Free One April Fool by Amity Maree

Chapter One
     
     
     
    Her bottom burning, and tears running down her cheeks, April faced the corner and tried to focus her thoughts on the last few days instead of on her stinging bare backside, and the fact that the walls needed a good dusting and washing down.  It had started so simply:

    “Miss Burnside, that report was due on my desk twenty minutes ago!”
     
    “Yes, ma’am, I know, but…”
     
    “No excuses, Miss Burnside!  I want that report on my desk in ten minutes or I will recommend disciplinary action be taken against you!”
     
    April watched the old harridan walk away and for the millionth time that week wished she could afford to quit and tell Miss Penelope Winslow what she could do with herself!  It was a pipe dream, however, and with her cheeks burning from humiliation at a scold that was completely unjustified, she gave the document she’d put so much work into one last proofread, knowing full well that “old eagle eyes” would call her on the carpet for even one typo.  She carefully saved the document, and then hit print, and walked to the table where the printer resided.  After stapling the pages together, she walked over to Miss Winslow’s desk and placed the report in her in-box.
     
    Feeling on edge, April decided to take her break; it was only half an hour past time due to the upset client who kept her on the telephone for nearly two hours.  She helped herself to coffee, and added sugar and creamer from the refrigerator.  April also indulged in a candy bar that she knew she shouldn’t be touching for several reasons, the first being her weight.  She’d worked so hard the last several months to lose the forty pounds of excess fat she’d allowed to slowly creep on her body.  The second reason she should avoid the chocolate was that she was addicted to chocolate, and once she caved and touched the stuff, she would have to work extra hard to avoid the cravings she would experience for more of the delicious stuff.  Still, the morning had been extra stressful, and she needed something to calm her nerves or she was going to explode all over the place!  Penelope Winslow was the meanest woman she’d ever met, and that included her high school principal!
     
    “Hey, April!” Charity greeted her as she entered the break room and went straight to the pop machine for a cola.  “Why didn’t you speak up for yourself this morning?  Copperhead had no right to lecture you after you had to deal with that client who kept you on the phone for nearly two hours!”
     
    April had to smile again as Charity referred to Penelope Winslow as ‘Copperhead’.  According to Charity’s blonde logic, Penny was a nickname for Penelope… and a penny used to be made of copper.  A copperhead was a deadly snake… therefore, a fitting nickname for their supervisor.  “She didn’t give me a chance.”
     
    “She doesn’t give anyone a break.  I wonder what happened in her past to make her so bitter and rude to everyone?”
     
    “No one knows a thing about her,” April answered.  “Maureen thinks she is an alien from another planet because she can’t possibly be human.”
     
    Charity giggled at that, and then said, “I think it’s time we take action and give back some of what she deals us on a daily basis.”
     
    “I agree,” April nodded, and then enjoyed a bite of the candy bar.  “I’ve been trying to think of an appropriate April Foogl’s trick to play on her; one that will put her at the disadvantage for once.  Any ideas?” she asked the other woman.
     
    “Gosh, no.  I am absolutely the worst when it comes to pulling pranks on people.  I can talk to my brother, though.  He’s really great.”
     
    “I want something that will shut her up for at least a week!” April stated forcefully, still feeling the sting of criticism from the older woman.
     
    “That would be a world record of some sort,” Charity announced, and April laughed along with her.

    That was how