The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THREE FEET ACROSS THE GUTTER

WE PLAYED ACROSS THE STREET. ONE PLAYER WAS "IT"
AND STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND TOLD OTHER
PLAYERS STANDING ON THE SIDE HOW MANY FOOT STEPS
THEY COULD TAKE IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO REACH THE OTHER
SIDE. ALL PLAYERS COULD TAKE THEIR STEPS TOGETHER
IF THEY WISH. THE OBJECT IS FOR "IT" TO TAG A
PLAYER WHILE IN MOTION, THIS PLAYER THEN HAD TO
STAND ON THE SIDE. ANY PLAYER COULD "STEAL" TO THE
OTHER SIDE, IF HE COULD MAKE IT WITHOUT GETTING
TAGGED, ONCE A PLAYER REACHED THE OTHER SIDE, HE
WAS SAFE. THE FIRST PLAYER CAUGHT IS "IT" NEXT
TIME. THERE WERE DEFINITE BOUNDARY LINES FOR THE
GAME, ANY PLAYER RUNNING OUT OF BOUNDS WAS CONSIDERED
CAUGHT. A VARIATION IS THE PERSON WHO GETS CAUGHT
HELPS "IT." FOR SOME REASON THIS GAME IS ALWAYS
PLAYED AT NIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-10-1969