Man opens 21st birthday card to find he’s been the butt of a family joke for three years

Man’s 21st Birthday Surprise Reveals Three-Year-Long Family Joke

A young man from the UK received an unexpected revelation on his 21st birthday when he opened a card from his parents. Little did he know; he had been unwittingly part of a family prank for the past three years. The surprising discovery was captured in a viral TikTok video shared by his mother, Sarah Austin, which showcased the moment of revelation for her son, Charlie. The video quickly gained traction, garnering laughter and reactions from viewers across the platform.

In the video, Charlie excitedly read aloud the birthday card’s message from his parents, which initially seemed like a standard well-wishing. However, his joy turned to disbelief when he learned the truth hidden in the message. The card cheerfully declared, “Happy 21st birthday, Charlie,” followed by the bombshell revelation: “Yay – you no longer have a black box.”

Initially interpreting the message as newfound driving freedom without a ‘black box’ speed monitor, Charlie soon realised the joke played on him. It dawned on him that his car had not been equipped with a black box for monitoring his speed for the past three years. His reaction, filled with a mix of shock and colourful language, drew laughter from friends and family present to witness the revelation.

Expressing his disbelief, Charlie exclaimed, “I’ve had no black box for three years? Are you serious?” as the reality of the long-standing prank sunk in. Despite his initial frustration, the mood was light-hearted as Charlie’s father jokingly remarked, “It slowed you down though, didn’t it?” highlighting the mischievous nature of the family’s joke.

Further adding to the amusement, it was revealed that not only his parents but also his friends were in on the elaborate prank. One friend even reminisced about a recent incident where Charlie unknowingly played along with the joke, adding to the humour of the situation.

The viral video of Charlie’s birthday revelation has since garnered over 1.7 million views on TikTok, sparking a wave of reactions from users applauding the parents’ creativity in playing the long-running prank. Commenters commended the family for instilling safe driving habits in Charlie over the three-year period, albeit through deceptive means.

A ‘black box’ in a car is a telematics unit that records driving data such as speed, distance travelled, acceleration, and braking behaviour. Insurers use this data to assess a driver’s risk profile and determine insurance premiums. Safe driving habits typically result in lower insurance costs, promoting responsible driving behaviour among motorists.

Overall, the unsuspecting revelation on Charlie’s birthday showcased the power of humour and creativity in building lasting memories and strengthening family bonds through lighthearted pranks.