. My favorite funny is the last sentence of the first paragraph . . . once again, a periphery funny overshadows the twist at the end. I hate to spoil your fun, but I think I've seen or heard this twist before somewhere else. But it's still very enjoyable & lighthearted in your style we've all grown to love.

[Woody]

hey there. thanks a lot for your always lovely reviews. I'm pleased as Punch that you like my craziness. and no you didn't spoil my fun.
now, I've said this before but I need to say it again. sometimes I think up the whole thing from top to bottom. and sometimes, I use the punchline of an old joke as a springboard and truly enjoy weaving a c**k and bull story. yes the story often overshadows the punchline.
in this day and age of the Internet, I'd never get away with stealing a joke and pretending it's mine. all you have to do is google it. plagiarists must be having a terrible time.
now you know my secret :)

[Winslow Des Totes]

Hahaha I honestly laughed out loud at the end of this and suffice to say I'm smiling still! I really liked the style with which you wrote this and the tone it's in; very pleasing and enjoyable to read. Alluding to the person being one of the inmates was very interesting and made me want to know more so if you are ever in this place again I think it would make a lovely series of stories that I and many others would enjoying reading and smiling to. Thank you and great write! :D

[Woody]

thanks a bunch for your kind words Winslow. such a pleasure that this made you laugh.
it never occurred to me to continue this one. but I'll give it a thought. most of my writes are in the same vein.

[Winslow Des Totes]

Then I will have to check them out! ;) And the pleasure was all mine so thanks again!

[Woody]

I'm off to check out some of your work :)

[Winslow Des Totes]

Good luck with that mine you'll find is far more depressing than humorous but still I hope you enjoy. XD

[Woody]

I mostly write in the humour genre but I read all sorts of things. I've read loads of Stephen king's books, among others.
oh and you never let me check out your posts. you kept me commenting :)

[Lydia Shutter]

While I have read this scenario as an internet joke in the past, I was taken with your wonderful imagery. Woody, you really are a great storyteller. I did not realize this would be the ending. Of course, now I am humming "Dear Prudence" and will be for hours. Good one. Lydi**

[Woody]

thank you so much Lydi. I sometimes take the punchline of an old joke and revamp it. kinda make it my own. I enjoy doing that.
Dear Prudence is one of the many Beatles songs I cherish. but I chose it so I could slip in a bit of lyrics in the story. is that noticeable?

[Lydia Shutter]

Absolutely.....which is why I am still singing it! :)

[...]

Woody, this is just as cute and clever as ever :---) I love your humor and your big heart. pssst I think your character needs safety glasses hahahaha

[Woody]

this character should've heeded that proverb about curiosity. one more medication to take, for sure :) thank you dear Lynn for your sweet review.

[Valentine]

Gee, you made me wonder what poor eighteen got. Valentine

[Woody]

a poke in the eye. same as all the curious devils. after all curiosity killed the cat.
the patients are having a good time. they may be insane but not stupid :)
thanks for reading Kathie.

[Samuel Dickens]

Well.....I have heard that such things as a broken toe or gangrenous gall bladder are better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Oh, I know--we should sing songs to them-- "Oh, he's got a right good ruptured spleen..." You make terrible injuries fun, Woody.

[Woody]

Sam, you have a way of making me literally burst out laughing. I love the song you've come up with and your last sentence. Gee I'm still laughing. I guess I need to have my head examined.
thanks for the visit and the laugh.

[Matching Socks]

OMG, I was expecting anything but that! Lol!
Thank you for my daily dose of humour!

[Woody]

and thank you for making my evening :)) always glad to make you smile Dear.

[Matching Socks]

Anytime Woody!
Love visiting you. :). Keep smiling.

[M.E.Lyle]

You got me again Woody. I'm almost rolling on the floor. It's not your writing, I have cramps. I think I ate too many prunes last night. Sorry...gotta' go, and I mean really GO.

[Woody]

hahaha you are a funny man :))) I thought you were rolling on the floor laughing :(
I hope the bathroom is not far from where your computer is :)

thank you for the visit, Mike

[AprilRN1210]

Your pieces always get me so entranced that most of the time I cannot see the end coming, as this one did.. but I love the way it makes me want to go back and read it again to see what other small little layers are in there.. Having been too captivated the first read.. that takes skill.. I adore the way you write and can make me get lost in the story.. you tickle my funny bone and make it such a pleasant ride with your personality and sense of humor.. I admit.. this one took me a minute and another read, but love that you make me think:)

[Woody]

I'm super glad you enjoyed. are you familiar with Dear Prudence, by the Beatles?

[AprilRN1210]

made me go listen to it.. nope, hadn't ever heard it..

[Woody]

you see, I filched that line from the song, on purpose "the sun's up, the sky's blue, it's beautiful, and so are you.."

[AprilRN1210]

I see that now! Woody, sometimes you are too dang clever for me... It's why I usually have to come back and read again because you add so many layers of entertainment and truly put thought and care into your work!!

[Woody]

awfully nice of you to say so, lass.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Very amusing! I am thinking you must have a very good sense of humour, but I hope none of your stories come from actual life! They are beautifully written.

[Woody]

so sweet of you to say so Aunty. I'm humbled that an English person thinks I have a good sense of humour. no dear, they're all figments of my imagination. my life's not that twisted, thankfully (unfortunately?)