Have you ever been made to feel the fool?  Had your shoestrings tied together, been slapped on the back with a "kick-me sign?"  How about the more elaborate short-sheeting or water bucket over the door jamb?

I don't know that I have, but I do remember a particular incident, that by the end of the day, I was sporting a beet red complexion.  But, by then, all the damage was done.

As most of you know, I am a college professor by day.  If I wear stretchy yoga pants at night, my day clothes are skirts, hose, heels, and a readied pen.  I spend the better part of my day with my backside to 20 or so newly-minted freshmen. My daily requirements are writing neatly on a chalkboard, gesticulating wildly, interpreting poetic passages, and keeping them awake.

I bet they were awake for this fool's show.

Let me set the apparel for you:  paisley-printed pencil skirt with a back zip, black pantyhose, fashionably sensible heels, a blouse.

After my first wave of classes, I went to the ladies room, as one is needing to do after 3 hours of poetic conversation and coffee.  

My skirt was still hooked at the waist, but my zipper had loosened itself into a wide vertical of smile.

What do you do?  Not only had my students seen this, but probably half the hallway contingency of student body.  Do I have time to go home? Please.  We barely have time to sharpen a pencil.  You figure it out.  I turned the zipper to the side, pulled my blouse out of its tucked phase and set it to billow.

Sometimes people don't need to hoax you on April Fool's Day.  

Sometimes we are capable of doing it all alone. 

Sometimes it's just a faulty zipper.

Always own it and move on with your day.