2538. Dunk bucket

33 Replies

The school’s fund-raising gala day had one of those things where a teacher sits under a contraption that has a bucket of water above the head. People pay to throw a ball at a target and if it hits then the bucket tips over and pours water all over the teacher. Of course, everything is taken in a cheerful spirit. There’s hardly a non-nerdy pupil who is not keen to throw a bucket of water over a teacher.

When the Headmaster sat in the contraption no one paid to throw a ball at the target. Everyone hated him; which just goes to show that teachers have to be liked to have a bucket of water thrown over them. The Headmaster was annoyed. He had not brought a change of clothes and had been quite unprepared to sit under the dunk bucket, but he thought he had better do his bit. The teacher who was Head of Chemistry felt sorry for him and paid to throw a ball. The ball hit its mark and the Headmaster was utterly drenched.

No one really minded, although many pretended to, when several days later the Headmaster died of pneumonia.

33 thoughts on “2538. Dunk bucket”

      1. Badfinger (Max)

        Oh…I was a baseball pitcher in high school… I would have loved to have a chance!
        I was in a dunking machine before where you sat on a lever and you would fall in a giant vat of water.

        Liked by 1 person

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          1. Badfinger (Max)

            Whatever works Bruce. Have you ever watched underarm women’s softball? I can’t believe how fast they pitch. It’s scary to see the ball rise because it’s so fast.

            Liked by 1 person

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            1. Bruce Goodman Post author

              There is a famous cricket occasion in a game between Australia and New Zealand where everything depended on the last ball. The Australian bowler rolled it along the ground and Australia won the match. Needless to say the was an undiplomatic uproar that lasted for years.

              Liked by 2 people

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                    3. observationblogger

                      The other thing about Phar Lap so impressive is the original footage you can view in You Tube of his last race in Mexico against the best of the world with a hoof injury. I thought in the movie that their interpretation may have been exaggerated, but the original video is what is presented in the movie. There is so little of that movie that isn’t what happened according to history. One of my favs.

                      Liked by 1 person

                    6. Bruce Goodman Post author

                      I think Dad didn’t want to mix work and family – also the group he mixed with weren’t race-patrons but trainers etc and I think he might have thought it a bit “rough” for kids! On the first anniversary of his death I put a bet on a horse at random in his memory and it came in and paid $84.00 for a win – and I had put 5 dollars on it! That’s the only time I’ve placed a bet!

                      Liked by 1 person

  6. Sarah Angleton

    My sons’ elementary school always had one of these on field day in the spring. I don’t think it ever failed to be cloudy, cold, and miserable and I don’t remember anyone that kids weren’t delighted to get a chance to dunk. Thankfully, no one died of pneumonia.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      The last school I taught at always had one on the “clad club day”. A sister of mine on New Years Day (midsummer over here!) always has a water pistol fight – so bring a change of clothes. He husband would spend days rigging up hidden water traps!

      Liked by 1 person

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