The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RUNNING GAME

WHEN I WAS YOUNG MY PARENTS SAT ON THE PORCH
IN THE EVENING AND THE KIDS OF THE BLOCK WOULD TAKE OVER
BEFORE THEY CAME OUT. ALL THE KIDS WOULD GATHER ON THE
PORCH AND ONE PERSON WOULD STAND IN FRONT OF THE GANG.
THE PERSON "IT" WOULD SAY "HANDS DROP FEET NO MOVE" AND
THEN COUNT TO TEN. THE REST WOULD DASH OFF MADLY AND HIDE
BEHIND TREES AND IN BUSHES. THE HANDS DROPPER WOULD GIVE
AN EXTRA WARNING THAT HE WAS AFTER THEM BY SAYING "WIPE
YOURSELF." I GUESS THAT WAS A LAST WARNING TO GET OFF THE
STEPS, AND TO GIVE THE LITTLER KIDS AND THE HEAVIER ONES
AN EXTRA CHANCE. THE PERSON "IT" WOULD FIND AND CATCH
EACH PERSON, AND THEN AS THEY WERE CAUGHT THEY WOULD HELP
HIM FIND THE OTHERS. THE FIRST ONE CAUGHT WAS THE NEXT
HANDS DROPPER SO THE FAST ONES WERE NEVER "IT". THE GAME
WAS OVER WHEN THE MOSQUITOS BEGAN TO STICK TO OUR PERSPIRING
BODIES. THE ULTIMATE SIGNAL FOR THE END WAS OF COURSE
THE STREET LIGHTS GOING ON AND THE PARENTS FINDING THEIR
DESIGNATED PLACES ON THE PORCH FOR AN EVENING OF GABBING.