The Prank
© 1999 Mary Catherine Whitney
All Rights Reserved.
(A Nonspank Story)

Usually Andy is really good at catching Mary Catherine when she gets into mischief. Every so often though she gets the best of him and in this case there’s absolutely nothing he can do about it! <g>

"Come on girls, settle down," Andy says as he picks up the microphone resting on a small table in the corner of the dining hall. The room grows quiet, as the students' attention is evenly divided between the Dean and the chocolate pudding with whipped cream that has just been brought out for dessert.

He continues, a smile on his face as he watches the girls dig into their pudding. "I know this is one of the most exciting weekends of the school year for all of you, but I need to go over a few things so we're all set for our spring recruitment open house. First off I'm pleased to announce that we're going to have close to 200 prospective students and their parents visiting our campus this weekend. I'm counting on all of you to work together and really show off Saint Francis. I expect all of you to be on your VERY BEST behavior while our visitors are on campus. I know it's going to be a very hectic weekend for everyone with all the activities we have planned. This is the largest group of prospective students ever registered for this event, but it proves what a tradition of excellence we have here at Saint Francis School for Girls."

"As you know, a lot of prep schools are closing these days or are being forced to admit students who aren't up to the academic standards the schools have set for incoming pupils. Some are even having to go co-ed just to keep their doors open." A chorus of whispers and giggles erupt around the room, "Yeah, as if us being forced to merge with Saint Sebastian's would be a BAD thing! I'd LOVE to merge with some of the guys on their campus . . . talk about hot!" he hears someone say clearly from one of the tables near the picture window. Andy stops, giving Veronica a sharp look. "That's enough Miss Lancaster unless you'd like to learn how impertinence is handled at Saint Sebastian's?" The laughing grows louder and Veronica turns bright red, shaking her head as she stammers . . . "No, Sir, Dean . . . uhmm . . . sorry for the interruption."

Andy nods at her and continues. "As I was saying, I'm happy to say we don't have those types of problems here at Saint Francis. The prospective students visiting over the next four days have already passed our qualifications for academic standards. We only have openings however for a little more than a quarter of the girls who will be coming to see our campus. Now let's make them all feel welcome and show these girls and their families just what a great place Saint Francis is to be! Your senior's have schedules for this weeks events posted on the message board on each hall and they'll be going over specific assignments at your floor meetings tonight at 9:00 pm. Girls who have signed up to be tour guides please see Sister Constance at her table immediately following dinner. Student council will meet with me in the Honor Lounge in Old Main tonight at 7:30 pm sharp."

"Finally, don't forget tomorrow is Thursday which means dress uniform day. I want everyone to look extra sharp for our visitors tomorrow so we'll be conducting a uniform inspection and a check of skirt lengths at tomorrow morning's assembly. Be sure your uniform is STRICTLY regulation." Groans flood the dining hall. Raising his voice slightly to be heard over the din, he adds, "If any of you are thinking of NOT looking your best tomorrow you might want to remember there's a mixer planned with Saint Sebastian's for Saturday night and girls with demerits will not be permitted to attend. I'll also be bringing Thor along to assembly tomorrow in case I have to get to the 'bottom' of any uniform violations."

The room falls silent at that not so subtle hint. The only thing worse than catching a kiss from the Mighty Thor was to have it administered by the Dean in front of the entire school! Andy knew it would only take the vivid picture painted by those words to guarantee even the most rebellious of the student body would be dressed as perfectly as the girls in the uniform company catalogue when the prospective students arrived tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.

As Andy continued to speak, Mary Catherine is busy making mental notes to herself. She has a lot to do during the weekend, between her duties on Student Council, giving campus tours, co-chair for the mixer, the Spring Post and Rails show Saturday, plus a little late night excitement with the Thorned Roses! She couldn't wait for their private party in the secret room in Old Main after the mixer. Six girls, six guys . . . they had the room fully stocked with liquor and food and candles. Doug suggested they play Saint Francis Scrabble so with luck they'd get the guys to lose everything including their boxer shorts by the end of the night! First and foremost in her mind at the moment though was coordinating the junior class prank.

Class pranks were a Saint Francis tradition. Each spring all four grades competed to pull off the most spectacular prank possible without getting caught. Competition was fierce between the girls-everyone wanted to outdo the other grades. The rules were simple; each class had the time between returning to campus from spring break until the week before finals to pull off their stunt. It could be directed toward anyone . . . another class, teachers, the administration. As long as the prank wasn't dangerous or destructive it was fair game.

