Monday, November 22, 2010

Hair Cream versus Tooth Paste


My dad kept his tube of hair cream and comb in a drawer next to the bathroom sink. His tooth brush and tooth paste were in the medicine cabinet over the sink. He was out late most nights and was usually pretty bleary eyed when he got up in the morning. 

One Saturday morning, my brother and I swapped the two tubes, hoping that he wouldn’t notice until it was too late. We sat in the living room waiting for him to get up and go to the bathroom for a long time.  

After what seemed like hours, we heard him come out of his room and go into the bathroom. The first noise we heard was the toilet flushing, the second was the bathroom faucet running, the third noise sounded like some kind of wild animal.

Apparently fate selected the “brush your teeth with hair cream” scenario over “comb your hair with toothpaste,” because the "wild animal" noises turned into some very loud retching. Then the sound of my dad throwing up!

After a few minutes he came out of the bathroom with one tube in each hand. We sat quietly on the couch watching TV, like we didn’t know (or hear) a thing while he stomped into the kitchen and asked my mom about it. She claimed to know nothing and told him that he must have put them away in the wrong places the day before. When he walked by us on his way back to the bathroom, he paused for just a second and stared at us.


We must have looked innocent, because he didn’t say a word.  I think he knew on some level that we did it, but he never asked.

I don't have many happy childhood stories, this is one of them...
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I first posted this when I had only a handful of readers and it received exactly zero comments

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89 comments:

  1. I'll tell you one thing for sure. He checked those tubes every single day after that. :)

    Also? EWWW!

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  2. Bet you have comments now! Wicked trick, Pat.

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  3. This was classic and a great scene for one of my middle grade stories. Hah!! Loved it.

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  4. HahhhhahhhhaAAHHahhhhaHHHHAHHHHAAAA!
    (gasp)
    Oh Pat! YOU would have been one awesome kid! I can picture it all now.
    I'm sorry that there weren't that many happy memories...but this one IS a jem.
    I think you and one of my boys would have gotten along quite splendidly;)
    Hope you have an awesome new week:)

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  5. Let me help you out there Pat. Now you've got one comment. Actually, a funny story [glad it wasn't me], but a bit mean, don't you think?

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  6. Thankfully it didn't end the way I thought it was going to end. Wow! That must've tasted horrific!!! BTW...what were you watching? :)

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  7. My Dad once took his Dad's 63 Chevy convertible through a car wash with the top down...he was forever getting the soap out of the carpet!

    Yes indeed, Batman and I sure do look a lot alike!

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  8. Well, your father got a big surprise Pat, and you and your brother a funny time:)
    Like you, I haven't got so many happy childhoodstories, and look more forward than backwards.
    Have a nice week:)
    Hug from winter wonderland:)

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  9. Oh, that's so mean! Patrick! Well, I'm glad your father wasn't too sick.

    CD

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  10. I gagged reading that one. Imagine how minty fresh his hair would have smelled if it had gone the other way!
    I like that you brought back an old story from when your blog was just starting out. You've come a long way! - G

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  11. TVA - I don't remember, but i'm sure he did...

    Alex - thanks Alex! it was a classic in my family (at least between my brother and I)

    salarsen - I think, I'll be using this one myself! thanks!

    Dawn - It was a different world, that's for sure! Some might not have agreed, that awesome was the right word...LOL!

    M.D. - Yes it was! I wonder how toothpaste would have worked in his hair?

    Brenda - My brother and I did give it a tiny taste one time, and yes, it was terrible!

    dennis - It was a bit mean, but that was standard fare in our home.

    Jesse - We were watching "Wild Bill Hickcok." I'm sure you've never heard of that one...

    Brian - I'd love to own that car today!

    bare bilder - it was pretty funny! Like you, things are better now! thanks!

    Clarissa - Nah! It wasn't that mean. I can think of worse things that come in a tube...

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  12. Georgina - Thanks so much! I remember wondering if anybody was ever going to comment on anything I wrote...

