A few weeks ago DH, 2 dc age 7 & 8 & I were round at a friend’s for lunch. Our kids were playing down the hall with their kids, a 9 yo boy and a 7 yo girl, while the adults were in the lounge. My friend, their mum, went to check on them at one point and I heard a gasp and then my friend screaming “why would you do something so horrible, you little shits!” I’ve never, ever heard her talk like this to the kids before and she sounded panicked so we all went running and the 4 of them had put ketchup all over themselves and were lying on the floor posed like they’d been murdered! By the time myself and dh & friend’s partner got there they were all sitting up talking but I will admit it looked like blood and if I was my friend I probably would’ve fallen for it too. It transpired it was the 7 yo daughter of my friend’s idea of a prank and she convinced the rest of them to join in. No idea where she got such a morbid and IMO extremely cruel idea for a prank from at such a young age. She’s always seemed like a very normal 7-year-old. The fact she did this to her own parents and talked my DDs into doing it too has creeped me out a bit though and I’m worried about the influence she might be having on my DDs. Am I overreacting and is this a fairly normal childhood prank in bad taste? Or should I be worried she’s a psychopath in the making?!