In sheepshead bay Brooklyn, in Mellet Park (which we use to call Mellow Park) there was a mean ass game of tag we use to play, we called it “RED HOT PEE’S AND BUTTER” or at least that is what I think it was called. First off, you would need a belt or a switch for a tree, if it was a tree branch, it was better if it had some bend in it. It hurt more that way. The rules are: Someone would hide the belt or branch while everyone closed their eyes. This was strickly enforced. If someone looked and cheated, it was 5 lashes, sometimes even if we thought they cheated, 5 lashes. Anyway, the kid who did the hiding called out the hot and cold as everyone looked for the painful weapon. “Duggy you’re hot, you’re burning, you’re smoking!!!” Now, you had to decide if you wanted to get closer to Duggy, knowing that if he finds it, you are the first to get wacked but you did it anyway. Or Duggy could just be faking you out, looking right at the dreaded thing, just baiting you in, to get a few good shots. Then when it was picked up, everyone had to get to the bese to avoid getting their ass wipped. That was it, just Tag with attitude.The person who found the belt or switch would get to hide it nexts.

I think was used to play it just to make it more interesting. It always is, when you have more to lose, like your skin.

Maurice