The trick of course was to do something as wild and outrageous as possible without getting caught in the act. If the prank was carried out without detection there were no reprisals. It was the one time the girls could make mischief without fear of punishment as long as they didn't get caught carrying out their prank. On the other hand if your class WAS caught in the act of pulling off its' prank, the group it was directed toward decided what your punishment would be! Once all the pranks were complete, the entire student body voted on which one was best. The winners got an evening in town for pizza and a movie. It was soooooo much fun and Mary Catherine's class had actually won the competition in their freshman and sophomore years . . . a first for either grade. With the prank they had planned for this year she planned on making it three for three.

So far the freshman and sophomore class had already taken their shot at this year's competition with mixed results. The freshman class pulled their prank off without a hitch. They tended to pull the simplest pranks, being new to this competition. Past freshman stunts included switching the sugar and the salt, short-sheeting beds, sometimes ordering pizzas to be delivered to all the faculty members. This year they went for the sugar bowls, but with a twist. Instead of filling the bowls with salt they put soap flakes in the bowls. They were even smart enough to do it on a day when Ms. Deavon made her famous lemonade for lunch. It was good, but always WAY too tart. Nearly everyone in the dining room automatically added a teaspoon or two of sugar before drinking it. The bubbles were flying around the room before anyone even had a chance to raise their glass for a sip. It was a fun prank and all the other girls agreed it was a pretty good effort for the little rug rats their first year out.

The sophomore class on the other hand got caught red-handed attempting to pull off their prank and had to face the music. They had planned to toilet paper Grier Hall (the senior dorm) as well as all of the Senior Advisor's suites. Unfortunately for them a freshman overheard a couple of the sophomore girls whispering about the details of their prank one afternoon in the library. Naturally the girl went right to her senior advisor and informed her of the sophomore class plans. She wasn't stupid . . . she knew that not only was this a great way to score points with her senior . . . it would assure the freshman class wouldn't come in last in this year's prank war! The seniors kept close tabs on the 10th graders and were right there when the girls snuck into Grier Hall.

The senior's REALLY let the sophomore class have it too. After all, no one with any sense would single out the senior class as the target of their prank. Getting them as part of a school-wide stunt like the freshmen did was perfectly acceptable . . . but to ONLY target the seniors was asking for trouble! Everyone found the sophomore class penalty hilarious . . . everyone except the sophomore class of course!

Even the Dean had trouble keeping a straight face as the 10th grade class spent an entire day paying off their misdeeds. Every sophomore was given a complete Saint Anthony's uniform-green and yellow plaid jumper, white broadcloth shirt with peter pan collar, knee socks, and patent leather Mary Jane's to wear to class instead of their regular uniform. To complete their outfit, the 12th graders presented each sophomore with a pacifier to wear around her neck for the entire day. "Open up rug rats!" the seniors said laughing as they popped the pacifier's in the sophomore's mouths. They had to keep the pacifier's in their mouths the entire day (except when answering a question in class or eating of course)! "After all," the seniors explained patting their charges on the head as they watched the sophomore's miserably start to suck on their pacifiers, "you all got caught trying to pull off a VERY childish prank. It's only fitting we treat you like the little girls you are!"

Their discomfort was magnified on two counts . . . first, the senior's made sure they chose the day of the sophomore's punishment to coincide with the day of Saint Francis hosted its monthly joint assembly with Saint Sebastian's. Not only did they have to live through the embarrassment of their penalty in front of their own classmates but in front of the entire student body of Saint Seb's as well! The boys found it hysterical . . . the sophomore girls would be lucky if the boys didn't tease them the rest of the year. That discomfort was totally psychological . . . the other part was physical . . . each sophomore started the morning over a senior's knee getting a very embarrassing, not to mention uncomfortable bare bottom hand spanking. They felt about six years old by the time their punishment was complete. By the time the 10th graders fell asleep that night they all vowed never to try to get the best of a senior again!

That brought Mary Catherine back to the matter at hand. The junior class was planning to pull their prank off tonight. Mary was in charge of coordinating their plans and this was by far the most elaborate stunt she had ever come up with . . . topping even last year's prank! It was also dangerous . . . at least as far as the consequences that the junior class would face if they got caught in the act as their prank targeted Dean Michaels. Every girl had a role in tonight's events though they wouldn't know what that role was until they all met. Right now, the other girls didn't even know their prank was due to happen tonight. Mary took the words "loose lips sink ships" to heart, particularly since she was certain if they were caught the Dean would give them a much stiffer punishment than a bare bottom spanking and a pacifier to suck on for the day. Mary had recruited Doug and a bunch of his friends at Saint Sebastian to do the heavy lifting that would be necessary to accomplish their mission, but even the boys weren't sure what that mission was as yet. Finally the Dean finished his announcements and dismissed the girls. Mary gave the signal to meet tonight as the girls walked out of the room. It was simple . . . she merely placed her glass upside down in the middle of her plate. As her table was right by the main door, they all passed by on their way out of the dining hall.

