I played the best prank on my second daughter today. 

On our way to get her second COVID shot, I told her that it would be an injection to the butt. I don’t know even know how I suddenly came up with this silly idea, but it came out of my mouth right away. 

She was sitting in the back of my van with her younger sister and brother in their car seats. When I looked back at her, she smiled quizzically, not believing what I just told her. I laughed and said, “It’s true!” 

I quickly texted my eldest daughter, who had just gotten both her COVID vaccinations, to tell my suspicious daughter that the second shot really had to be in the butt. I thought I was going to lose it. I was laughing so hard inside that I had to look away so she wouldn’t catch me trying to hold my laughter.

I hyped it up some more and added, “Too bad you’re not wearing a skirt. It would be easier with a skirt than having to take your shorts off. Well… at least there’s a curtain so no one else will see your ass.” 

It was tough to keep a straight face. 

I continued, telling her, “Ask your sister if she broke the needle with her tough tush. Maybe you’ll break the needle, too, with your hard bum.” 

Every time I glanced over at her, I saw her quietly squirming. A cloud had come over her usual good mood. I told her, “You’ll be fine! Don’t worry about it!” still stifling a giggle. 

I did a couple of errands first while leaving them in the car before heading to the pharmacy for her shot. I finally gave in and told her it wasn’t true. I was beginning to feel bad about how worried she was looking!

I also didn’t want her pulling down her shorts at the pharmacy when it was her turn. That would just be cruel. 

Or extremely funny. 

Sometimes it’s a thin line between humor and malice.