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Literature & Composition 8
March 23-27
Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day
Student Name: ________________________________
Teacher Name: ________________________________
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
1
Packet Overview
Date Objective(s) Page Number
Monday, March 23 Ch 8:
1. Identify what Scout thinks the causes of the snow are.
2. Retell how the characters react to the fire at Miss
Maudie’s house; analyze what these reactions display
about each character.
3
Tuesday, March 24 Ch 9:
1. Retell the conflict that Jem and Scout face in Ch 9;
Summarize Scout’s reaction to the conflict and what
Atticus does/says in response
2. Retell Atticus & Uncle Jacks’ conversation about the
upcoming court case.
6
Wednesday, March 25 Ch 10:
1. Identify the difference between shooting mockingbirds
and other birds; identify the solemnity of Atticus’ use of
the word “sin”
2. Compare & Contrast Jem and Scouts’ view of their
father before and after the Tim Johnson affair.
8
Thursday, March 26 Ch 11:
1. Characterize Mrs. Dubose. Be sure to not her attitude
towards others and what she says to the Finches
2. Paraphrase Atticus’ understanding of courage
and his reasons for wanting the children to know
Mrs. Dubose.
10
Friday, March 27 Review
2. Use the week’s vocabulary in proper context.
1. Imitate the style of To Kill a Mockingbird by
composing a description of a family member.
12
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
2
Additional Notes:
i. Assignments should be completed preferably in (a) a notebook or loose-leaf paper, but if you do
not have access to these, you may type your work.
ii. Title each assignment with the DATE (see above).
iii. If not in a notebook, keep all your written work in a folder (physical folder if written, digital
folder if typed).
iv. If you do not have a physical copy of To Kill A Mockingbird, a PDF copy of the text is included
at the end of this packet. Also, the text can be downloaded at
http://www.kkoworld.com/kitablar/harper_li_masqarachini_oldurmek-eng.pdf
Academic Honesty
I certify that I completed this assignment
independently in accordance with the GHNO
Academy Honor Code.
Student signature:
___________________________
I certify that my student completed this
assignment independently in accordance with
the GHNO Academy Honor Code.
Parent signature:
___________________________
Dear Students,
We hope that you enjoy continuing to read this wonderful book! We miss hearing
your insights and learning from your thoughts. Since we will not be reading with you in
person, we want to give you a reminder. As you read, write (and hopefully discuss this text
with family and friends via technology) please keep in mind that the text may contain words
that, though they are used to create authenticity, are not appropriate to reuse in daily
discussion. If you are referencing text in your writing, you may write out such words with
the first letter followed by a slash. An example of this would be “n-----".
Fondly,
Your 8th Grade Lit Teachers
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
3
Monday, March 23 Literature & Composition Unit: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lesson 1: Chapter 8 (Snow and Fire in Maycomb)
Lesson 1 Socratic Question: Keep these questions in mind as you read and study this lesson!
What kind of people live in Maycomb? (What do they care about\ talk about\relate to others? How are the
Finches similar or dissimilar to them?
Objective: Be able to do this by the end of this lesson.
1. Identify what Scout thinks the causes of the snow are.
2. Retell how the characters react to both the fire at Miss Maudie’s house; analyze what these
actions display about each character.
Review
As we read in Chapter 7, Scout and Jem have been reprimanded for “playing Boo Radley” but
their playacting went so far that they ended up scaring themselves when Scout got too close to the Radley
house, and Jem lost his pants. Here is a map of the town of Maycomb. Use this map to identify different
places in the reading.
Instructions
I. Read & Annotate Chapter 8 (found at the end of this packet)
II. Write a response to questions 1-4.
III. Memorize the definitions for the 3 vocabulary words.
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
4
II. Answer the following questions in 3-4 complete sentences.
1. What are the two causes of the snow that Scout identifies? (One is reasonably scientific the other has to
do with her conscience)
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. How do Scout and Jem make a snowman, who does it look like?
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3. Describe how the neighbors react to the fire at Miss Maudie’s house. What do each of them do?
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4. How does Miss Maudie react to her loss? Why does her response surprise Scout?
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Compose ONE question of your own from Chapter 8.
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Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
5
III. Find these words in Chapter 8, reread the whole sentence, circle the vocabulary word and memorize
the definitions provided below:
Unfathomable: (adj) incapable of being fully explored or understood.
Caricature: (n) a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking
characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.
Cordial: (adj) warm and friendly
Closing: Check your understanding of the Chapter.
1. Write a 5-6 sentence answer to these questions: What did you learn about the Finches and their
neighbors during the incident of the house fire? (Atticus, Mr. Avery, Scout, Jem, Boo Radley, Miss
Maudie)
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Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
6
Tuesday, March 24 Literature & Composition Unit: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lesson 2: Chapter 9
Lesson 2 Socratic Guiding Question: Keep this question in mind as you read and study this lesson!
How are Atticus and his children similar or dissimilar to their relatives?
Objective: Be able to do this by the end of this lesson.
1. Identify the conflict that Jem and Scout face in Ch 9; summarize Scout’s reaction to the conflict and
what Atticus does/says in response
2. Retell the substance of Atticus & Uncle Jacks’ conversation about the upcoming court case.
Instructions:
II. Answer the following questions in 3-4 complete sentences.
1. Why does Scout beat up Cecil Jacobs? How did this fight signify “the beginning of a rather thin time?”
____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. According to Atticus is there truth in the accusation that Cecil Jacobs makes? What is Atticus’
explanation of the insult that Cecil called him? Does Atticus think of it as an insult?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Why does Scout fight Francis (also going against Atticus’ request to not fight)?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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I. Read & Annotate Chapter 9 (found at the end of this packet)
II. Write a response to questions 1-4.
III. Memorize the definitions for the 3 vocabulary words.
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
7
4. Why reason does Attius give Uncle Jack for taking the case? Why does Scout say that Atticus wanted
her to hear every word?
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Compose ONE question of your own from Chapter 9.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
III. Find these words in Chapter 9, reread the whole sentence, circle the vocabulary word and memorize
the definitions provided below:
Lineaments: (n) a distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Ingenuous: (adj) [of a person or action] innocent and unsuspecting.
