Antics and Shenanigans

Discussion tonight at supper brought up some funny situations my dad, Pops, used to be a part of. No, not just a part of it, he used to engineer funny situations.

1. The Parking Brake
Parking brakes on cars are typically used to set the vehicle at rest, in the event that the vehicle's park gear fails. Pops felt this was not adequate. He observed that when a parking brake (specifically, those in the middle activated by hand), when activated quickly in a moving vehicle, will case the tires to lock up.

Although there is some danger in doing this at high speeds, when done at low speeds and under control, the danger is negligible.

When done in somewhat close proximity to a person who is otherwise unaware of your presence, the result can be hilarious.

For example:
- When people (and by "people" - I mean my brother and his buddy) are riding bicycles and are approached in the car, and suddenly the parking brake is engaged; people can become frightened by the sound. Often, it makes these people think they are about to be run over by the car whose tires are squalling.

In the case of the people I knew, they immediately drove their bicycles into the ditch in an effort to avoid being struck by the car.

Note: At no time were they ever in danger, the car was on the other side of the street, and completely under control. 


2. Drive-thru Windows
Folks who work in drive thru windows were often the target of Pops' antics.

- When paying, Pops would put a rubber snake in his hand along with the cash. Most clerks screamed. Some jumped. One took the snake, and frightened a co-worker. That was funny.

- Sometimes, Pops' windshield wiper fluid was checked at most inconvenient times. Like when the clerk was in the window. Often the clerk was sprayed by the washer fluid.

- Instead of "unsweetened" tea, Pops would ask for "sour tea." Sour, of course, being the opposite of sweet.


3. Parking Brake, Part 2
The parking brake was used from time to time. My brother and his buddy were not the only targets.

One morning, Pops and I had been to breakfast. Some men whom he worked with were were at a job site, fixing some electrical equipment. The foreman had stabbed an apple through the top with a pocket knife, and was munching it as he oversaw the repairs.

Pops drove us to the site, knowing they would be there. As we approached, he realized the foreman was unaware of our car approaching. The parking Brake was employed.

The foreman, in a moment of clarity, dropped the apple, and dove for cover.

Many of the workers joined Pops and I in laughter. I learned to swear that morning, with some of the words the foreman spewed at Pops. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.