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  13. Not nice to play with the parents..... I did the something along this line to a roommate once, though and it was pretty funny.

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  14. HAHA! This was great! Thank you for the Monday morning smile!

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  15. I am sure you can still look that innocent.

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  16. Why don't you try something like this with your wife and see if you've still got the touch?

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  17. Why don't you try something like this with your wife and see if you've still got the touch?

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  18. I am leaving you three comments to make up for the pain you experienced of getting no comments the first time around.

    Happy now?

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  19. I would have loved doing something like that to my brother back in our school days! Funny, yet mean and sick. Haha!

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  20. Could picture that one! Expecially the boys watching TV with a little too much concentration.

    I had a childhood friend whose grandmother once set her hair with Windex.

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  21. Bet he was more careful the next day, wasn't he?

    Ya li'l stinkers...

    Pearl

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  22. Well I'm glad you reposted it. Hilarious story!

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  23. well...that was a little mean :O but its ok if he was the Hitler types...no such antic filled childhood for me...enjoyable but boring...my bro/cousins use to pull pranks(nothing like this) on me as I get easily flustered... :)

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  24. Haha! That's hilarious, Pat. I can just imagine it...

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  25. Those are the memories from childhood of innocent fun that as parents we can appreciate. I bet the hair cream did just as good a job as the toothpaste...in some ways they are kind of similar!

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  26. Very interesting this post. Greetings Leovi

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  27. This is to good a story not to repost so we all can enjoy it and comment. I had to chuckle to myself as my mind put pictures to your incredibly delightful words.

    Good one, Pat!

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  28. Yes, usually parents have us figured out. Like the time my parents asked if I'd cut off the cat's whiskers. I said no. But I was an only child. There was no one else to blame. And somebody did it.

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  29. great story and I am happy to read a positive memory of yours from childhood.

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  30. That's so naughty! I don't know how you managed to look innocent.

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  31. Jo - We would have never dared do it to my mom. Payback would have been brutal...

    Penny - My pleasure! I aim to please...

    BB - You are too darn funny! No way I'd ever do that to my wife. Not a chance, no way! I am happy now! Thanks for the numerous comments! You only get one in return though. LOL...

    Ree - I'm not even sure if they have hair cream in tubes anymore.
    I blame my brother!

    Karin - You're right, I'm sure he knew. I'll your friends gm had streak free hair though...

    Pearl - Oh yeah, I never stepped foot in that bathroom again.

    Tim - Thanks Tim! I'm gonna dig a little more in the archives...

    Rek - It was a little mean and he wasn't the Hitler type. I blame my brother!

    Talli - Thanks! It was quite a morning...

    DrSoosie - I wonder if they still have Brylcream in a tube? Yuck!

    Leovi - thanks Leovi!

    Pam - Thanks so much! I had to chuckle myself as I read it.

    Lucy - Too good for words!

    Sharon - Your imaginary friend must have done it!

    Jhon - thanks! Yep, me too. There aren't that many positive stories from those days...

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  32. Lynda - Thanks! I don't know how we did either. There must have been some giggles coming out of us.

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  33. Hahaha! Very naughty but very funny...glad you reposted ;)

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  34. How did you mange to sit and look innocent ?? I'm sure there was a
    smirk hidden.

    Great story !!

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  35. I've done that! TO MYSELF!

    I use the VO5 hair cream that comes in a tube like toothpaste... ...and I used to drink. A lot. So much so that I would wake up still drunk... And late for work... And in a hurry...

    Yeah, you like my rants? You should have been a fly on the wall...

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  36. The perfect prank, followed by perfect acting. Kudos to you and your bro! xo

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  37. Oh, this is a good one --priceless! Would have been too fearful for the revenge my father would think up!

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  38. Ha ha ha!!! Especially funny now when you think back, eh?

    Also wanted to say thanks so much for the birthday wishes! xoxox

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  39. To think that this GARRNERED ZERO COMMENTS IS AS PHENOMENAL AS THE OL BAIT AND SWITCH!!

