By By RANDI K. PICKLEY / Dowagiac Daily News
April Fool's Days past led to some memorable pranks for area residents. Read and enjoy, but don't, as the saying goes, try these at home.
Angela Price, of Buchanan, was outside enjoying the warm weather. She remembered an April Fool's joke played on her by her mother and cousin.
Dorothy Tokar, a nurse, tells this story: "I had this pair of prosthetic legs from a patient. I laid them on the floor beside my patient's bed. One of the staff walked by the room and saw them. He thought the patient was on the floor and ran in to help her. Then he saw me laughing."
But Tokar's sense of humor didn't stop there. "My boss always called to see how many nurses were on staff for the patients," she said. "I told her how nurses kept canceling and how short we were for staff. My boss began to panic and headed right over. I didn't tell her the truth until she got to work," she said. "Now they get leery when I'm smiling. They know I'm up to something," she added.
Jodi Ford, a beautician at Off Main Street Hair Salon in Niles, not only played a practical joke, but was also on the receiving end.
Karen Dawson got that same surprise. "I told my mom I was pregnant to tease her, but I really was. Not a good thing," she said.
Along the same line, Tom Clabaugh, of Mortgage Services, said, "I met my wife on April Fool's Day. We've been married 22 years. The joke is on her."
When asked if he played pranks on anyone else, Art Schmeltz, also of Mortgage Services, said, "If I did, I wouldn't tell."
Stretching credulity, Chris Kedik said, "When I was a freshman in college, my mom told me she was really my sister and my sister told me she was really my mom. I almost kind of believed it. I wasn't too sure at the time."
Evelyn Berry from Daisy Mae's in downtown Niles, said, "My uncle was my 'party buddy.' One time I went with my folks and family to his house. He kept pulling jokes on me, but I didn't fall for them.
Bernice Strotter of Sentiments bridal got a real scare when her former husband, a policeman, pointed a toy gun on April Fool's Day.
Last, but not least, is one for the books, or maybe for getting booked. Chuck Imler had a running gag with his boss. He thought it might be his turn to carry the joke, and knowing that his boss was installing a new floor, Imler called pretending to be a city inspector.
Fearing a burglar was trying to scam his way into her home, the woman, who also was having a new floor installed, had the call traced. After hearing from the police, Imler realized he dialed the phone number and was one digit off. It was a well-to-do citizen. "I called back to explain. Then I apologized in person."