During the grenade games, for example, there were children known as “pitchbacks,” who never used their own grenades but picked up the ones thrown by the enemy and tossed them back. Although few managed to survive the games, it still was an honor to be a pitchback. They were described in a popular fighting song: Oh what a joy to be a pitchback, one as great as me! I’ve got a craze for hand grenades, and I pick up all I see. As quick as a lick I snatch them up when they’re smoking in the muck, Like Ali Baba in the treasure cave, But I’m . . . not . . . gonna . . . get . . . stuck!
