First comes love, then comes marriage.

One of my friends is what you may call, "trusting." I call it, "awesome." Jenessa is so gullible that it is nothing short of amazing. One of the best parts about her being credulous is that she will not believe me when I am actually telling the truth... but nearly always believes me when I am lying.

I don't always intend to trick her. It just happens so quickly. Here is how it usually goes. We will be talking about something, and I will make a joke. I make many sarcastic remarks, but she hasn't quite gotten on board with the amount that I throw out there. So every once in awhile, after a said joke, she will respond with a, "Really?" And then it just escalates from there. The more ridiculous, the more easily she believes it.

One example of the accidental prank came as a result of my taking an American Sign Language class. I jokingly did a sign where I pointed up and then made a circle with my finger. I told her that meant, "Up your butt and around the corner" in ASL. It is obvious I am kidding, yes? Apparently not. "Really?" She questioned. You don't pass up an opportunity like this.

"Yeah, I was talking to my professor and I was asking about slang and common phrases. So I asked her how to say 'Up your butt and around the corner.'" Jenessa thought this was wonderful and hilarious. We used this "sign" all the time when hanging out with our friends (we still do, on occasion.) When I heard her explain and demonstrate for the 5th or 6th person who was not in our immediate group of friends, I decided to let her know. "Nes...." and I just shook my head.

She asked, "It isn't the sign?" I continued to shake my head. Then she just started laughing. She had told A LOT of people. And you know they all knew it was bull shit.

In a more radical situation, we had her a little worried about a couple of us being star children. You know, people from another planet who's spaceship lands behind my parents' house. This is why my parents chose the location for our family home. Ok, she didn't FULLY believe that one... but she was a little scared and apprehensive. And did NOT like it when we brought it up.

A mischievous friend and fellow star child, Ane, was always the first to be right there backing my pranks (and I to her as well.) Ane was engaged to be married. When she went to apply for her marriage licence, they gave her a video to watch. It opened with Governor Leavitt and his wife, walking hand in hand saying, "We are so happy to hear about your decision to get married." Who cares? You may ask yourself. Where is Jaime going with this? You may be doubting.

Here is the beauty. Ms. Gullible had recently gone out on a date or 2 with the Governor's son, Taylor Leavitt. And this is good... this is real good... I called Nes at her work, "Were you expecting Taylor to drop something off to you?" She was, of course, not expecting anything. "Well, he brought a video tape here and said that he wants you to watch it as soon as you get off work." She thought it was weird, and in my mind she stewed about it for the remainder of her work day. "What could it be?" Running through all of the scenarios... but there is no way she could ever be able to know what was coming.

Picture by Ashlee Rene Photography.

(I dare you to "LIKE" her on Facebook)

Nes came home, Ane and I waiting in anticipation for her reaction, but acting like it was just in anticipation for the contents of the video. She hits PLAY. "Hello. I am Governor Leavitt and this is my wife Jackie. We are so happy to hear about your decision to get married." Nes immediately looks at Ane and I. We act super shocked and start rolling in laughter. "What the hell?" I ask. She is stunned and just keeps watching the video. It talks about the importance of marriage and how great it is that she has made this decision. Ane and I are happier with each word the Governor says. Every once in awhile Nes would ask, "Who brought this? Did Taylor really drop this off? What did he say when he was here?" She was getting increasingly more and more concerned.

She had a brief moment where she voiced disbelief. "Are you guys messing with me. He didn't bring this."

"Call him." I suggest. I get the phone, I put it on speaker, and I call Taylor.

I obviously covered my tracks. I had called Taylor before Nes came home and said, "If Jenessa calls you and asks if you brought a video over for her, just say yes." He didn't ask any questions and just agreed. This is why I liked the guy. (That and his Milli Vanilli knowledge.)

Nes watched as I dialed the number. He answered. I ask, "Taylor, did you bring a video tape over here for Jenessa?" He responds in the affirmative. He even laughs a little and comments, "Does she not believe you?" Perfect! We say our goodbyes, I hang up.

Jenessa, who is as sweet as she is gullible, has a pained look on her face. "Is this a joke? Is he playing a joke on me? Or does he really think that I want to marry him?" Ane and I of course express our disbelief that it is a prank. "A joke? Where he involves his mom and dad? The Governor? Really?" She agrees that this would be over the top.

Hours later, we are getting ready to go out. She brings it up again asking for my advice, "What should I do Jaime? I need to talk to Taylor, but I have no idea what to say." While it is still hilarious to me, I couldn't let her actually have this conversation with Taylor. It would have been awesomely awkward, yes. But I liked the guy and hoped that he and Nes would continue dating. I revealed to her that it was a joke. I told her why we had the video. She laughed and was more relieved than mad. She had to admit that it was one of our better lies.

A few days later, she approached me upset. I was confused why she was more upset now than before. And here is why. She thought Taylor was in on the whole thing. So she commented to him that it was funny. And he was clueless. She had said just enough that it would be more awkward to not tell. She said it was one of the most painful recappings of a story ever. I know it makes me a horrible person for finding so much joy in it.

As I started reminiscing and recalling all of the best Nester moments, I realized that many will need to be told at a later time. This blog post could go on and on and on. And it may not be quite as funny when you list them all in a row.

If playing jokes on Nes is wrong, then I don't want to be right.