The evening was busy . . . Mary discussed her tour times with Sister Constance, then met with the Dean and the other girls in Student Council regarding the plans for the weekend and finally her floor meeting. She was too busy to think about what was going to happen after lights out. Finally Olivia her floor's Senior Advisor dismissed the girls and they all headed off to bed.

In the dark Mary Catherine watched the Dean's office across the Quad. It seemed as if he'd never turn in for the night. 10:00 . . . 11:00 . . . 12:00 . . . finally at 12:17 the light in the Dean's office went out. Five minutes later Mary was able to make out the shadowy figure of the Dean as he crossed the Quad and entered his cottage. The lights went on briefly as he made his way upstairs, then finally the lights went out. Minutes passed . . . Mary held her breath as she watched the Dean's cottage. Silent . . . as the bells on the Quad rang 1:00 am Mary woke Mandy and the two of them slipped out of their room, making their way downstairs. Quietly they crept across campus toward Old Main.

Arriving at their destination they sat and waited. Over the next 15 minutes the other girls joined them in groups of two's and three's. Everyone was silent . . . they knew that too much was riding on the success of their prank, particularly since they knew now it was going to be directed toward the Dean. At 1:30 Doug and five of his friends arrived from Saint Seb's and Mary Catherine led them into action. She quickly explained what they were going to do, gave the first group of girls a diagram she'd drawn as she waited for the Dean to turn in for the night and set everyone to work. Slipping into the Dean's office she drew the heavy velvet drapes and clipped them closed before turning on a single light. She tapped once on the window and got a tap in return. "Ok," she whispered, "the light's aren't visible. Let's get to it."

Over the two hours one group of girls along with Doug and his friends removed every stick of furniture from the Dean's office. Desk, rug, visitors chairs . . . even all the books on the shelves and the assorted electronic equipment. Another part of the junior class is out on the Quad beginning to painstakingly recreate the Dean's office in the middle of campus as per Mary Catherine's diagram. They work swiftly and silently. By 4:50 am the finishing touches are in place. Mary positions the Dean's coffee pot on the small credenza, and plugs it in to the power strip they've run from Old Main to the Quad and reprogrammed it to begin brewing the Dean's rich French Roast at precisely 7:10 am, the way it does each and every morning. The girls take one final look, give the thumbs up to Doug and his friends and everyone slips back to their respective beds. By 5:00 am . . . a very satisfied and sleepy junior class tumble back into bed.

"BEEP, BEEP BEEP . . . BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!!!!!!" Mary groans smacking the alarm clock with her left hand. "Ohhhh God . . . Mandy . . . hey Mandy . . . come on . . . time to get up." Mary sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stretches. It's 6:30 am . . . they need to be dressed and out on the Quad by 7:15. The Dean would be leaving his cottage at 7:30 sharp for breakfast and the morning assembly. They wanted to be sure they had a front row view of the fireworks! Everyone had to cross the Quad to reach the dining hall, so they'd be sure to see the junior class' handiwork.

Yawning they stumble toward the bathroom, quickly showering and dressing. They take extra time to ensure their uniform is strictly regulation. They didn't want to give the Dean any reason to take their prank out on their bottoms through uniform violations! On their way out the door, Mary pauses at her computer, typing a quick email for the Dean to find when he boots up his computer. Then, they rush out of their dorm and head across campus where a large group of girls have already gathered. The girls are all talking excitedly and laughing . . . everyone except the seniors who look mighty pissed at the moment. This prank was great! There was no way they could top what the junior class had pulled off in the middle of the night.

As for their prank, it looked even better than Mary had imagined it would. It was absolutely perfect! Except for the fact that there were no walls, windows or doors it looked precisely like Dean Michael's office. Not a single item was out of place. Mary spent enough time in the Dean's office to know what it looked like and she had certainly put her knowledge to good use! Walking over to a group of their friends they smiled congratulating each other. They'd done it and not gotten caught . . . now all they had to do was wait to see the look on the Dean's face!

As for Andy he was putting on his blazer and his old Saint Sebastian's prep school tie, whistling to himself. "This was going to be a great day," he thought, "no, a great weekend." He couldn't wait to show off Saint Francis. Grabbing his folder of materials he hurries out the door, making his way toward the dining hall.

"Bong . . . bong" the bells in the Quad tower begin ringing 7:30. Andy approaches the Quad, surprised there's so many girls milling around. "Hey, wasn't that the breakfast bell?" he asks the crowd in general. "How about getting a move . . ." his voice dies out in stunned shock as the girls' part and he sees the center of the Quad before him. It's his office . . . his ENTIRE office is sitting in the middle of the Quad! "Oh god, this is a nightmare . . . the trustees, the prospective students and their parents, everyone will be here soon. What on earth would they think?!"

