The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THREE STEPS ACROSS THE GUTTER

THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH THREE OR MORE CHILDREN. IT IS
PLAYED USING THE STREET AS THE PLAY AREA AND THE
OPPOSITE CURBS AS STARTING POINTS. ONE PERSON IS
CHOSEN TO BE IT, AND HE OR SHE STANDS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STREET. THE OTHER KIDS LINE UP ON ONE OF THE
CURBS. THE CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET CALLS
OUT SOMETHING FOR THE OTHER CHILDREN TO DO. IT COULD
BE TWO GIANT STEPS, FOUR BABY STEPS, FIRE ENGINE,
EGGSHELLS, ETC. IT IS UP TO THE CHILDREN TO GET
ACROSS THE STREET AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED WHAT HAS
BEEN ASKED OF THEM. IF THEY ARE CAUGHT, THEY MUST
STAND IN THE MIDDLE AND HELP THE PERSON WHO IS IT
CATCH THE OTHER PEOPLE. ONLY THE PERSON WHO IS IT MAY
CALL OUT THE ORDERS, AND IT MAY CHALLENGE IF HE FEELS
THE CHILD HAS TAKEN MORE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED.
IF CHALLENGED, THE CHALLENGED PERSON MUST REDO WHAT
HAS BEEN CALLED TO SEE IF HE LANDS IN THE SAME SPOT.
THE GAME IS OVER WHEN EVERYBODY HAS BEEN CAUGHT.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED IT FROM THE OLDER CHILDREN ON MY BLOCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN