The Ultimate Dad Prank (That Backfired Spectacularly)

My family has always been big on pranks, especially when it comes to getting a reaction out of my dad. But this particular scheme? Well, let's just say it didn't go according to plan.

The Setup

We had gotten our hands on a five-foot alligator – yeah, you read that right. My brother David and I were always trying to pull one over on Dad, so naturally, we saw an opportunity for the prank of a lifetime.

The plan was simple: sneak into our parents' bedroom, slip into their bathroom, and place this massive gator right in the bathtub. We were practically bursting with anticipation, barely containing our giggles as we executed our "masterpiece." This was going to be hilarious.

Since everyone in the house used that bathroom, we figured it was only a matter of time before Dad stumbled in and got the scare of his life.

The Wait

After setting our trap, David and I headed upstairs to hang out and wait for the inevitable screaming. We sat there, ears perked, waiting for our moment of triumph.

But nothing happened.

Hours passed. Still nothing.

Eventually, we just called it a night, slightly disappointed that our brilliant prank seemed to be a dud.

The 3 AM Surprise

Around 3:00 in the morning, we heard it.

But it wasn't Dad who found our scaly surprise – it was Mom.

She had beaten Dad to the bathroom and sat down to do her business. That's when she glanced to her left and saw a massive alligator head slowly rise up over the edge of the bathtub. The gator opened its mouth wide and let out a sizable, Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

What followed was the most blood-curdling scream you've ever heard, followed by: "DAVID AND GATOR! YOU BETTER GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

The Aftermath

To this day – and I mean to this day – if anyone so much as mentions this story, my mom gets absolutely furious. What we thought would be a harmless prank on Dad became a traumatic 3 AM encounter for Mom that she'll never live down (or forgive us for).

Sometimes the best pranks are the ones that don't go according to plan at all.

Story Credit: Gator Nelson

Watch Gator tell the story here: https://youtube.com/shorts/ne37XfHVcfI?feature=share