Things

Things

“I dare you...” Jeff said, looking at the car.

“I dare you!” Henry snapped back.

“Why would I do it? It’s not my sister’s boyfriend.”

“That’s why, see? He’ll never figure out who did it, he doesn’t know you exist!”

“As is true of most people...” Jeff said, dryly, “However I have no gripe with him, I wouldn’t get the satisfaction from it...”

“I dare you to do it.”

“It’s your prank!” Jeff said, now getting irritated, “You’re the one he makes fun of every time he sees you. You’re the one who wants to do something, put him in his place, make him respect you! If I do it, it won’t change his opinion of you at all.”

“Well, if he doesn’t catch me, which I hope he doesn’t, it won’t change his opinion of me either. I’ve really got nothing to lose here. I just want to drive him crazy. And you’re so much better at this sort of sneakiness.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“It is! Everyone thinks you’re a straight laced, uptight, dork except me, and like Frankie, and those guys. We are the only ones who know how capable you are of the sneakiest kind of rotten stuff. We respect you, you’re our inspiration!”

Jeff took the bait, and egged Andy’s car. Nobody ever found out who did it.

Andy spent the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, which made him an impressive detective. Henry went into politics, climbing high and fast because he was excellent at it. Jeff, spent his life being the quiet, unassuming guy who’d hung out with Henry since childhood, and he always gave Henry his best ideas...

Henry’s sister always wondered what happened. Her dork of a brother was on the road to the presidency!