All the students were laughing and the junior class was accepting congratulations from the other girls. Andy looked around, it's perfect . . . everything is exactly the way it would be if it were in his office. He goes over to his desk, a hard look on his face. Sitting down he notices the power strip. The girls had even run an extension outside so his computer and lamp and coffee maker would run.

He turns on the computer and as it boots up, it automatically goes into his email . . . "You've Got Mail" it says. He clicks on the new email and a simple message pops up "Gotcha Dean! Love the Junior Class" The from line is listed as marycatherine@saintfrancis-sfg.net and he looks up over the screen, the vein in his temple beginning to throb. In a low voice he says, "Girls, that was the bell. Go to breakfast please. Assembly will start at 8:30. Miss Whitney, if I could see you in my office please." The other girls laugh and snicker, several stopping to pat Mary on the back and offer their congratulations as they begin to make their way to the dining hall.

When they're alone Mary walks over to the Dean's "office". "Sit down Miss Whitney," he says in a serious voice. "Oh god" she thinks, "he looks REALLY mad!" Andy stands up and walks over to the cabinet where he keeps the Mighty Thor and sits down on the edge of his desk looking at Mary Catherine. He begins to lightly smack the paddle against the palm of his hand as he lectures her. "Am I mistaken young lady or did I give you girls a lecture last night at dinner about being on your best behavior during our open house weekend? I swore that was me up there talking to all of you and I'm pretty sure I saw you in the audience. What were you thinking? How could you do something like this?"

Mary starts to shake slightly . . . it was just a harmless prank . . . she had no idea he'd be so angry! He wouldn't paddle her for this, would he? He couldn't . . . the rules of the prank war said there could be no reprisals! Still, his face got redder and redder and he kept smacking the paddle in his hand. She started to sweat under the warm spring sun and could feel the stares of the other girls through the picture windows in the dining hall . . . Mary bet not one of them was eating breakfast at the moment. He looked at her and asked, "What am I going to do with you Mary?"

She bit her lip looking up at him . . . "It was our class prank Dean. No reprisals, remember?" Andy looked at her a minute then put the paddle down on his desk as he began to laugh. He was still angry, but more that Mary had bested him again in the class prank war than over what the trustees and the prospective students might think. He had sworn this year that he would catch Mary carrying out her class prank . . . last year as sophomore's she had the girls place row after row of Dixie cups half-filled with water in each classroom as well as in his office. It had taken them an entire day for the staff to remove them as they had to be picked up two at a time! Classes needed to be cancelled that day, giving the girls a three-day weekend. It irked him to realize that while he was normally so good at catching Mary when she got into mischief, for some reason he just couldn't catch her red-handed pulling off student pranks!

"You got me again Mary. Tell me though, did you HAVE to do it on such an important day?" Mary nods smiling, a little more relaxed now since he put down the paddle. "Actually Dean we did. You've been watching me like a hawk. I knew you wanted to catch me red-handed in the worst possible way after last year." "Damn the little vixen," he thinks, "it's as if she can read his mind!" "You're right Mary, I DID want to catch you . . . you would've been a very sorry young lady in fact if I had with the plans I had for your payback! I swear though next year you'd better find a new target because I plan to catch you if you direct another one of these pranks at me. Now, what am I supposed to do about my new office Mary? There's no way this can be put back together before the prospective students arrive. I'm sure you thought of that though, you always have a plan. So let's hear it."

Smiling broadly now Mary tells him her idea. As much as he hates the fact she got the best of him, Andy has to admit her idea is first rate. He keeps his office out on the Quad the entire day, meeting with parents and prospective students, explaining how Saint Francis is more than just the classrooms or buildings; it's the entire campus. He tells them how Saint Francis is a community where girls can feel like there's an open door any time they want to stop in and chat. The classroom is all around them, in the lecture halls and the dorms . . . the stables, even the Quad. Everyone loves the concept, it's so different than what any of the other schools are doing and the trustees commend him on his innovative thinking. "Knew we were right to get a young guy with fresh ideas in here as Dean," one of them says at the end of the weekend slapping him on the back. "Great job Andy, keep it up."

Andy knows it's because of Mary Catherine though; her idea worked like a charm. After the last of the visitors leave on Sunday he goes into town bringing back a pint of peppermint stick ice cream to share with her. "Thank you Mary, your idea was a big hit." Mary smiles at him. "Not mad at me anymore?" she asks digging into the ice cream. "Nope, Sport but I meant what I said . . . you'd better pick a new target or stay on your toes because I plan on catching you next year and when I do more than your bottom will be feeling my payback Mary Catherine . . . senior or not!

© 1999 Mary Catherine Whitney, All Rights Reserved.

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