3106. Today’s word is Bonkers © Bruce Goodman 4 February 2025

Quite frankly it was driving Owen bonkers. It started simply as a game of dare with himself. He was peeling a potato in the kitchen when his mantle clock began to chime four. “If I don’t get this potato peeled before the chimes finish then I’ll get bad luck.” “If I finish making the bed before the plane passing over can no longer be heard then I will win the lottery.” “If I see three silver coloured cars before I reach the highway then I will have a safe journey.” Everything Owen did became a dare. He couldn’t stop doing it. He wanted to stop. “If the kettle boils before the television advert ends, then I’m going to get a really good Christmas present from my sister.” “If I don’t get a phone call all morning (until exactly midday) then I won’t get the flu this year.” “I have to see five different bird species before I arrive at work.” Poor Owen. It drove him bonkers. It also drove his wife bonkers. She drove the children bonkers. The kids drove their teachers bonkers. The teachers drove their classes bonkers. Soon everyone in the world was driven bonkers. All this happened after 1945 because the dictionary says that the first known use of “bonkers” was in 1945. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story