Mortify: (v) 1. cause (someone) to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated.
2. subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline.
Closing: Check your understanding of the Chapter.
1. Write a 5-6 sentence answer to these questions: How did Scout’s fight with Cecil Jacobs signify “the
beginning of a rather thin time?” What are “thin times?” Is Atticus aware of Jem and Scout’s situation?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
8
Wednesday, March 25 Literature & Composition Unit: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lesson 2: Chapter 10
Lesson 2 Socratic Guiding Question: Keep this question in mind as you read and study this lesson!
What does the brief discussion of mockingbirds have to do with the title?
Objective: Be able to do this by the end of this lesson.
1. Identify the difference between shooting mockingbirds and other birds; identify the solemnity of
Atticus’ use of the word “sin”
2. Compare & Contrast Jem and Scouts’ view of their father before and after the Tim Johnson affair.
Instructions:
II. Answer the following questions in 3-4 complete sentences.
1. What is Jem and Scout’s opinion of Atticus’ skills and abilities? How does Atticus compare the fathers
of their schoolmates?
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do Atticus and Miss Maudie say that it is a sin to kill a Mockingbird? What is a sin?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
I. Read & Annotate Chapter 10 (found at the end of this packet)
II. Write a response to questions 1-4.
III. Memorize the definitions for the 3 vocabulary words.
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
9
3. Why does Atticus shoot Tim Johnson? (What is wrong with Tim Johnson? Why doesn’t Heck Tate do
it?
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4. What do Scout and Jem think about Atticus after the Tim Johnson incident? How has their view of him
him?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Compose ONE question of your own from Chapter 10.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
III. Find these words in Chapter 10, reread the whole sentence, circle the vocabulary word and memorize
the definitions provided below:
Feeble: (adj) lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
Meddle: (v) 1. interfere in or busy oneself unduly with something that is not one's concern.
2. touch or handle (something) without permission.
Vehemently: (adv) in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling.
Closing: Check your understanding of the Chapter.
1. Write a 5-6 sentence answer to these questions: What does Jem mean when he says that “Atticus is a
gentleman, just like me!”? Why doesn’t Atticus practice his skill of marksmanship? Why does he end up
shooting the dog? How is Jem like his father?
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Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
10
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Thursday, March 26 Literature & Composition Unit: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lesson 2: Chapter 11
Lesson 2 Socratic Guiding Question: What kind of people live in Maycomb? (What do they care about\
talk about\relate to others? How are the Finches similar or dissimilar to them?
Objective: Be able to do this by the end of this lesson.
1. Characterize Mrs. Dubose. Be sure to not her attitude towards others and what she says to the Finches
2. Paraphrase Atticus’ understanding of courage and his reasons for wanting the children to know
Mrs. Dubose.
Instructions:
II. Answer the following questions in 3-4 complete sentences.
1. Why does Jem wreck Mrs. Dubose’s camellias? What is the consequence?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does Mrs. Dubose look like? How does she act towards the Finches?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I. Read & Annotate Chapter 11 (found at the end of this packet)
II. Write a response to questions 1-4.
III. Memorize the definitions for the 3 vocabulary words.
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
11
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why does Atticus say that Mrs. Dubose was a great lady? What does she give Jem?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What does Atticus say that courage is? Why is Mrs. Dubose courageous?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Compose ONE question of your own from Chapter 11.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
III. Find these words in Chapter 11, reread the whole sentence, circle the vocabulary word and memorize
the definitions provided below:
Passé: (n) no longer fashionable; out of date.
Apoplectic: (adj) overcome with anger; extremely indignant.
Morphine: (n) an analgesic and narcotic drug obtained from opium and used medicinally to
relieve pain.
Closing: Check your understanding of the Chapter.
1. Write a 5-6 sentence answer to these questions: At the end the Chapter, Atticus says that even if Mrs.
Dubose hadn’t demanded that Jem read to her, Atticus would have sent him over anyway. Why?
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Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
12
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Friday, March 27 Literature & Composition Unit: To Kill A Mockingbird
Lesson 5: Vocabulary Assessment & Writing Assignment
Lesson 5
Objective: Be able to do this by the end of this lesson.
1. Use the week’s vocabulary in proper context
2. Imitate the style of To Kill a Mockingbird by composing a description of a family member.
Instructions:
I. Fill in the vocabulary word that you think is most appropriate given the context of the
sentence.
1. The Prince pushed the door ______________ as he rushed in to greet the captured
Princess.
2. The Princess’ greeting was ___________, you could even say it was beyond friendly.
3. The Princess’ pet frog was ___________ due to a lack of flies and water.
4. The joy of the Princess’ parents at the return of their daughter was ______________.
5. Unfortunately, the Princess had been locked in the tower so long that her dress was
_____________.
I. Fill in the vocabulary word that you think is most appropriate.
II. Choose an accurate synonym to replace the vocabulary word.
III. Compose a descriptive essay in the style of To Kill A Mockingbird.
a. Unfathomable e. Ingenuous i. Vehemently
b. Caricature f. Mortify j. Passé
c. Cordial g. Feeble k. Apoplectic
d. Lineaments h. Meddle l. Morphine
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
13
II. Choose THE MOST accurate synonym to replace the vocabulary word in its original
sentence. Write the number of the question and the letter that best fits in your notebook or
highlight the answer.
1. With most of her possessions gone and her beloved yard a shambles, she still took a lively and
cordial interest in Jem’s and my affairs.
a. Educated c. Healthy
b. Friendly d. Talkative
2. I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a n-----lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it
certainly does mortify the rest of the family-
a. Punish c. Embarrass
b. Please d. Interest
3. Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty.
a. Wise c. Old
b. Weak d. Foolish
4. When we were small, Jem and I confined our activities to the southern neighborhood, but when I
was well into the second grade at school and tormenting Boo Radley became passé, the business
section of Maycomb drew us frequently up the street past the real property of Mrs. Henry
Lafayette Dubose.
a. Special c. Out-of-date
b. Childish d. Fascinating
5. Once she heard Jem refer to our father as “Atticus” and her reaction was apoplectic.
a. Astonishment c. Anxiety
b. Anger d. Approval
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
14
III. Compose your own description!
Name ______________________________ Date ______________________________
Prompt: In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout’s lively imagination paints a picture of her home town,
Maycomb, and the people that live in it. In at least 7 sentences describe a relative of yours. Besides their
physical appearance, be sure to give an idea of their personality and habits. Use descriptive language in
Order to create a clear image for your reader!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Here are some literary devices that you can use.
