This was not a classic folk custom, yet I spent an hour
or more every late afternoon when the weather warmed up - taking over the streets with other girls.
I don't see this any more, so it's important to record what an important activity this was for us.
Surely, good exercise as well, though I don't know how much of a sport.
We loved
doing this.
We were five, six, seven, eight, and the cars coming home from
work all slowed or stopped for us, as we ran out into the streets of St. Laurent.
Two girls
each held one end of the super-length of plastic skipping rope, bought at Woolworth's. We lined up and managed to jump
into the turning rope at just the right moment, also singing and chanting as we hopped and jumped.
As I jump in, you jump out.
The afternoon
light dimmed, screen doors gently banged, and we could smell hamburger frying in our kitchens.
