The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MUD GUARD

PLAYED BY FOUR OR MORE PLAYERS IN A STREET WITH THE CURBS AS SIDE
BOUNDARIES AND SET END BOUNDARIES. WHOEVER IS IT STANDS IN THE
MIDDLE. IT STARTS THE GAME BY CHOOSING A NUMBER FROM ONE TO TEN, THE
NUMBER CALLED IS THE NUMBER OF LEAPS THE OTHER PLAYERS TAKE FROM ONE
END BOUNDARY. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO GET SAFELY TO THE OTHER
END BOUNDARY. AFTER THE OTHER PLAYERS LEAP THE CALLED NUMBER THEY
BEGIN TO WALK BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CURBS. AT THIS TIME IT IS
BETWEEN THE OTHER PLAYERS AND THE OTHER END BOUNDARY. THE OTHER
PLAYERS MAY REACH THE END BOUNDARY IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS. BY
TRYING TO SNEAK FORWARD WHILE WALKING BETWEEN THE CURBS, BUT IF
CAUGHT THEY JOIN IT. BY MAKING A BREAK FOR THE END BOUNDARY BUT IF IT
TOUCHES THEM BEFORE, THEY MUST HELP IT. SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS MADE
THE END BOUNDARY AND SNEAKS BACK AND TOUCHES ONE OF THE OTHER
PLAYERS WITHOUT BEING FIRST TOUCHED BY IT. THE LAST ONE TO BE
TOUCHED BY IT IS THE WINNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Date learned: 00-01-966