MARCO’S STORIES - Children’s games of the ‘60s (1): THREE, THREE, DOWN, DOWN…

We were a flood of kids.

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…"... We played rock paper scissors to decide who should play in the same team. Then the captains drew lots and the losers had to start “below”.

They had to start below? Yeah! One standing, leaning back against the wall and the comrades at ninety degrees before him. The first of the line with her head resting on the fellow's belly, leaning on his hands, like a basket made with intertwined fingers. In the same way we did it when we had to help a friend to climb over a high wall... He put his foot on the "basket" and then we pushed him up... "Up, up..., fly brother…"

The other fellows, tightly joined to each other with their arms, as to form the wagons of a little train...

At that point the other team came into the play. The game started. Or... better said: the game had already started from the very beginning. Everything, every moment was single part of the play: the draw, team building, the choosing the captains, counts, preparation, teasing, mockery, random chances,…

The first jumped. The more nimble. And with the help of his arms he tried to move far forward as possible, to make room for the others, that would jump after him.

Because, if he didn't leave enough place behind him, the followings would pile one over the other and would fall down.  And, if only one of those who jumped touched the ground with his foot, the "jumping team" had lost.  …But if everybody jumped in the right way, there was enough room for everyone.

One, two, three, four, five.... Everyone jumped and nobody fell. Now everybody is on the "little train". And then they begin jumping and moving and swinging, giving shots to bring down the kids below. "Three, three, down, down...  Three, three, down, down,... Three, three, down, down!" Repeated three times, screaming, by all those above. And, meanwhile, jump, jump, swing, shoot,... And, finally: "Down, down down!!”. If those who were playing below fell down, those above had won. Otherwise those below, who had shown to be capable of withstanding the assault, had won.

We went on like this for hours. Most afternoons. ...when we didn't play with glass pellets, or with picture cards, ... or what we called "nizza"! But that was a dangerous play ... Mom and dad didn't have to know.

But this is another story... Yeah, they will be my next stories!

Photos references (https:):

Photo 1: www.vastospa.it/html/tradizione/immagini/trad_giochi_di_una_volta2.jpg

Photo 2: piddismoreale.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/farelaconta.jpg 

Photo 3: milocca.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/giochi-di-bimbi.jpg

Photo 4: www.ondadelsud.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/vecchi-giochi.jpg

Photo 5: sp3.fotolog.com/photo/19/0/35/s_k_i_b_i_t_z_i/1200137633_f.jpg

Photo 6: www.grossetooggi.net/archivi/immagini/2013/B/biglie-grosseto.JPG

Photo 7: images.corrieredibologna.corriereobjects.it/fotogallery/2011/06/bologna_anni60/img_bologna_anni60/b1_672-458_resize.jpg