Page 21 of Let's Go To Camp!

“Good morning, Auntie Chloe!” everyone replied.

The matronly woman smiled as she eyed the room. Her eyes seemed to linger on Maisie and her friends, but the Little couldn’t tell if that was just her imagination or not.

“Now, before we get started with this morning’s presentation,” the director said, “I want to be clear that any pranks you learn about today are not to be practiced at this camp. We love fun. That’s why we’re here. But fun does not have to include naughtiness. Just remember that pranks can and will get your bottoms paddled if they’re bad enough. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the group called out again.

She smiled. “Good. We had a prank last night. Silly string and water guns were used. If the perpetrators are in this room, know we have a zero policy for that type of nonsense.”

Maisie looked around and silently noted that the perpetrators were most likelynotthere, since Derek and his friends were nowhere to be seen.

Good. She didn’t want them ruining this.

“Okay. Now that all of that is out of the way, let me introduce our guest speaker. What better man to teach this class than him? He’s renowned the world over for his pranks, and even produces hit videos that have garnered millions of views. Please welcome the Little that needs no introduction…Eli!”

The room broke into wild applause and cheers. So overcome with being in the presence of her hero, Maisie rose to her feet, which led to the other Littles following.

Eli had a standing ovation as he walked up the aisle and took his place behind the podium.

Wearing his trademark blue shortalls with a t-shirt beneath them, not to mention a poufy diaper, and his pacifier hanging from a clip on one of the straps, Eli waved at the crowd.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” he said warmly, smiling at the audience. Once the applause had died down and everyone had taken their seats again, he said, “I bring you goodwill and love from Mountainville.”

The Littles clapped again.

Eli started walking the length of the room’s front as he began his presentation.

“Pranks. Why are they so important? What makes them part of the Little experience? Those are questions I’ve spent a great deal of my life exploring.”

He stopped walking, looked at the crowd, and made eye contact with a few Littles scattered about the room.

“They have the power to make us laugh. To bring levity to a sometimes dark and chaotic world. And laughter is truly a wonderful thing.

“Sometimes, though, pranks have the power to do more than that. Why, it wasn’t very long ago, just last year, that pranks saved this very camp from a tyrannical director.” He held up a closed fist in triumph. “Pranks can liberate. Can make the world a better place!”

The room broke out into more applause.

Once it died down, Eli was about to speak again when a long, loud fart interrupted.

People around the room couldn’t help but snicker, though it was obvious no one wanted to be rude. Accidents happen. But still, Maisie noted, farts are funny.

“Whoa!” Eli said. He then laughed. “See, that, my friends, was a prank.” He walked down the aisle and stopped midway, pointing to a guy who was sitting in a chair three seats into the third row down. “If you’d be so kind as to reach under your chair, sir.”

The Little did and came up holding a small black box.

“That, my friends, is the Fart-O-Matic 3000. The latest invention from me and my good friend Stryker. Controlled by this.” Eli held up a small remote control.

The guy started laughing and then everyone else did, too.

“You got me!” he said.

Eli reached out, shook his hand, then handed him the remote. “That’s yours to keep. Thanks for being a good sport.”

The guy seemed happy as he held up his new toy in proud admiration.

Eli walked back up to the front of the room, faced the crowd, and smiled.

“Without further ado, friends, let’s dive into the world of pranks.

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