45. Schoolyard Games – Part 2 – Branded Brandings!

Circle of children standing akimbo, foot touching foot.

Tennis ball bounced in circle centre.

Bouncing diminishes to a roll,

Passing through legs – “IT” is chosen.

The game begins: SCATTER …

From the menacing throw.

Brandings!!*

Another game where tears flowed.

But uniforms only soiled (the mark of the ball) – rarely ripped.

Note:

* It was difficult to find anything online about this game. But I did find a version being played in a Malaysian High School. There the game was called Bola Chop and some of the descriptions about the intention of the game are spot on – eg

Throw the tennis ball at someone, really hard, with the intention of inflicting pain.

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