Simile: is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two
different things.
Hyperbole: An extravagant expression, not intended to be taken literally. An overstatement.
(Hyperbole is very similar to exaggeration.)
Descriptive Adjectives: The descriptive adjectives can be simply defined as the type
of adjectives that are used to express the size, color, or shape of a person, a thing, an
animal, or a place.
Personification: A form of imagery. Speaking about a non-human object as if it had human
characteristics.
Alliteration: is a literary device where two or more words in a phrase or line of poetry share
the same beginning consonant sound.
Lit Comp 8
March 23-27
15
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“Do
you
itch
, Jem
?” I
ask
ed a
s po
litel
y as
I c
ould
. He
did
not a
nsw
er. “
Com
e on
in, J
em,”
I s
aid.
“Aft
er w
hile
.”
He
stoo
d th
ere
until
nig
htfa
ll, a
nd I
wai
ted
for
him
. Whe
n w
e w
ent i
n th
e ho
use
I
saw
he
had
been
cry
ing;
his
fac
e w
as d
irty
in th
e ri
ght p
lace
s, b
ut I
thou
ght i
t odd
that
I h
ad n
ot h
eard
him
.
Con
tent
s -
Pre
v / N
ext
Ch
ap
ter
8
For
rea
sons
unf
atho
mab
le to
the
mos
t exp
erie
nced
pro
phet
s in
May
com
b C
ount
y,
autu
mn
turn
ed to
win
ter
that
yea
r. W
e ha
d tw
o w
eeks
of
the
cold
est w
eath
er s
ince
1885
, Atti
cus
said
. Mr.
Ave
ry s
aid
it w
as w
ritt
en o
n th
e R
oset
ta S
tone
that
whe
n
chil
dren
dis
obey
ed th
eir
pare
nts,
sm
oked
cig
aret
tes
and
mad
e w
ar o
n ea
ch o
ther
,
the
seas
ons
wou
ld c
hang
e: J
em a
nd I
wer
e bu
rden
ed w
ith
the
guil
t of
cont
ribu
ting
to th
e ab
erra
tion
s of
nat
ure,
ther
eby
caus
ing
unha
ppin
ess
to o
ur n
eigh
bors
and
disc
omfo
rt to
our
selv
es.
Old
Mrs
. Rad
ley
died
that
win
ter,
but
her
dea
th c
ause
d ha
rdly
a r
ippl
e—th
e
neig
hbor
hood
sel
dom
saw
her
, exc
ept w
hen
she
wat
ered
her
can
nas.
Jem
and
I
deci
ded
that
Boo
had
got
her
at l
ast,
but w
hen
Att
icus
ret
urne
d fr
om th
e R
adle
y
hous
e he
sai
d sh
e di
ed o
f na
tura
l cau
ses,
to o
ur d
isap
poin
tmen
t.
“Ask
him
,” J
em w
hisp
ered
.
“You
ask
him
, you
’re
the
olde
st.”
“Tha
t’s
why
you
oug
hta
ask
him
.”
“Atti
cus,
” I
said
, “di
d yo
u se
e M
r. A
rthu
r?”
Att
icus
look
ed s
tern
ly a
roun
d hi
s ne
wsp
aper
at m
e: “
I di
d no
t.”
Jem
res
trai
ned
me
from
fur
ther
que
stio
ns. H
e sa
id A
tticu
s w
as s
till
touc
hous
abou
t us
and
the
Rad
leys
and
it w
ould
n’t d
o to
pus
h hi
m a
ny. J
em h
ad a
not
ion
that
Atti
cus
thou
ght o
ur a
ctiv
ities
that
nig
ht la
st s
umm
er w
ere
not s
olel
y co
nfin
ed
to s
trip
pok
er. J
em h
ad n
o fi
rm b
asis
for
his
idea
s, h
e sa
id it
was
mer
ely
a tw
itch
.
Nex
t mor
ning
I a
wok
e, lo
oked
out
the
win
dow
and
nea
rly
died
of
frig
ht. M
y
scre
ams
brou
ght A
tticu
s fr
om h
is b
athr
oom
hal
f-sh
aven
.
“The
wor
ld’s
end
in‘,
Att
icus
! P
leas
e do
som
ethi
ng—
!” I
dra
gged
him
to th
e
win
dow
and
poi
nted
.
“No
it’s
not
,” h
e sa
id. “
It’s
sno
win
g.”
Jem
ask
ed A
ttic
us w
ould
it k
eep
up. J
em h
ad n
ever
see
n sn
ow e
ithe
r, b
ut h
e kn
ew
wha
t it w
as. A
ttic
us s
aid
he d
idn’
t kno
w a
ny m
ore
abou
t sno
w th
an J
em d
id. “
I
thin
k, th
ough
, if
it’s
wat
ery
like
that
, it’
ll tu
rn to
rai
n.”
The
tele
phon
e ra
ng a
nd A
tticu
s le
ft th
e br
eakf
ast t
able
to a
nsw
er it
. “T
hat w
as
Eul
a M
ay,”
he
said
whe
n he
ret
urne
d. “
I qu
ote—
‘As
it ha
s no
t sno
wed
in
May
com
b C
ount
y si
nce
1885
, the
re w
ill b
e no
sch
ool t
oday
.’”
Eul
a M
ay w
as M
ayco
mb’
s le
adin
g te
leph
one
oper
ator
. She
was
ent
rust
ed w
ith
issu
ing
publ
ic a
nnou
ncem
ents
, wed
ding
invi
tati
ons,
set
ting
off
the
fire
sir
en, a
nd
givi
ng f
irst
-aid
inst
ruct
ions
whe
n D
r. R
eyno
lds
was
aw
ay.
