The Yo-Yo
by N. Ray Maxie
Y o-Yo, when referring to a person, perhaps a friend of yours, is slang for someone that does stupid things. And Yo: just one yo, is also slang spoken in order to greet someone or get their attention. Like, “Hey Yo.” But Yo is also used as a reply when someone calls your name.
The yo-yo most young boys are familiar with is usually a bright colored spinning reel on a string. The Longman Dictionary of American English says, “The yo-yo (you – you) is a toy you hold in your hand that is made of two circular parts joined together that go up and down a string as you lift your hand up and down.” The string may be about a 30 to 36 inches long. Maneuver the yo-yo correctly and it will run up and down the string, back and forth, in and out of your hand repeatedly. Sling it out and it will return time and time again. It can be an enjoyable toy to play with; or it can be most frustrating to the beginner. After hours of persistence and practice; total frustration and even anger, the novice can achieve skillful tricks with the yo-yo. Tricks that will highly amaze casual onlookers. As a barefoot, shirt-tail country kid, most of my own frustration while learning about the yo-yo came when the string would not stay straight. It got seriously twisted and tangled and would not operate properly. The yo-yo just flopped around. It ran sideways so crooked and out of balance that it would not return to my hand. And that ain’t no fun! The first rule of yo-yo logic is to make sure the string is straight and untwisted. After letting it “unwind” at the bottom of your string, run your finger and thumb down the string to make sure it is not twisted. Then “spool” the complete string between the two disc. Holding it in the right hand, palm down, sling it out again. It should then work properly, returning to your hand. |
The Yo-Yo Weed Cutter |