The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BEFORE A GAME, TO CHOOSE WHO IS "IT" OR WHO GOES FIRST,
ALL INTENDING TO PLAY PUT ONE FOOT INTO A CIRCLE. A
DESIGNATED PERSON (FOOT ALSO IN) SAYS THE FOLLOWING
WHILE TAPPING WITH HER FINGER EACH FOOT AS SHE GOES
AROUND THE CIRCLE:
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING OUT CLOTHES,
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR WAS HER BLOOD?
THE PERSON WHOSE FOOT IS TAPPED SAYS AN ARBITRARY
COLOR. THE PERSON TAPING THEN BEGINS SPELLING THE
COLOR, SAYING ONE LETTER ON EACH FOOT UNTIL THE
WHOLE WORD IS SPELLED. SHE CONTINUES TAPPING, SAYING
"AND YOU ARE NOT IT." THE PERSON WHOSE FOOT IS
TAPPED, PUTS HIS FOOT OUT. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL
THERE IS ONE LEFT. SHE IS "IT" OR GOES FIRST,
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PURPOSE WAS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001960'S