Whe
n A
tticu
s fi
nally
cal
led
us to
ord
er a
nd b
ade
us lo
ok a
t our
pla
tes
inst
ead
of
out t
he w
indo
ws,
Jem
ask
ed, “
How
do
you
mak
e a
snow
man
?”
“I h
aven
’t th
e sl
ight
est i
dea,
” sa
id A
tticu
s. “
I do
n’t w
ant y
ou a
ll to
be
disa
ppoi
nted
, but
I d
oubt
if th
ere’
ll be
eno
ugh
snow
for
a s
now
ball,
eve
n.”
Cal
purn
ia c
ame
in a
nd s
aid
she
thou
ght i
t was
sti
ckin
g. W
hen
we
ran
to th
e ba
ck
yard
, it w
as c
over
ed w
ith a
fee
ble
laye
r of
sog
gy s
now
.
“We
shou
ldn’
t wal
k ab
out i
n it
,” s
aid
Jem
. “L
ook,
eve
ry s
tep
you
take
’s w
asti
ng
it.”
I lo
oked
bac
k at
my
mus
hy f
ootp
rint
s. J
em s
aid
if w
e w
aite
d un
til it
sno
wed
som
e
mor
e w
e co
uld
scra
pe it
all
up f
or a
sno
wm
an. I
stu
ck o
ut m
y to
ngue
and
cau
ght a
fat f
lake
. It b
urne
d.
“Jem
, it’
s ho
t!”
“No
it a
in’t
, it’
s so
col
d it
bur
ns. N
ow d
on’t
eat
it, S
cout
, you
’re
was
ting
it. L
et it
com
e do
wn.
”
“But
I w
ant t
o w
alk
in it
.”
“I k
now
wha
t, w
e ca
n go
wal
k ov
er a
t Mis
s M
audi
e’s.
”
Jem
hop
ped
acro
ss th
e fr
ont y
ard.
I f
ollo
wed
in h
is tr
acks
. Whe
n w
e w
ere
on th
e
side
wal
k in
fro
nt o
f M
iss
Mau
die’
s, M
r. A
very
acc
oste
d us
. He
had
a pi
nk f
ace
and
a bi
g st
omac
h be
low
his
bel
t.
“See
wha
t you
’ve
done
?” h
e sa
id. “
Has
n’t s
now
ed in
May
com
b si
nce
App
omat
tox.
It’
s ba
d ch
ildr
en li
ke y
ou m
akes
the
seas
ons
chan
ge.”
I w
onde
red
if M
r. A
very
kne
w h
ow h
opef
ully
we
had
wat
ched
last
sum
mer
for
him
to r
epea
t his
per
form
ance
, and
ref
lect
ed th
at if
this
was
our
rew
ard,
ther
e w
as
som
ethi
ng to
say
for
sin
. I d
id n
ot w
onde
r w
here
Mr.
Ave
ry g
athe
red
his
met
eoro
logi
cal s
tati
stic
s: th
ey c
ame
stra
ight
fro
m th
e R
oset
ta S
tone
.
“Jem
Fin
ch, y
ou J
em F
inch
!”
“Mis
s M
audi
e’s
calli
n‘ y
ou, J
em.”
“You
all
stay
in th
e m
iddl
e of
the
yard
. The
re’s
som
e th
rift
bur
ied
unde
r th
e sn
ow
near
the
porc
h. D
on’t
ste
p on
it!”
“Yes
sum
!” c
alle
d Je
m. “
It’s
bea
utif
ul, a
in’t
it, M
iss
Mau
die?
”
“Bea
utif
ul m
y hi
nd f
oot!
If
it fr
eeze
s to
nigh
t it’
ll c
arry
off
all
my
azal
eas!
”
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
old
sunh
at g
liste
ned
with
sno
w c
ryst
als.
She
was
ben
ding
ove
r
som
e sm
all b
ushe
s, w
rapp
ing
them
in b
urla
p ba
gs. J
em a
sked
her
wha
t she
was
doin
g th
at f
or.
“Kee
p ‘e
m w
arm
,” s
he s
aid.
“How
can
flo
wer
s ke
ep w
arm
? T
hey
don’
t cir
cula
te.”
“I c
anno
t ans
wer
that
que
stio
n, J
em F
inch
. All
I k
now
is if
it f
reez
es to
nigh
t the
se
plan
ts’l
l fre
eze,
so
you
cove
r ‘e
m u
p. I
s th
at c
lear
?”
“Yes
sum
. Mis
s M
audi
e?”
“Wha
t, si
r?”
“Cou
ld S
cout
and
me
borr
ow s
ome
of y
our
snow
?”
“Hea
vens
aliv
e, ta
ke it
all!
The
re’s
an
old
peac
h ba
sket
und
er th
e ho
use,
hau
l it
off
in th
at.”
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
eyes
nar
row
ed. “
Jem
Fin
ch, w
hat a
re y
ou g
oing
to d
o
wit
h m
y sn
ow?”
“You
’ll s
ee,”
sai
d Je
m, a
nd w
e tr
ansf
erre
d as
muc
h sn
ow a
s w
e co
uld
from
Mis
s
Mau
die’
s ya
rd to
our
s, a
slu
shy
oper
atio
n.
“Wha
t are
we
gonn
a do
, Jem
?” I
ask
ed.
“You
’ll s
ee,”
he
said
. “N
ow g
et th
e ba
sket
and
hau
l all
the
snow
you
can
rak
e up
from
the
back
yar
d to
the
fron
t. W
alk
back
in y
our
trac
ks, t
houg
h,”
he c
auti
oned
.
“Are
we
gonn
a ha
ve a
sno
w b
aby,
Jem
?”
“No,
a r
eal s
now
man
. Got
ta w
ork
hard
, now
.”
Jem
ran
to th
e ba
ck y
ard,
pro
duce
d th
e ga
rden
hoe
and
beg
an d
iggi
ng q
uick
ly
behi
nd th
e w
oodp
ile, p
laci
ng a
ny w
orm
s he
fou
nd to
one
sid
e. H
e w
ent i
n th
e
hous
e, r
etur
ned
wit
h th
e la
undr
y ha
mpe
r, f
illed
it w
ith
eart
h an
d ca
rrie
d it
to th
e
fron
t yar
d.
