The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ONE BIG SPOON

WHEN I WAS A BOY, I WENT WITH MY FATHER, WHO WAS
A CANTOR, OR SONG LEADER FOR THE MASS, TO THE WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA STATE PENITENTIARY - A MAXIMUM SECURITY
INSTITUTION. AFTER MASS WAS CELEBRATED AND WE HAD MET
SOME PRISONERS WHO BECAME OUR FRIENDS, WE USUALLY HAD
BREAKFAST IN THE PRISON CAFETERIA. I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY
WE HAD TO EAT EVERYTHING WITH ONE LARGE SPOON. WHENEVER
I ASKED FOR A FORK, EVERYONE SMILED AND ONE OF THE
PRISONERS WOULD SAY, THAT THEY HAD NO FORKS OR KNIVES IN
THE RESTAURANT. LATER I FOUND OUT WHY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CAFETERIA ; PRISON

Date learned: 04-04-1970