College Prank

The college experience is a wonderful opportunity for learning and forming many life lessons. Young people living independently of their parents and making their own decisions for the first time. Defining moments laying the foundation by which a young person will go on to live their life. This anecdote, however, is not a sampling of one of those.


Spring 1989

I was living off campus in a two-bedroom apartment with three friends. We lived a mile from the UC Santa Barbara campus in a neighborhood that was occupied predominantly by students. Isla Vista by name. The neighborhood was dirty and the buildings often subpar in maintenance. Immediately outside, though, heck it’s Santa Barbara. Beautiful beaches, ocean, campus, and the student bodies!

My friends and I did imbibe of the barley beverages on weekends and occasional school nights. Fact is, some nights we imbibed much. This was college, such behavior may not surprise you. It can be sad when a person drinks irresponsibly. They can hurt somebody or themselves through bad behavior or foolish decisions. But there can be an upside, pending your perspective.

A friends of mine had guests visiting. We’ll call the host McGettigan the Younger. They got to drink. One guest indulged more than he should have. Passed out. College pranks upon an unconscious chum, let’s face it, are to be relished, so long as no permanent harm or damage is administered.

When the fellow finally regained consciousness he walked around slowly collecting his still askew equilibrium. Everyone laughed profusely as he turned to look at them. This in turn caused him to smile and begin to laugh. It was really an amusing scene. It wasn’t until he looked in the mirror that he saw he was missing an eyebrow. Shaved off, it had been. Curse words followed.


I never saw this guy again, but have wondered several times since. Did he shave off the remaining brow? Or leave his brows lopsided until the vacant one grew back? Tough decision.
-klem