Whe
n w
e ha
d fi
ve b
aske
ts o
f ea
rth
and
two
bask
ets
of s
now
, Jem
sai
d w
e w
ere
read
y to
beg
in.
“Don
’t y
ou th
ink
this
is k
ind
of a
mes
s?”
I as
ked.
“Loo
ks m
essy
now
, but
it w
on’t
late
r,”
he s
aid.
Jem
sco
oped
up
an a
rmfu
l of
dirt
, pat
ted
it in
to a
mou
nd o
n w
hich
he
adde
d
anot
her
load
, and
ano
ther
unt
il he
had
con
stru
cted
a to
rso.
“Jem
, I a
in’t
eve
r he
ard
of a
nig
ger
snow
man
,” I
sai
d.
“He
won
’t b
e bl
ack
long
,” h
e gr
unte
d.
Jem
pro
cure
d so
me
peac
htre
e sw
itche
s fr
om th
e ba
ck y
ard,
pla
ited
them
, and
ben
t
them
into
bon
es to
be
cove
red
wit
h di
rt.
“He
look
s lik
e S
teph
anie
Cra
wfo
rd w
ith h
er h
ands
on
her
hips
,” I
sai
d. “
Fat i
n th
e
mid
dle
and
little
-bit
ty a
rms.
”
“I’l
l mak
e ‘e
m b
igge
r.”
Jem
slo
shed
wat
er o
ver
the
mud
man
and
add
ed m
ore
dirt
. He
look
ed th
ough
tful
ly a
t it f
or a
mom
ent,
then
he
mol
ded
a bi
g st
omac
h
belo
w th
e fi
gure
’s w
aist
line.
Jem
gla
nced
at m
e, h
is e
yes
twin
klin
g: “
Mr.
Ave
ry’s
sort
of
shap
ed li
ke a
sno
wm
an, a
in’t
he?
”
Jem
sco
oped
up
som
e sn
ow a
nd b
egan
pla
ster
ing
it on
. He
perm
itted
me
to c
over
only
the
back
, sav
ing
the
publ
ic p
arts
for
him
self
. Gra
dual
ly M
r. A
very
turn
ed
whi
te.
Usi
ng b
its o
f w
ood
for
eyes
, nos
e, m
outh
, and
but
tons
, Jem
suc
ceed
ed in
mak
ing
Mr.
Ave
ry lo
ok c
ross
. A s
tick
of s
tove
woo
d co
mpl
eted
the
pict
ure.
Jem
ste
pped
back
and
vie
wed
his
cre
atio
n.
“It’
s lo
vely
, Jem
,” I
sai
d. “
Loo
ks a
lmos
t lik
e he
’d ta
lk to
you
.”
“It i
s, a
in’t
it?”
he
said
shy
ly.
We
coul
d no
t wai
t for
Atti
cus
to c
ome
hom
e fo
r di
nner
, but
cal
led
and
said
we
had
a bi
g su
rpri
se f
or h
im. H
e se
emed
sur
pris
ed w
hen
he s
aw m
ost o
f th
e ba
ck
yard
in th
e fr
ont y
ard,
but
he
said
we
had
done
a ji
m-d
andy
job.
“I
didn
’t k
now
how
you
wer
e go
ing
to d
o it,
” he
sai
d to
Jem
, “bu
t fro
m n
ow o
n I’
ll n
ever
wor
ry
abou
t wha
t’ll
bec
ome
of y
ou, s
on, y
ou’l
l alw
ays
have
an
idea
.”
Jem
’s e
ars
redd
ened
fro
m A
ttic
us’s
com
plim
ent,
but h
e lo
oked
up
shar
ply
whe
n
he s
aw A
tticu
s st
eppi
ng b
ack.
Att
icus
squ
inte
d at
the
snow
man
a w
hile
. He
grin
ned,
then
laug
hed.
“So
n, I
can
’t te
ll w
hat y
ou’r
e go
ing
to b
e—an
eng
inee
r, a
law
yer,
or
a po
rtra
it pa
inte
r. Y
ou’v
e pe
rpet
rate
d a
near
libe
l her
e in
the
fron
t yar
d.
We’
ve g
ot to
dis
guis
e th
is f
ello
w.”
Att
icus
sug
gest
ed th
at J
em h
one
dow
n hi
s cr
eati
on’s
fro
nt a
littl
e, s
wap
a b
room
for
the
stov
ewoo
d, a
nd p
ut a
n ap
ron
on h
im.
Jem
exp
lain
ed th
at if
he
did,
the
snow
man
wou
ld b
ecom
e m
uddy
and
cea
se to
be
a sn
owm
an.
“I d
on’t
car
e w
hat y
ou d
o, s
o lo
ng a
s yo
u do
som
ethi
ng,”
sai
d A
ttic
us. “
You
can
’t
go a
roun
d m
akin
g ca
rica
ture
s of
the
neig
hbor
s.”
“Ain
’t a
cha
ract
ertu
re,”
sai
d Je
m. “
It lo
oks
just
like
him
.”
“Mr.
Ave
ry m
ight
not
thin
k so
.”
“I k
now
wha
t!”
said
Jem
. He
race
d ac
ross
the
stre
et, d
isap
pear
ed in
to M
iss
Mau
die’
s ba
ck y
ard
and
retu
rned
triu
mph
ant.
He
stuc
k he
r su
nhat
on
the
snow
man
’s h
ead
and
jam
med
her
hed
ge-c
lippe
rs in
to th
e cr
ook
of h
is a
rm.
Att
icus
sai
d th
at w
ould
be
fine
.
Mis
s M
audi
e op
ened
her
fro
nt d
oor
and
cam
e ou
t on
the
porc
h. S
he lo
oked
acr
oss
the
stre
et a
t us.
Sud
denl
y sh
e gr
inne
d. “
Jem
Fin
ch,”
she
cal
led.
