The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Counting Out

Bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish.
How many pieces do you wish?

Submitter comment: This is a game for choosing who will be the first person
to be it when playing a game. Each player puts one
foot forward and one person says the rhyme while
touching each person's foot in sequence.
Whoever's foot is touched at the end of the rhyme
must pick the number of pieces in the dish. The
person who says the rhyme then counts out the number,
again touching each person's foot in order, starting
at the person who chose the number. Whoever's foot is
touched on the last number is "it."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK

Date learned: 00001970S