The Day Water Guns Brought Down Justice: A High School Petty Revenge Story That’s Still Epic 50 Years Later
There’s something timeless about high school shenanigans. The rules are looser, the stakes feel higher, and the memories? They stick around for a lifetime—sometimes even half a century. On Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, user u/Alaskan_Apostrophe recently shared a story so delightfully mischievous that it’s been marinating in memory for over 50 years. Water pistols, springtime chaos, and a teacher’s soggy surprise: this is the kind of nostalgia-fueled petty vengeance that makes you want to dig out your yearbook and see who you’d like to squirt one last time.
So, what happens when you combine teenage ingenuity, a three-period lunch break, and a classroom full of trigger-happy students? You get a revenge plot so brilliant, even the teacher never saw it coming. Grab your metaphorical super-soaker and let’s dive into this aquatic act of justice.
Spring Showers... Indoors
Picture it: high school in the early 1970s, when water pistols were the fidget spinners of the day. It’s spring, spirits are high, and students everywhere are locked and loaded. Our protagonist walks into English class, blissfully unaware that four classmates are waiting—water pistols at the ready. The ambush is swift and merciless, leaving the victim drenched and the teacher completely unbothered, calmly ignoring the impromptu indoor monsoon.
The teacher’s nonchalance is a masterstroke of “not my problem” pedagogy, but for our water-logged hero, it’s the catalyst for a different kind of lesson—one in poetic justice. As the rest of the class heads to lunch, a plan begins to form. If the teacher won’t intervene, maybe karma needs a little help.
Operation: Soggy Seat
While everyone else is munching their sandwiches, our avenger slips back into the empty classroom. The teacher’s chair—a classic wooden relic with two deep “butt cheek” grooves—becomes ground zero. With the stealth of a ninja and the precision of a water gun sharpshooter, the student pours water into each groove: one for the left cheek, one for the right. It’s equal parts petty, ingenious, and hilarious.
But the pièce de résistance? The student makes sure to intercept the teacher after lunch, walking alongside him, all innocence and good manners. Back in class, as soon as the teacher’s back is turned, the water gun mafia strikes again, soaking our hero for a second time. The teacher, ever the stoic, ignores the mayhem—until he sits down.
The Shock Heard ‘Round the Classroom
Imagine the scene: the classroom hushes, the teacher lowers himself onto what he expects to be a dry, safe seat—and is met with an icy, sopping surprise. Eyes bulge, an involuntary yelp escapes, and the four perpetrators can’t stifle their giggles. For a split second, the power dynamic shifts. The teacher, usually in command, is now the victim of a perfectly executed prank.
But justice must be served (or at least, the appearance of it). The teacher rounds up the four giggling assailants and marches them to the principal’s office, where they’re handed a month of detention. Our original storyteller? As dry as anyone can be after two soakings and a victorious act of petty revenge.
Why We Love (and Need) Petty Revenge
What makes this story so enduring—and so beloved on Reddit, racking up over 1,400 upvotes—isn’t just the slapstick humor. It’s the satisfaction of seeing a small injustice (the teacher’s indifference to a soaking) met with a clever, harmless comeuppance. It’s the kind of story that reminds us: sometimes, the best way to balance the scales isn’t with anger or escalation, but with a little creativity and a lot of nerve.
And let’s be honest—who among us hasn’t dreamed of a perfectly executed payback, whether it’s in the form of a soggy seat or a well-timed prank? High school may end, but the joy of a well-played petty revenge is forever.
Your Turn!
Got a story of your own water gun wars or classroom comeuppance? Ever plotted (or suffered) a petty revenge that still makes you laugh decades later? Share your tales in the comments below! Because as u/Alaskan_Apostrophe’s epic tale proves, the best stories just might make you a legend—at least in your own memory.
Stay mischievous, my friends—and keep those water pistols handy.
References: - Original Reddit Post
Original Reddit Post: High School revenge I still remember 50 years later!