“Y
ou d
evil
, bri
ng
me
back
my
hat,
sir!
”
Jem
look
ed u
p at
Atti
cus,
who
sho
ok h
is h
ead.
“S
he’s
just
fus
sing
,” h
e sa
id.
“She
’s r
eally
impr
esse
d w
ith y
our—
acco
mpl
ishm
ents
.”
Att
icus
str
olle
d ov
er to
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
side
wal
k, w
here
they
eng
aged
in a
n ar
m-
wav
ing
conv
ersa
tion
, the
onl
y ph
rase
of
whi
ch I
cau
ght w
as “
…er
ecte
d an
abso
lute
mor
phod
ite in
that
yar
d! A
tticu
s, y
ou’l
l nev
er r
aise
‘em
!”
The
sno
w s
topp
ed in
the
afte
rnoo
n, th
e te
mpe
ratu
re d
ropp
ed, a
nd b
y ni
ghtf
all M
r.
Ave
ry’s
dir
est p
redi
ctio
ns c
ame
true
: Cal
purn
ia k
ept e
very
fir
epla
ce in
the
hous
e
blaz
ing,
but
we
wer
e co
ld. W
hen
Atti
cus
cam
e ho
me
that
eve
ning
he
said
we
wer
e in
for
it, a
nd a
sked
Cal
purn
ia if
she
wan
ted
to s
tay
with
us
for
the
nigh
t.
Cal
purn
ia g
lanc
ed u
p at
the
high
cei
lings
and
long
win
dow
s an
d sa
id s
he th
ough
t
she’
d be
war
mer
at h
er h
ouse
. Atti
cus
drov
e he
r ho
me
in th
e ca
r.
Bef
ore
I w
ent t
o sl
eep
Att
icus
put
mor
e co
al o
n th
e fi
re in
my
room
. He
said
the
ther
mom
eter
reg
iste
red
sixt
een,
that
it w
as th
e co
ldes
t nig
ht in
his
mem
ory,
and
that
our
sno
wm
an o
utsi
de w
as f
roze
n so
lid.
Min
utes
late
r, it
see
med
, I w
as a
wak
ened
by
som
eone
sha
king
me.
Atti
cus’
s
over
coat
was
spr
ead
acro
ss m
e. “
Is it
mor
ning
alr
eady
?”
“Bab
y, g
et u
p.”
Att
icus
was
hol
ding
out
my
bath
robe
and
coa
t. “P
ut y
our
robe
on
firs
t,” h
e sa
id.
Jem
was
sta
ndin
g be
side
Atti
cus,
gro
ggy
and
tous
led.
He
was
hol
ding
his
over
coat
clo
sed
at th
e ne
ck, h
is o
ther
han
d w
as ja
mm
ed in
to h
is p
ocke
t. H
e
look
ed s
tran
gely
ove
rwei
ght.
“Hur
ry, h
on,”
sai
d A
ttic
us. “
Her
e’re
you
r sh
oes
and
sock
s.”
Stu
pidl
y, I
put
them
on.
“Is
it m
orni
ng?”
“No,
it’s
a li
ttle
afte
r on
e. H
urry
now
.”
Tha
t som
ethi
ng w
as w
rong
fin
ally
got
thro
ugh
to m
e. “
Wha
t’s
the
mat
ter?
”
By
then
he
did
not h
ave
to te
ll m
e. J
ust a
s th
e bi
rds
know
whe
re to
go
whe
n it
rain
s, I
kne
w w
hen
ther
e w
as tr
oubl
e in
our
str
eet.
Sof
t taf
feta
-lik
e so
unds
and
muf
fled
scu
rryi
ng s
ound
s fi
lled
me
with
hel
ples
s dr
ead.
“Who
se is
it?”
“Mis
s M
audi
e’s,
hon
,” s
aid
Atti
cus
gent
ly.
At t
he f
ront
doo
r, w
e sa
w f
ire
spew
ing
from
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
dini
ngro
om w
indo
ws.
As
if to
con
firm
wha
t we
saw
, the
tow
n fi
re s
iren
wai
led
up th
e sc
ale
to a
treb
le
pitc
h an
d re
mai
ned
ther
e, s
crea
min
g.
“It’
s go
ne, a
in’t
it?”
moa
ned
Jem
.
“I e
xpec
t so,
” sa
id A
ttic
us. “
Now
list
en, b
oth
of y
ou. G
o do
wn
and
stan
d in
fro
nt
of th
e R
adle
y P
lace
. Kee
p ou
t of
the
way
, do
you
hear
? Se
e w
hich
way
the
win
d’s
blow
ing?
”
“Oh,
” sa
id J
em. “
Atti
cus,
rec
kon
we
ough
ta s
tart
mov
ing
the
furn
iture
out
?”
“Not
yet
, son
. Do
as I
tell
you.
Run
now
. Tak
e ca
re o
f S
cout
, you
hea
r? D
on’t
let
her
out o
f yo
ur s
ight
.”
Wit
h a
push
, Atti
cus
star
ted
us to
war
d th
e R
adle
y fr
ont g
ate.
We
stoo
d w
atch
ing
the
stre
et f
ill w
ith
men
and
car
s w
hile
fir
e si
lent
ly d
evou
red
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
hous
e.
“Why
don
’t th
ey h
urry
, why
don
’t th
ey h
urry
…”
mut
tere
d Je
m.
We
saw
why
. The
old
fir
e tr
uck,
kill
ed b
y th
e co
ld, w
as b
eing
pus
hed
from
tow
n
by a
cro
wd
of m
en. W
hen
the
men
atta
ched
its
hose
to a
hyd
rant
, the
hos
e bu
rst
and
wat
er s
hot u
p, ti
nklin
g do
wn
on th
e pa
vem
ent.
“Oh-
h L
ord,
Jem
…”
Jem
put
his
arm
aro
und
me.
“H
ush,
Sco
ut,”
he
said
. “It
ain
’t ti
me
to w
orry
yet
. I’l
l
let y
ou k
now
whe
n.”
