The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

KICK THE CAN

A SODA CAN WAS PLACED ON A SEWER PLATE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STREET. WE CHOSE SOMEONE TO BE "IT." SOMEONE
ELSE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE BLOCK. "IT" HAD TO RUN TO
GET THE CAN, NOT LOOKING BACK. AT THE SAME TIME THE
GUYS WOULD HIDE. "IT" WOULD WALK BACKWARDS TILL HE
REACHED THE SEWER PLATE. HE WOULD PUT THE CAN DOWN AND
TAP IT ON THE GROUND THREE TIMES. HE WOULD THEN SEEK
THE OTHERS. IF HE FOUND ONE, HE WOULD TAP THE CAN
THREE TIMES SAYING WHO HE SAW AND WHERE HE WAS HIDING
AND THEN "IT" WOULD KICK THE CAN. ONE CATCH, IF
"IT" STRAYED TOO FAR FROM THE CAN SEEKING SOMEONE, THEN
SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT COME OUT AND KICK THE CAN AGAIN.
"IT" WOULD HAVE TO START ALL OVER AND EVERYBODY ELSE
WOULD CHANGE HIDING PLACES.

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; JERSEY CITY