Haven’t read chapters 1 - 3? Start here.

We woke up that Monday morning full of expectations. It would be obvious that we were responsible for the prank, as we had branded a few of the Guardians with the letters “HnH.”

This was a fine morning for HnHers. We desperately wanted to learn of the aftermath but clearly we couldn’t just stroll up to the house and watch their reactions. I think the best way to get a feel for what happened that morning would be to talk to the Yellow House residents directly.

Unfortunately, my request for a Yellow House commentary went all but unanswered. I did however, get a little feedback that the house’s reaction was mixed. Max reported that about half of the residents started running around trying to find more and more Guardians. But that the other half sulked in fury, thinking that we had left their house unlocked at night.

My first evidence of their reaction came at Subway. I was dutifully making sandwiches when a few of the yellow house members came over for subs. They furiously asked if I had left their house unlocked.

I told them that we would never have left a door or window unlocked.

“HOW’D YOU GET IN!” they demanded.

I did not reveal our secrets at that time as there were plenty more pranks that needed pranking. A few months later I was sitting with Ernie and he casually mentioned the night of the Guardian Shield Maneuver.

Ernie: you know? we never found all those toys. We only got about 230 or so of the 300.
Mike D: no kidding?
Ernie: no kidding. How’d you guys get into the house that night?
Mike D: We let kurt in during the day. He hid in the basement all night.
Ernie: Good God…

jonAbad has provided a few photos of that night. This first one is of me giving that faithful presentation to our swat team of invaders.

And here are the invaders:

Timmy actually took video of the event with his night vision lens, unfortunately his camera was stolen shortly after the prank (unrelated to yellow house) and we lost the capabilities to recover the media.

This prank was followed by many others including:

Operation Dirty Dishes
The Queen Amidala Circus
and
Operation Mini-Me.

But in my eyes this one was one of, if not THE, best of the pranks.

A few years later…

Goss: you know, I moved to virginia last month.
Mike D: oh yeah?
Goss: and when I was unpacking I found one of those stupid toys in the sleeves of one of my flannel shirts.

Mission Accomplished.

Mike D: What part of you is sick? do you have a fever?
Ryan: no fever anymore
day 1: sore throat, fever
day 2: sore throat morphing into sinus, fever
day 3: sinus, cough, no fever
day 4: cough, sinus death
Mike D: Death eh?
Ryan: yes, death
Mike D: if you die, can I have your bow kite?
Ryan: no
Mike D: Come on!
Ryan: i’m taking it with me to the grave
offshore wind, just strap my dead corpse to it and sent me out to sea

Coworker: And how are you today mike?
Mike D: eh, same as usual. It’s a Wednesday.
Coworker: Man, It’s sad to hear you talk like that.
Mike D: Sad?
Coworker: Naive daily enthusiasm is suppose to last at least until you’re in your 40’s.
Mike D: ha ha
Coworker: You have another 50 years of this ahead of you!
Mike D: ha ha…. ugh.