The
men
of
May
com
b, in
all
degr
ees
of d
ress
and
und
ress
, too
k fu
rnitu
re f
rom
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
hous
e to
a y
ard
acro
ss th
e st
reet
. I s
aw A
tticu
s ca
rryi
ng M
iss
Mau
die’
s he
avy
oak
rock
ing
chai
r, a
nd th
ough
t it s
ensi
ble
of h
im to
sav
e w
hat s
he
valu
ed m
ost.
Som
etim
es w
e he
ard
shou
ts. T
hen
Mr.
Ave
ry’s
fac
e ap
pear
ed in
an
upst
airs
win
dow
. He
push
ed a
mat
tres
s ou
t the
win
dow
into
the
stre
et a
nd th
rew
dow
n
furn
itur
e un
til m
en s
hout
ed, “
Com
e do
wn
from
ther
e, D
ick!
The
sta
irs
are
goin
g!
Get
out
ta th
ere,
Mr.
Ave
ry!”
Mr.
Ave
ry b
egan
cli
mbi
ng th
roug
h th
e w
indo
w.
“Sco
ut, h
e’s
stuc
k…”
brea
thed
Jem
. “O
h G
od…
”
Mr.
Ave
ry w
as w
edge
d tig
htly
. I b
urie
d m
y he
ad u
nder
Jem
’s a
rm a
nd d
idn’
t loo
k
agai
n un
til J
em c
ried
, “H
e’s
got l
oose
, Sco
ut!
He’
s al
l rig
ht!”
I lo
oked
up
to s
ee M
r. A
very
cro
ss th
e up
stai
rs p
orch
. He
swun
g hi
s le
gs o
ver
the
raili
ng a
nd w
as s
lidi
ng d
own
a pi
llar
whe
n he
slip
ped.
He
fell
, yel
led,
and
hit
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
shru
bber
y.
Sud
denl
y I
noti
ced
that
the
men
wer
e ba
ckin
g aw
ay f
rom
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
hous
e,
mov
ing
dow
n th
e st
reet
tow
ard
us. T
hey
wer
e no
long
er c
arry
ing
furn
itur
e. T
he
fire
was
wel
l int
o th
e se
cond
flo
or a
nd h
ad e
aten
its
way
to th
e ro
of: w
indo
w
fram
es w
ere
blac
k ag
ains
t a v
ivid
ora
nge
cent
er.
“Jem
, it l
ooks
like
a p
umpk
in—
”
“Sco
ut, l
ook!
”
Sm
oke
was
rol
ling
off
our
hous
e an
d M
iss
Rac
hel’
s ho
use
like
fog
off
a
rive
rban
k, a
nd m
en w
ere
pulli
ng h
oses
tow
ard
them
. Beh
ind
us, t
he f
ire
truc
k
from
Abb
otts
vill
e sc
ream
ed a
roun
d th
e cu
rve
and
stop
ped
in f
ront
of
our
hous
e.
“Tha
t boo
k…”
I sa
id.
“Wha
t?”
said
Jem
.
“Tha
t Tom
Sw
ift b
ook,
it a
in’t
min
e, it
’s D
ill’
s…”
“Don
’t w
orry
, Sco
ut, i
t ain
’t ti
me
to w
orry
yet
,” s
aid
Jem
. He
poin
ted.
“L
ooka
yond
er.”
In a
gro
up o
f ne
ighb
ors,
Atti
cus
was
sta
ndin
g w
ith
his
hand
s in
his
ove
rcoa
t
pock
ets.
He
mig
ht h
ave
been
wat
chin
g a
foot
ball
gam
e. M
iss
Mau
die
was
bes
ide
him
.
“See
ther
e, h
e’s
not w
orri
ed y
et,”
sai
d Je
m.
“Why
ain
’t h
e on
top
of o
ne o
f th
e ho
uses
?”
“He’
s to
o ol
d, h
e’d
brea
k hi
s ne
ck.”
“You
thin
k w
e ou
ghta
mak
e hi
m g
et o
ur s
tuff
out
?”
“Let
’s d
on’t
pes
ter
him
, he’
ll kn
ow w
hen
it’s
tim
e,”
said
Jem
.
The
Abb
otts
vill
e fi
re tr
uck
bega
n pu
mpi
ng w
ater
on
our
hous
e; a
man
on
the
roof
poin
ted
to p
lace
s th
at n
eede
d it
mos
t. I
wat
ched
our
Abs
olut
e M
orph
odit
e go
blac
k an
d cr
umbl
e; M
iss
Mau
die’
s su
nhat
set
tled
on to
p of
the
heap
. I c
ould
not
see
her
hedg
e-cl
ippe
rs. I
n th
e he
at b
etw
een
our
hous
e, M
iss
Rac
hel’
s an
d M
iss
Mau
die’
s, th
e m
en h
ad lo
ng a
go s
hed
coat
s an
d ba
thro
bes.
The
y w
orke
d in
paja
ma
tops
and
nig
htsh
irts
stu
ffed
into
thei
r pa
nts,
but
I b
ecam
e aw
are
that
I w
as
slow
ly f
reez
ing
whe
re I
sto
od. J
em tr
ied
to k
eep
me
war
m, b
ut h
is a
rm w
as n
ot
enou
gh. I
pul
led
free
of
it an
d cl
utch
ed m
y sh
ould
ers.
By
danc
ing
a li
ttle,
I c
ould
feel
my
feet
.
Ano
ther
fir
e tr
uck
appe
ared
and
sto
pped
in f
ront
of
Mis
s St
epha
nie
Cra
wfo
rd’s
.
The
re w
as n
o hy
dran
t for
ano
ther
hos
e, a
nd th
e m
en tr
ied
to s
oak
her
hous
e w
ith
hand
ext
ingu
ishe
rs.
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
tin
roof
que
lled
the
flam
es. R
oari
ng, t
he h
ouse
col
laps
ed; f
ire
gush
ed e
very
whe
re, f
ollo
wed
by
a fl
urry
of
blan
kets
fro
m m
en o
n to
p of
the
adja
cent
hou
ses,
bea
ting
out
spa
rks
and
burn
ing
chun
ks o
f w
ood.