    WHAT AWESOME RESULTS!!!

    j uhhh---sorry about the caps lock!

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  40. Pat- my wife can't hold up a book to read due to her neck probs, and I love books to the nth degree. I put a Kindle back the other day--but you just answered ALL my questions with your previous post I just caught up on.

    Thanks my friend--I'm off for 2--- Christmas presents!!!!!

    What about the format for Public Library books, that Kindle supposedly doesn't support.? I think you answered that in the number of free, and the "Classics" Kindle offers?

    So it is comparable to buying a new book?

    J

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  41. You were a braver lad than I would ever have been. I still don't think I can comprehend my brother and I even thinking about doing this to our dad...unless I could have forced all the blame on my brother. But being the oldest, that would have been destined to backfire on me.

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  42. Nat - Thanks! So am I...

    Carol - Thanks! Nice to see you here...

    faye - I'm sure there was some smirks also. thanks!

    Rabbit - Oh no! Maybe there should be a "personal hygeine" warning on alcohol products...
    I can only imagine your rant when that happened.

    Robyn - Thanks! It was my brother's idea, but he made me nmove one of the tubes...

    jeannette - My father wasn't our worry, it was our mom...

    Marlene - Yes! my pleasure, hope you had a good birthday!

    John - Thanks John! It did turn out pretty well...
    Yay! I'm sure you'll like them!
    As to the library books. There are more and more books being "published' in Kindle formate everyday. It's cheaper than a new book. Sometimes by a little and sometimes a lot...

    Chuck - I'm not really sure I had a choice in the matter. My brother made sure that I moved one of the tubes while he moved the other.

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  43. Now---look at the comments you have, Pat.... Wow!!!!!

    Funny story --and I'll bet that your Dad 'knew' who did it!!!!!!

    Have a nice Thanksgiving.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  44. Now---look at the comments you have, Pat.... Wow!!!!!

    Funny story --and I'll bet that your Dad 'knew' who did it!!!!!!

    Have a nice Thanksgiving.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  45. ROTFLMFAO
    OMG, that is completely hysterical!!!! xD Too bad he didn't comb his hair first, but then I don't do that first either. LOL I wish I'd been that daring when I was a kid, I tell ya'. Great post, Pat, and it certainly seems to be a popular number now!! ;)

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  46. Betsy - thanks! He probably did. You have a nice holiday also!

    Janet - Thanks so much! That would have been perfect if he used both!

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  47. Great story, Pat, and you have a "few" more comments this time!

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  48. tapirgal - Thanks! Just a few! LOL...

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  49. Even when parents don't know for sure they strongly suspect. Lack of proof is probably what saved you guys on that one.

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  50. SQ - That's why we wouldn't have done it to my mom. She didn't need proof of anything!

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  51. A good story well told. Very funny and ... disgusting taste XD.

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  52. One happy childhood memory is more than some have..:-)

    I would say you have far surpassed the "zero" comment phase you popular man you!!!!!!

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  53. DavidV - Thanks so much!

    Lynne - So true! Things have certainly changed around here. Now I pay people to comment...

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  54. You are soooooooo lucky he didn't know you did it, or wasn't sure enough to punish you! hahaha

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  55. this is awesome. It sounds like something my brother and I would have done. Or maybe something my kids would do to me.

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  56. Kristy - Or, he might have been giving us a break because my mom may have freaked out about it...

    Budd - Thanks! My kids tried to do something similar to this a while after I told them the story. I'm happy to report...they failed!

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  57. that is a great story Pat- I am glad you reposted it!

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  58. Ren - Thanks so much! I'm glad I reposted it also...

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  59. First time visitor ... I had three siblings and we were all born within a six year span. So we were always doing crazy stuff like this. We drove my parents and each other bonkers LOL!

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  60. Stephen - Thanks so much for commenting and signing on! It must have been fun to all be so close in age to each other. I'm sure you have a lot of good memories. thanks again!

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  61. Holy crap Patrick - that is one funny story! The pure innocence and simplicity of it is what makes it great.

