The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MOTHER GOOSE

AGAIN THE PLAYERS LINE UP OPPOSITE A SINGLE PLAYER
WHO GIVES THE COMMANDS, TYPICAL COMMANDS WERE SO
MANY 'BANANA STEPS' OR 'SCISSOR STEPS' OR 'GIANT
STEPS' OR 'BABY STEPS.' THE PERSON TO WHOM THE
COMMAND IS GIVEN ASKS 'MOTHER, MAY I?' THE SINGLE
PLAYER ANSWERS YES OR NO. FAILURE TO ASK THE QUESTION
MEANS YOU START OVER AGAIN. IF THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED
AND THE PLAYER ANTICIPATES A 'YES,' AND MOVES FORWARD
WHEN THE ANSWER GIVEN IS 'NO,' AGAIN THE PLAYER STARTS
OVER. THE FIRST TO REACH MOTHER IS THE WINNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-06-1967