The object of the game was not to be ‘it’. Not to laugh, show your teeth or get caught, and be able to leap over 'it’. The game is started by drawing a line in the street, now we had red --dog streets and a line could easily be made. Next someone had to be ‘it’! We were democratic and the last one to show at the corner was ‘it’. If you are big enough and mean enough you can always persuade someone else to get down on the line. ‘It’ bends over with their head over the line and hands on knees, Leap the Frog position. The gang lines up behind ‘it’, usually the biggest first and then Pee Wee comes last.

The game has to start with Slice the Ham and if you forget that, you're 'it’ automatically. The first one up puts one hand on the back of ‘it’, say’s “slice the ham” and with the other hand does exactly that slices the ham and leaps over 'it’. 'It’ looks up and makes sure that the leper does not laugh or shows their teeth. Also the leper must not touch ‘it' on the back other than with that one hand, no arm or leg must touch the 'it' or the chase is on. If a laugh, teeth, or back is touched, ‘it’ must catch the leper before they get back across the line. If successful the leper is ‘it’. Each player gets their turn and does a slice the ham and then any of the other routines can be used. When a routine is started it must be done from the first to the last before another routine can start.

Double slice the ham, the leper say’s “double slice the ham” and cuts the ham with both hands, also you must perform what you say. Can not say “double slice the ham” and then do a slice the ham. If so and 'it’ can catch you, you're on the line.

Cork the bottle -- thumb of one hand placed into the ham. Leper says “cork the bottle” and leaps.

Ring the church bells -- The leper says “ring the church bell”, one hand grabs the bells rings and leaps. This maneuver is very risky and can get the leper in big trouble if done to someone bigger or meaner.

Any two of the above can be used in combination.

The cigar -- Is a routine when started must be concluded and each leper must remember the routine and what comes next. The first leper says “I want a cigar” does a slice the ham or any of the above and leaps. The next leper must say “Went to the company store” does a routine and leaps. The following must follow in order: “Go to the counter”, “Call the clerk”, “Ask for a cigar”, “Pay for the cigar”, “Go outside”, “Take off the wrapper”, “hide the wrapper”, “lick the cigar”, “bite off the end”, “get a match”, “strike the match “, “light the cigar”, “smoke the cigar”, “throw it away”, “along comes a bum”, “picks up the butt”, “smokes the butt”, and you end with “slice the ham”.

When a leper gets caught the game starts over with the slice the ham routine. Pee Wee has some trouble leaping Piggy but a good ring the church bell can slow down even the meanest!