The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

KOOTIES

IN MY GRADE SCHOOL THE UGLIEST GIRL IN THE CLASS WAS
SAID TO HAVE KOOTIES, AND WHOEVER TOUCHED HER
PICKED UP HER KOOTIES, AND HE KEPT HER KOOTIES TILL HE
TOUCHED ANOTHER PERSON, WHICH TRANSFERRED THE GIRL'S
KOOTIES TO THAT PERSON, UNLESS THE PERSON HAD HIS
FINGERS CROSSED, IN WHICH CASE THE KOOTIES WEREN'T
TRANSFERRED. THUS, IT WAS A SORT OF CONSTANT GAME
OF TAG, WHICH LASTED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT
THE KOOTIES WAS MORE THAN A GAME, IT WAS SORT OF AN
INSTITUTION. AND IT WAS MUCH WORSE TO HAVE SOMEONE
GIVE YOU THE KOOTIES THAN IT WAS TO BE MERELY
TAGGED IT IN A GAME OF TAG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN