Qian waited outside the bedroom door with a bucket of water. As soon as Bai opened the door, he pounced. He tipped the bucket up and the water streamed down over her long, dark hair.

“Aaaaah!” screamed Bai. “What did you do that for?” She stood in the hallway, dripping wet. “That was NOT funny,” she said.

But Qian was laughing too hard to hear her. He found the prank very funny. He’d been trying to get her back for days, after she pranked him by loosening the lid on the ketchup so it poured out all over his French fries and his lap. He didn’t think he would ever get the stain out of his favorite pants. 

“That’s for the ketchup,” he said. But he knew it wasn’t over. She would get him back soon and the game would continue. That’s just how it was with brothers and sisters. 

“Wait until I tell mom!” said Bai. She ran off to tattle. Qian wasn’t too worried. Mom knew that she pranked him all the time too. 

“I wish you wouldn’t pick on each other,” Mom always said. “I like to see you get along.”

Qian went through the day looking over his shoulder. He didn’t know when Bai would get him back, but he knew she would probably do it when he least expected it. The whole day passed and nothing happened. He was nervous. Maybe doing nothing was the prank? Bai probably loved seeing him sweat.

That evening at dinner, they had chicken. It tasted really bland. Mom was usually a great cook, so Bai and Qian wondered what was up, but they ate it. 

“Maybe this could use a little salt,” said Dad. Everyone agreed. Qian and Bai sprinkled on some salt. Ok, a lot of salt. They each took a bite.

“Whoa!” Qian said.

“Ick!” Bai said. 

The saltshaker was full of sugar, not salt. Qian and Bai looked up from their plates. Mom and Dad were laughing hysterically. “Got you!” they said.

Qian and Bai huddled together in Bai’s room that night. They were plotting their revenge. “How can we get Mom and Dad back?” asked Bai.

“I have some ideas,” said Qian. 

From the hallway, Mom smiled. All was going according to plan.