If something seems peculiar Saturday, check the calendar. It will be April 1, the day of the fool.

To avoid becoming the mockery of all Athens, be on guard for monkey business.

To facilitate the evasion of utter embarrassment and ridicule, provided here are a few things to watch out for on April Fool’s Day.

Some of the best tomfoolery in town starts at the Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother novelty shop, and all prankster items are free on April Fool’s Day, said longtime employee Donna Scott.

(Scott said she would like readers to know this is an early April Fool’s joke – everything will be regularly priced Saturday.)

Scott said some of the most popular joke gadgets include the instant formula gelling joke, which “instantly transforms someone’s beverage into totally non-edible sludge.”

But in addition to the shame of being duped, victims also must be aware of another danger involving this trick – it bears the warning label “Caution: Not edible after gelling.”

Another employee at Junkman’s, introduced as Ivana Tinkle, has been working at the store for almost 18 years.

(Another early April Fool’s joke by Junkman’s employees – her name is actually April McDowell.)

McDowell emphasized bathroom-joke items as the most successful in getting a laugh.

“Anything that we have that farts or looks like poo – those are our best sellers,” she said, “but it depends on what kind of prank you want to pull.”

In addition to grossing out a victim on April Fool’s Day, McDowell said a good scare may be the best bet for making a fool out of a loved one.

“The pull-my-finger pen – a lot of people will see that coming,” she said. “But the 25 cent cockroaches, just little things like that, can be great – bugs freak a lot of people out.”

Fortunately for the gullible, April Fool’s Day does not fall on a school day this year. Some professors can get wily when it comes to turning their students into suckers.

“I’ve said ‘Here’s a pop quiz’” said Jeffrey Berejikian, a professor of international affairs. “And it would have some really hard question on it, like ‘Who was the second attorney general of the United States?’ – something nobody knows.”

Berejikian said his students, however, have not really played jokes on him in the past.

“I think they’re afraid to, the poor little guys,” he said. “Are kids just not playful anymore?”

Perhaps the unsuspecting Berejikian will be an easy target for next year.

Alex Linscheid, a junior from Boston, said she had a good idea for a prank.

“We should have a party where there’s a keg full of O’Doul’s and see how people react throughout the night,” she said. “There would be people wondering why they don’t feel drunk and people that are acting drunk when there’s no reason.”

For this mildly evil but hilarious trick, Linscheid said she also would have regular beer she’d bring out once people began to figure out the scam.

Linscheid said she wouldn’t carry out this fool’s trap but that someone should. So be wary of beer Saturday night.