The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MOTHER, MAY I?

THIS IS A GAME WHERE THE OBJECT IS TO REACH THE PERSON
WHO IS "IT," BY TAKING DIFFERENT SIZE STEPS. THE
FIRST PERSON CALLS OUT TO THE "IT" "MOTHER, MAY I TAKE
FOUR GIANT STEPS?" HERE, THE NUMBER OF STEPS IS
ARBITRARY AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STEPS.
THERE IS THE GIANT STEP--THE PERSON TAKES HIS LONGEST
STRIDE; THE BABY STEP--THE PERSON TAKES ONE FOOT AND
PLACES HIS HEEL OF ONE FOOT TO THE TOE OF THE OTHER;
THE BANANA PEEL--THE PERSON KEEPS ONE FOOT STATIONARY
AND PIVOTS AS FAR AS HE IS ABLE WITH THE OTHER; THE
RABBIT HOP--THE PERSON HOPS WITH BOTH FEET TOGETHER;
THE UMBRELLA TURN--STEPPING OUT WITH ONE FOOT WITH ARMS
OUTSTRETCHED AND THEN TURNING AROUND BY MOVING THE
OTHER FOOT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE "IT."
ALTHOUGH THE PERSON MAY ASK FOR SO MANY STEPS, THE
FINAL DECISION IS UP TO THE "IT." IF HE APPROVES, YOU
EXECUTE THE NUMBER OF STEPS AND THE TYPE OF STEP
AGREED UPON. IF HE DOES NOT, HE TELLS YOU HOW MANY
STEPS TO TAKE OF ONE KIND. IF YOU FORGET TO BEGIN EACH
REQUEST WITH "MOTHER, MAY I," YOU RETURN TO THE
STARTING POINT AND BEGIN AGAIN.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

Where learned: HOME

Date learned: 11-00-1967