Joe Stupedd considered himself a world class prankster. He either didn't notice or ignored the fact that no one thought his pranks were funny and, in fact, he had been beaten up for some of them. Real ass-kickings. This time, he thought he had one that would be a classic, a claim to fame prank. He was going to pull a prank on the TSA crew at the airport. Yep, that’s what he really thought. It’s also what he really misjudged. Joe probably won’t appreciate the judge part of misjudged.

Joe lined up with everyone else at the security gate. He put his luggage on the table. He had his meds and sample bottles of hygiene items in a baggie. He took his shoes off. He passed through the metal detector. He watched as they x-rayed his luggage. He watched as they went through his baggie. He watched as they did whatever they do to shoes. They cleared him with no problems.

He closed his luggage up after putting his hygiene items in it. He put his shoes on. Then he called out:

"Hey, TSA folks. You do a wonderful job and I tip my hat to you".

The TSA agents all looked at him, being as how most people think they’re a pain in the butt. Then Joe Stupedd tipped his hat. On top of his head was a monkey. He started laughing. He laughed so hard it brought tears to his eyes. Then, the agents slammed him to the ground. They slammed him so hard it really brought tears to his eyes. Then he got handcuffed and hauled away. He wasn’t hauled away gently either.

Later, he and his attorney, Sam Sissi, had a meeting with the federal DA, Judy Tytbut. Sissi figured, and told Stupedd this, that he’d have to plead guilty to some sort of misdemeanor. Probably have to do some community service but that’s it. He shouldn’t "worry about it". Well, he should have.

"Okay, Ms. Tytbut, what kind of deal’s on the table?", Sissi asked.

"He pleads to one count of terrorist act, one count of fraud and serves 15-life. Terms to runs consecutively, not concurrent", she responded.

"What!", screamed Sissi. "Theta’s no deal. That’s the full charge!"

"Hey. lady", Stupedd cried out, "it was just a prank. A joke, ya know?"

"Ms. Tytbut told Stupedd, "I don’t have a sense of humor. You may have noticed that the TSA didn’t either. I know a judge ho doesn’t. I doubt you’ll find a jury that going to be laughing either. I’d say you should take the deal before I think of even more charges".

As Joe Stupedd was thinking this over, Ms. Tytbut told him,

"And, you’ll be going to prison without a monkey in your hat".