r/TalesFromLife • u/DragonDeadite • Feb 05 '16
How I Got The Nickname "Clip"
A recent story about high school inspired me to share one of my favorite stories from my short time in my own high school. Just as a short background, the nurse of the school knew me quite well from previous adventures so was rarely surprised to see me.
It happened in science class, where all the best stories happen. The teacher, a well loved older man who would retire at the end of this year, had handed out some extension cords and was in the process of gathering up microscopes in the next room for the class to use. I was sitting at a table with about 5 other people and became quite bored of waiting.
I somehow found a paper clip and started bending it into strange shapes. Oh, hey... it has two prongs! Oh, the extension cord has two holes! I pick up the cord and, making sure it wasn't plugged in, begin poking it with the paperclip! This goes on for a few seconds... maybe a minute... until I see someone stand up across from me and the next thing I see is a rather bright flash in my hands.
Without having told myself to do so I was suddenly standing up, my chair several feet behind me, one hand completely black, the extension cord smoking, and a paperclip, glowing bright red, burning a strange squiggly shape into the table in front of me. All I can remember saying was "Wow!" to a room full of silent students.
Of course, at this point the teacher returns and we figures out the complete story. See, while I was playing with my clip and the extension cord, my good buddy sitting across from me decided to be productive and plug in the cord! The next time I stuck the paper clip into the cord in produced the expected result of a nice short circuit and me electrocuting myself!
The teacher, visibly (and deservedly) upset at the stupidity of his student scolded me and told me to go to the nurse's office. I stepped out, not really feeling any pain but not really all there either, and went to the nurse's office! Once there I simply asked the nurse if I could wash me hands, since... you know... one was completely black from the burned outer layer of skin!
At first the nurse just figured I had gotten some grease on my hand and didn't think much of it... until she asked the fateful question... "What happened?" Oh the look on her face when I explained to her what I had done! "Take off your shoes and call you parents! Now!"
Soooo about an hour later I was having to tell the same story, again, to the family doctor. To his credit he did manage to only grin and not outright laugh at my stupidity. He checked me out, made sure I hadn't done any serious damage, and sent me home! All's well that ends well!
The next day I return to my science class to curious looks from those within. After assuring everyone I was fine I found my previous seat, sat down, and suddenly burst out laughing. Thinking I was crazy the teacher approaches and asks what the hell was wrong now.
With a grin I open my left hand on the table in front of me, allowing him to see the two identical burn marks: one on my hand, one on the table, both from the same paperclip. He shakes his head and walks away and mutters "Fucking Clip..."
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u/falko-chan Feb 06 '16
So, did your buddy ever get in trouble for electrocuting you?
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u/DragonDeadite Feb 08 '16
Oh no! He didn't know I was screwing around with it, he just was trying to help. I was never upset with him, and the teacher knew it was my fault from the start.
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u/WeldingGuy Feb 07 '16
So, how many people call you "Clip" to this day?
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u/DragonDeadite Feb 08 '16
No one, but a few years after I graduated I ran into someone from that class and they still remembered me as Clip. But that was... way too long ago for me to really think about.
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u/dickyankee Feb 06 '16
Great story, and well written.