The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FRESHER

THIS IS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY DURING LUNCH HOUR IN
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, FROM ABOUT GRADES 5-7. IT IS PLAYED ONLY
BY BOYS. THE BOYS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS AND EACH
TEAM LINES UP BEHIND THEIR SAFE LINE WITH A LARGE OPEN
SPACE BETWEEN. THE BOYS THEN TAKE TURNS VENTURING OUT
FROM THEIR SAFE LINES AND TRYING TO LURE ONE ANOTHER
INTO BEING CAPTURED. SOMEONE IS CAPTURED IF HE IS IN
FRONT OF HIS SAFE LINE AND IS TOUCHED BY A MEMBER OF
THE OPPOSITION WHO IS "FRESHER" THAN HE IS, THAT IS,
WHO HAS ADVANCED FROM HIS SAFE LINE MORE RECENTLY
THAN THE ONE CAPTURED. SUCH PRISONERS ARE PUT IN A
DESIGNATED SPOT AT EACH SAFE LINE. SEVERAL PRISONERS
HOLD HANDS AND FORM A LINE EXTENDING OUT INTO THE
OPEN SPACE. WHEN THIS IS DONE, THE SAFE LINE FOR A
TEAM HOLDING PRISONERS MOVED OUT TO WHERE THE LAST
PRISONER IN THE LINE IS STANDING. THE PLAYERS TRY TO
FREE MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM WHO ARE PRISONERS BY
TOUCHING THEM WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED THEMSELVES. IF THIS
IS DONE, BOTH BOYS ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR SAFE
LINE UNMOLESTED. A TEAM WINS IF IT IS ABLE TO CAPTURE ALL
OF THE OTHER TEAM OR IF IT HAS THE MOST PRISONERS WHEN
THE BELL RINGS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN