[Fictionary] playground knife game

[lindafowens at netzero.com]

Years ago, and it must have been more than 45 years ago, I was a playground leader during my summer vacations.  The kids on my playground, numbering up to 80 and ranging in age from 2 to 22, were pretty rural, so I let them carry knives when they came to hang out.  One mean thing, and they and the knives would have been banned. I even let the older boys smoke. Although, we did lose a few picnic tables over the 4 years I was there, when carving their names wasn't enough.
Anyway, one of the games the kids taught me was Splits.  I have recently remembered this, for some reason.  Two people face off.  You throw an opened jackknife to the outside of one of your feet.  It must stick in the ground.  You then remove the knife and place your foot on that mark.  The other person takes a turn, and turns and feet alternate until your feet are so far apart that one of you falls over and loses the game. The trick is to get the knife as close to your foot as possible without hurting yourself.  No one ever got hurt, luckily.
The kids taught me to hold my hands cupped so I could make a whistle that sounded like a mourning dove, and they showed me some good fishing spots in the then-polluted Conn. River.  I had them playing various board, ball, and tag games, compete against other playgrounds in town, and do all sorts of arts and crafts, as cheaply as possible. We also had one dress-up day a week and contests, like pet shows.  The best game I taught them was Capture the Flag--in a scrubby part on the verge.  We also had a cookout once a week for supper.  Great days! Linda


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