The Daring Book for Girls - Andrea J. Buchanan [131]
(When there are “leftovers”—one jack in “threesies,” two jacks in “foursies”—you pick them up individually. If you pick them up before you’ve picked up the groups, that is known as “putting the cart before the horse,” and you must call “cart” as you pick up the individual “leftover” jacks. “Threesies” has three groups of three and one jack in the “cart”; “Foursies” has two groups of four and two jacks in the “cart”; etc.)
Your turn is over when you don’t pick up the correct number of jacks, you miss the ball, or the ball bounces. When it’s your turn again, start up where you left off—if you lost your turn on “twosies,” start at twosies. The winner is the player who is able to successfully pick up the largest number of jacks.
TIPS AND VARIATIONS
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Usually, only one hand may be used to throw the ball and pick up the jacks, but play can be simplified to allow two hands. You can also make it more difficult by only allowing players to use their “bad” hands (right hand for left-handed players, left hand for right-handed players).
OTHER JACKS LINGO
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Kissies
When two jacks are touching. They can be separated by calling “Kissies!” while a player moves them apart.
Fancies
Complicated ways of picking up the jacks, like not being allowed to touch the jacks you don’t pick up.
Around the World
Toss the ball, circle the ball with your hand, and then pick up jacks before the ball bounces.
Cats in the Well
Make a loose fist with the thumb and first finger of your non-throwing hand. The jacks you pick up (“cats”) are dropped through the opening (the “well”).
Eggs in the Basket, or Picking Cherries
Toss the ball, pick up the jacks, and transfer the jacks to your other hand before catching the ball.
Pigs in the Pen
Make an arch with the thumb and first finger of your nonthrowing hand. Then toss the ball, flick a jack through the arch, and then catch the ball.
Pigs over the Fence
Make a “fence” with your nonthrowing hand by putting your hand on its side, thumb facing up. Toss the ball, transfer the jacks to other side of your “fence,” and catch the ball.
PICKING WHO’S IT
Rhymes to determine who goes first can be used for any game, from jacks to tag to board games to truth or dare. Here are some fun schoolyard ways of figuring out who gets to be first.
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe
(Point at each player for each word said; whoever lands on “it” goes first. OR whoever lands on “it” is out, and you start again until there is only one person left who is not “it.” That person gets to go first.)
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
My mother said to pick the very best one
And you are not it.
Bubblegum, Bubblegum in a Dish
(On “wish,” the player says a number, which is then counted out. The player on whom the last number falls is It, and gets to go first)
Bubblegum, bubblegum in a dish
How many pieces do you wish?
Skunk in the Barnyard
(Players each put one foot in a circle. A foot is pointed at for each word said, and the foot on “you!” is considered “out.” Repeat until there is only one foot left. That player goes first.)
Skunk in the barnyard, pee-you!
Who put it in there, not you!
One Potato
(Players put their fists in a circle. The “potato peeler” puts her fist on the players fists as she says the words. Whoever lands on “more” removes her fist. The last player left goes first.)
One potato, two potato
One potato, two potato, three potato, four.
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.
Queens of the Ancient World V
Zenobia, Queen of the East
IN THE THIRD CENTURY AD, Zenobia of Palmyra was the famed Queen of the East. According to the author of Historia Augusta, she had long black hair