The Perfect Prank — Jim O'Brien

"The Perfect Prank and Other Stories" is a collection of seven short stories.  It begins with "The Perfect Prank" ... a story that follows the lives of a family of five through a year of small-town fun.  The kids have their hearts set on doing a prank at their elementary school and Mom and Dad decide it would be a good "family project" to undertake ... a family project that turns out to be a hare-raising adventure.  Next is "The Meeting" ... a short narrative that peeks in on a budding romance.  After this is "Going Fishin'" ... a short tale in which a young couple go on a fishing outing.  It is the girl's first time fishing and we see her fall in love with the sport.  Then there is "For A Bowl Of Stew" which covers a fist fight in which a village bully ... long accustomed to pushing his weight around ... finally gets his come-uppance.  The next story is "The Barclay School" which looks in on a private school for girls and the prank-loving students who go there.  The girls are clever and resourceful and ... very likable.  After this is "The Last Dragon" ... a short tale about a young man who does battle with a dragon.  Lastly is "The Fortunate Man" ... a story about a man who is marooned on a tropical island.  He retains his optimism and sense of humor, however, as he tries to make the best of this "misfortune."