Chương 35: prank war
After I pushed Michael into the pool, he wasn't about to let me off that easily. I barely had time to take a breath before he surged out of the water and started sprinting toward me, laughter in his eyes but with that playful determination that said I was in trouble. I bolted, weaving around lounge chairs and dodging behind Mark and Jaden, who were now laughing and cheering Michael on, joining him in the chase. Prince, though, came to my rescue, standing between Michael and me to give me a few seconds to breathe. But it wasn't long before Mark and Jaden cornered me, grinning like they'd won the lottery, and together with Michael, they grabbed me and tossed me right into the pool. The cool water splashed around us, and I came up laughing, the sound echoing through the pool area.
The prank wars between me and Michael went from a single water balloon prank to an all-out game of wit, laughter, and sneakiness. It all started when I decided to get back at him for throwing me into the pool with Mark and Jaden's help. I had the brilliant idea of hanging water balloons over the door, so they'd drop on Michael when he walked through. I was up early, determined to make it happen. As I filled each balloon, tied it, and carefully climbed the ladder to attach them to the top of the door, I chuckled to myself, imagining his reaction. In my mind, it was all planned out perfectly.
I was so deep into my prank, laughing like some cartoon villain and balancing a balloon, that I didn't realize Michael was coming around the corner. Out of nowhere, I heard his voice: "What are you doing, Justin, so early in the morning?" I nearly lost my grip on the balloon. I turned, startled, and there was Michael, smiling with his arms crossed, clearly amused.
Trying to play it cool, I quickly stashed the balloon behind my back. "Oh, nothing much," I said with a shrug, trying to sound casual. "Just, uh… just thought I'd give Michael a little surprise for throwing me in the pool yesterday. Thought he could pay a little price, you know?" I chuckled, and then, without realizing it, let out this overly villainous laugh that would've made any movie villain proud.
Michael looked at me with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You know," he said, raising an eyebrow, "that Michael you're talking about sounds pretty intimidating." He was trying to hold back a laugh, and that's when I finally turned fully and realized the real Michael was standing right there. Busted.
For a second, I tried to act all innocent, giving him my best "I didn't do anything" smile. "Good morning, Michael! How'd you sleep?" I asked, like he hadn't just caught me in the middle of a prank setup.
Michael crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "What are you hiding behind your back, Justin?" he asked, his tone playful yet challenging.
"Oh, you know… nothing." I kept up my innocent act, but I knew it wouldn't last long. Feeling like I had to commit to my prank, I quickly took the water balloon and lobbed it right at his face. The balloon exploded on impact, soaking him as he gasped in surprise. Before he could react, I dashed down the hall, laughing like I'd just pulled off the prank of the century.
Michael's voice echoed after me. "Justin! You're in for it now!" he shouted, his laughter blending with his words. "I'm going to get you, and I'm not joking!"
For the next few days, Michael and I were officially at prank war. It seemed like every time he got me, I had to get him back—and vice versa. The morning after the water balloon incident, I woke up groggily, ready to throw on my shoes and head downstairs. But as soon as I slipped my foot into my sneaker, I felt something… strange. Confetti exploded out of my shoe, showering me and my room in tiny colorful pieces. Michael had rigged my shoes, and the sight of my now glittering bedroom had me laughing so hard, I could barely put on a different pair.
When I went down to breakfast that morning, Michael sat at the table with a mischievous smile, his face completely innocent as he casually poured cereal into a bowl. He looked over and said, "Good morning, Justin! Did you sleep well?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You got me, but it's not over yet."
I decided it was time for payback. I needed something small, but effective. After some thought, I snuck into the pantry and found a stash of plastic spiders. That afternoon, when Michael stepped out, I put a couple in his cereal bowl, knowing he'd come back to finish breakfast. I barely held in my laughter when he returned, sat down, and went to take a bite. He stared down at his bowl, noticing the spiders, and jumped up, yelping in surprise. The whole table erupted in laughter, including Michael himself, who shook his head and said, "Alright, Justin, you got me good."
But Michael wasn't done yet. That evening, I crawled into bed, exhausted from our day of antics, ready for a good night's sleep. I fluffed up my pillow and laid down—only to find that my head had landed on a massive pile of feathers hidden inside. I shot up, feathers flying everywhere, filling the air around me. He'd stuffed my pillowcase with them, and I laughed, picturing Michael sneaking around earlier, putting them in there without me noticing.
The next day, Michael came up with what he claimed was the ultimate prank. As I walked into the living room, he'd rigged the speaker system to blast one of his famous high-pitched screams. I jumped, practically stumbling backward as his voice echoed around the room. I had to admit, he'd gotten me good. At this point, I could hardly keep up with the pranks; it was endless fun and laughs, but it was clear that Michael's creativity knew no bounds.
The highlight of the prank war came when we decided to take things back to the pool. One afternoon, Michael invited us all out to relax by the water. The pool sparkled in the sun, and everyone was lounging, feeling the warmth. Michael looked at me with a smile, and then, out of nowhere, he challenged me: "Justin, I dare you to dance on the diving board."
I couldn't turn down a dare, so I climbed up, and to make it fun, I even mimicked some of Michael's famous moves, trying to moonwalk and spin on the narrow board. Michael laughed, clapping along with the rest of the crew, and that's when I saw him motioning to Mark and Jaden. I didn't catch on at first, but then suddenly they were both charging toward me. Michael's son, Prince, joined in on my side, blocking them as best as he could. It was a wild, hilarious chase, everyone running around the pool, dodging and shouting.
But I couldn't hold them off forever. Soon enough, they caught me, and with everyone cheering and laughing, they threw me right into the pool, clothes and all. I came up laughing, the splash around us capturing the energy of the prank wars.
The following morning, I decided to try one last prank. I took out some balloons from my bag, filled them with water, and tied them up. My plan was simple: hang the water balloons above the kitchen door so they'd drop on Michael. I climbed up a ladder, carefully taping them in place, and was so focused that I didn't even hear Michael approaching. I only realized he was there when he suddenly asked, "What are you doing, Justin?"
I nearly dropped the balloon. I turned, trying to hide my surprise, but he was already onto me. "Just setting up a little surprise, you know… for Michael," I said, giving him an innocent grin. Michael raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"Uh-huh. And who's this surprise for?" he asked, sounding both amused and suspicious.
Without thinking, I threw the water balloon right at him and darted off, running before he could even react. I could hear his laugh and his shout echoing down the hallway, "Justin, you're going to pay for that!" He chased me, and soon the whole house was caught up in laughter and water balloon remnants.
As the week went on, we continued our games and pranks, each one adding another hilarious memory to the collection. Michael's house, his famous Neverland, had turned into our own playground, filled with laughter, jokes, and moments we'd never forget. Even as we packed up to leave, we knew we'd be back—this place, these memories, were something special. We left with a new bond, memories of laughter, and the knowledge that, even for a legend like Michael, sometimes the best times are the simplest ones shared with friends.
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