I loved to play outside and inside non-stop. Inside involved having those army plastic soldier figures that stand up and you can place them anywhere. The battle commenced on my signal and many were lost until I reset the game. On the outside, I wouldn't come in until I heard my mother calling out, someone saying she is or it was too dark to play anymore
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
That's how it worked in Brooklyn, New York when I was growing up. You see you not only played in front of your own home, but in others too even around the block. Many times you can go into another neighborhood, but you don't stay for long. Everyone has their own turf so to speak.
MOM SPEAK
When it was time to come in for anyone, you can hear mothers calling their children loudly and the kids saying I gotta go. I am sure mom told them ahead of time that when she calls, you better come! Other kids would tell you if your mom was calling so as to help you out. You don't play by the rules, you may not get to go out and play again
THE GAMES
I also played stoop ball. In front of my house, is a small set of stairs and you bounce a spaldine, which is one of the best coveted balls to have against the stairs. If it comes back on a bounce, that is so many points. If it hits the curve of the step, that's more points. If you drop the ball...NO POINTS
A STICK & A BALL
Stick-ball was another good game. Your mothers old broomstick without the broom or an old mop stick with some tape wrapped around it plus a spaldine ball made for a game. What incredible fun too. We also had tile guns made out of clothespins and wood propelled by rubber bands...Ingenious in my opinion. I saw them for sale in stores 30 years later starting at $7.00. Who knew?
MORE GAMES
We had pea-shooters too. Large straws that you spit peas or lentils through to anything that moved. I also learned how to throw a top from the over and under arm position. Under was pretty much standard, but if you could throw down over hand, you could split someones top or win it
AND MORE...
I learned how to use a yo-yo too. There was so much you could do with these and those Saturday morning commercials between your favorite cartoon shows showed you how. Another good game was pitching for dimes, pennies or nickels. The closest to the edge won. You can win quick or lose quick in this game. You just never knew. Losing for a kid is devastating
BASEBALL CARDS
Same with baseball cards too. You throw them instead of coins. Collecting cards was a big deal back then. You bought a pack of cards for a nickel and got a huge piece of bubble gum too. Your friends would challenge you to a pitch for cards. If your-card stood against the wail, they had to knock it down or lose. Premium card games with the famous players like Mickey Mantle & Willie Mays were tense!
HIGH STAKES?
Handball was very common to play. You slapped a ball against a wall and can keep hitting it as long as it stayed in front of you. When ready, you slap it into the next space and the other guy has to return it. We used to play for stakes we called "asses up" (sorry) meaning the loser, stands bent over against the wall and the winner gets three hard, soft or medium throws to your rear-end.
MISCHIEVOUS GAMES
I learned how to make a stink bomb. You took a ordinary pen with a spring load inside the lower portion, insert a blue tip match in the bottom and use a bobby pin folded over below for a trigger. The combination of all the materials produced a stink. Popular but taken away if done at school.
SLINGSHOT
My slingshot days didn't last long and i am sure the whole neighborhood was happy for that. I had a doozie, a real decent unit and I fired marbles with it deadly to say the least. One day, I took aim and fired on my own hand. It hurt for days and days. I gave this up willingly. Couldn't chance a quick shot
REMEMBER COMICS?
I collected them and used to buy those items listed in every comic book. The itch powder, sneezing powder and other silly things that a kid must have. During the summers, water balloons and pistols ruled the day. I even learned to build my own racing cart out of abandoned baby carriages and skateboards too. You made a deal with someone to push you in them and then they push them
Most amazing thing what we call childhood.... Its so brief but packed full of all sorts of things
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