The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ALL THE CHILDREN WHO AR GOING TO PLAY A CERTAIN GAME IN
WHICH ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE IT, STAND IN A CIRCLE.
THEY THEN CLENCH THEIR FISTS AND HOLD THEM AT ABOUT WAIST-
HIGH IN FRONT OF THEM. ONE PERSON ASSUMES THE ROLE OF
COUNTER. HE THEN STARTS AT THE PERSON NEXT TO HIM AND
SAYS, "ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO." EACH FIST IS "ADDRESSED"
SEPARATELY AND THE COUNTER CONTINUES, "3 POTATO, 4, 5
POTATO, 6 POTATO, 7 POTATO, OR." WHOEVER'S FIST IS
TAPPED ON "OR" BY THE COUNTER, TAKES HIS FIST AND PUTS
IT BEHIND HIS BACK. THIS PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL ONE
PERSON IS LEFT AND THEN THAT PERSON IS IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Date learned: 00001950'S