The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PRACTICAL JOKE AND PRANK

TWO PRACTICAL JOKES THAT ARE PLAYED AT PAJAMA PARTIES WITH THE
LIGHTS OUT INVOLVES THE UNSUSPECTING PERSON GETTING HIS FACE DIRTY.
THE FIRST INVOLVES PUTTING A GLASS OF WATER OVER A FLAME. THE
FORTUNE TELLER TELLS THE PERSON TO RUB UNDER THE GLASS WITH THEIR
FINGERS AND THEN RUB THEIR FINGERS ONTO THEIR FACE. WHEN THE
LIGHTS GO ON, HE DISCOVERS HIS FACE FULL OF SOOT. THE SECOND ONE
INVOLVES TAKING A QUARTER AND OUTLINING IT WITH A PENCIL. THIS
CAUSES SOME OF THE LEAD TO STAY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE QUARTER ON
THE RIDGES. THE UNSUSPECTING PERSON IS TOLD TO ROLL THE QUARTER ON
HIS FACE AND HE WILL GET A WISH. OF COURSE, WHEN HE LOOKS IN THE
MIRROR, HE HAS LINES PENCILLED ALL OVER.

Submitter comment: THE COLLECTOR FIRST HEARD THIS PRANK IN TAYLOR, MICH. IN 1970. IT
WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A DRAMATIC AND LONG SESSION OF FORTUNE TELLING.
OF COURSE, ONLY ONE PERSON COULD BE DUPED PER SESSION SINCE ALL
OTHERS WOULD BE IN ON IT AND WATCHING EAGERLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; USA ; SOUTHGATE

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 00-00-1970