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  62. Cheeseboy - Thanks my friend! It was just too easy...

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  63. *LOL* My dad's done something similar, though it was a genuine mistake and not a prank. He commented one day that the new shampoo we bought was really good, and how clean his scalp and hair feels now after using it. It even smells nice without being overpoweringly perfume-y.

    My mom had a weird look on her face. "I didn't buy any new shampoo. It's our regular brand."

    "Yes you have!" Dad insisted. "It's the one with the dog on the front!"

    Now bear in mind this was YEARS ago, and Dad was never in charge of bathing dogs, and hence never even knew shampoo especially for dogs existed!

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  64. JC - thanks! That's even better than a prank. great story! I wonder if there is really very much difference?

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  65. I did the same to my grandmother when I was about five. She put salt instead of sugar in her morning coffee. I don't remember how the story ended, but I obviously lived to tell about it. :-D

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  66. Haha wow! I can only imagine the anticipation you and your brother felt while sitting on that couch. I wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face. Good memory to hold on to.

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  67. Francisca - That's funny! We used to do that with salt and sugar also...

    Sarah - Thanks! We were nervous, that's for sure!

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  68. I can just imagine sitting there looking innocent and trying to not bust a gut laughing, I bet he did double and triple check the tubes after that.

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  69. Jimmy - I don't see how we could have looked innocent, or avoided laughing!

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  70. You were lucky you had a dad who gave you the benefit of the doubt! A lot of Dads back in the day thought like vigilantes--"Shoot them all and let God sort them out."

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  71. wow! 0 comments and now 73!

    why is it we always think of the funny consequence, never the not-so-funny one when we are planning gags like that?

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  72. Maybe Venus was in retrograde when you first posted it because it is absolutely precious. No matter how hard I tried, I could never perfect that innocent look, which my sister never failed to see through. Which would explain why I became such a good runner......

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  73. Margaret - Yep, we were lucky. The one we had to worry about was our mom....

    diane - You are so right, I guess that's one of thethings we learn when we grow up. We think about consequences...

    Entre Nous - That's funny! Yep, you better be good at one or the other, that's for sure...

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  74. Love this. Retribution is kinda/sorta fun...in a small way...when you don't actually get caught doing the retributing. hmmm... Yea. OK, that's not a word.

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  75. Love this. Retribution is kinda/sorta fun...in a small way...when you don't actually get caught doing the retributing. hmmm... Yea. OK, that's not a word.

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  76. Jenny - Thanks! You are right! Not getting caught is the key!

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  77. My husband grew up in a household with no humour. When he and his sister exchanged the salt for sugar and vice versa on April Fools Day, they almost didn't live to tell the tale. Rosemary

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  78. Rosemary - same at our house. My dad was gone shortly after this and my mother was crazy (really!).

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  79. Memories like this last forever! If we do anything like this to our dad, the result would not be the same as yours :-)

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  80. Icy BC - I agree! I don't have many fond memories of my childhood, but this is one of them. Thanks!

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  81. Wow, were you bad. Excellent prank though.

    Darryl and Ruth : )

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  82. And now you have 85 comments.

    This reminds of the fact that every April Fools Day my mother would put salt in the sugar bowl. And every year at this time my father would, without fail, dump salt into his coffee and take a giant sip....and spray coffee all over the kitchen. He would stomp out cursing, not so much that it was done, but that he fell for it once again.

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  83. D&R - I have to admit, it was a good one! He was a good sport!

    Jerry - That's a great story! My granddaughter loves to hide and scare me! I don't fall for it all the time anymore, but sometimes she gets me!

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  84. Smart move on the re-post. I enjoyed this very much.

    And I'm comment #88!

    When kids try to look so innocent they tend to look guilty I think ... he should've just come over and said "hello" or any other word to show off his breath. ha.

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  85. Brad - Thanks! I think I'm gonna dig some old "very lightly read" posts out of the old archives.
    that would have been funny, if he breathed on us!

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