It w
as d
awn
befo
re th
e m
en b
egan
to le
ave,
fir
st o
ne b
y on
e, th
en in
gro
ups.
The
y
push
ed th
e M
ayco
mb
fire
truc
k ba
ck to
tow
n, th
e A
bbot
tsvi
lle tr
uck
depa
rted
, the
thir
d on
e re
mai
ned.
We
foun
d ou
t nex
t day
it h
ad c
ome
from
Cla
rk’s
Fer
ry, s
ixty
mile
s aw
ay.
Jem
and
I s
lid a
cros
s th
e st
reet
. Mis
s M
audi
e w
as s
tari
ng a
t the
sm
okin
g bl
ack
hole
in h
er y
ard,
and
Att
icus
sho
ok h
is h
ead
to te
ll u
s sh
e di
d no
t wan
t to
talk
. He
led
us h
ome,
hol
ding
ont
o ou
r sh
ould
ers
to c
ross
the
icy
stre
et. H
e sa
id M
iss
Mau
die
wou
ld s
tay
with
Mis
s S
teph
anie
for
the
time
bein
g.
“Any
body
wan
t som
e ho
t cho
cola
te?”
he
aske
d. I
shu
dder
ed w
hen
Att
icus
sta
rted
a fi
re in
the
kitc
hen
stov
e.
As
we
dran
k ou
r co
coa
I no
tice
d A
ttic
us lo
okin
g at
me,
fir
st w
ith
curi
osity
, the
n
wit
h st
ernn
ess.
“I
thou
ght I
told
you
and
Jem
to s
tay
put,”
he
said
.
“Why
, we
did.
We
stay
ed—
”
“The
n w
hose
bla
nket
is th
at?”
“Bla
nket
?”
“Yes
ma’
am, b
lank
et. I
t isn
’t o
urs.
”
I lo
oked
dow
n an
d fo
und
mys
elf
clut
chin
g a
brow
n w
oole
n bl
anke
t I w
as w
eari
ng
arou
nd m
y sh
ould
ers,
squ
aw-f
ashi
on.
“Atti
cus,
I d
on’t
kno
w, s
ir…
I—
”
I tu
rned
to J
em f
or a
n an
swer
, but
Jem
was
eve
n m
ore
bew
ilder
ed th
an I
. He
said
he d
idn’
t kno
w h
ow it
got
ther
e, w
e di
d ex
actly
as
Att
icus
had
told
us,
we
stoo
d
dow
n by
the
Rad
ley
gate
aw
ay f
rom
eve
rybo
dy, w
e di
dn’t
mov
e an
inch
—Je
m
stop
ped.
“Mr.
Nat
han
was
at t
he f
ire,
” he
bab
bled
, “I
saw
him
, I s
aw h
im, h
e w
as tu
ggin
‘
that
mat
tres
s—A
tticu
s, I
sw
ear…
”
“Tha
t’s
all r
ight
, son
.” A
ttic
us g
rinn
ed s
low
ly. “
Loo
ks li
ke a
ll o
f M
ayco
mb
was
out t
onig
ht, i
n on
e w
ay o
r an
othe
r. J
em, t
here
’s s
ome
wra
ppin
g pa
per
in th
e
pant
ry, I
thin
k. G
o ge
t it a
nd w
e’ll
—”
“Atti
cus,
no
sir!
”
Jem
see
med
to h
ave
lost
his
min
d. H
e be
gan
pour
ing
out o
ur s
ecre
ts r
ight
and
left
in to
tal d
isre
gard
for
my
safe
ty if
not
for
his
ow
n, o
mitt
ing
noth
ing,
kno
t-ho
le,
pant
s an
d al
l.
“…M
r. N
atha
n pu
t cem
ent i
n th
at tr
ee, A
ttic
us, a
n‘ h
e di
d it
to s
top
us f
indi
n’
thin
gs—
he’s
cra
zy, I
rec
kon,
like
they
say
, but
Atti
cus,
I s
wea
r to
God
he
ain’
t
ever
har
med
us,
he
ain’
t eve
r hu
rt u
s, h
e co
ulda
cut
my
thro
at f
rom
ear
to e
ar th
at
nigh
t but
he
trie
d to
men
d m
y pa
nts
inst
ead…
he
ain’
t eve
r hu
rt u
s, A
ttic
us—
”
Att
icus
sai
d, “
Who
a, s
on,”
so
gent
ly th
at I
was
gre
atly
hea
rten
ed. I
t was
obv
ious
that
he
had
not f
ollo
wed
a w
ord
Jem
sai
d, f
or a
ll A
tticu
s sa
id w
as, “
You
’re
righ
t.
We’
d be
tter
kee
p th
is a
nd th
e bl
anke
t to
ours
elve
s. S
omed
ay, m
aybe
, Sco
ut c
an
than
k hi
m f
or c
over
ing
her
up.”
“Tha
nk w
ho?”
I a
sked
.
“Boo
Rad
ley.
You
wer
e so
bus
y lo
okin
g at
the
fire
you
did
n’t k
now
it w
hen
he
put t
he b
lank
et a
roun
d yo
u.”
My
stom
ach
turn
ed to
wat
er a
nd I
nea
rly
thre
w u
p w
hen
Jem
hel
d ou
t the
bla
nket
and
crep
t tow
ard
me.
“H
e sn
eake
d ou
t of
the
hous
e—tu
rn ‘
roun
d—sn
eake
d up
,
an’
wen
t lik
e th
is!”
Att
icus
sai
d dr
yly,
“D
o no
t let
this
insp
ire
you
to f
urth
er g
lory
, Jer
emy.
”
Jem
sco
wle
d, “
I ai
n’t g
onna
do
anyt
hing
to h
im,”
but
I w
atch
ed th
e sp
ark
of f
resh
adve
ntur
e le
ave
his
eyes
. “Ju
st th
ink,
Sco
ut,”
he
said
, “if
you
’d ju
st tu
rned
arou
nd, y
ou’d
a se
en h
im.”
Cal
purn
ia w
oke
us a
t noo
n. A
tticu
s ha
d sa
id w
e ne
ed n
ot g
o to
sch
ool t
hat d
ay,
we’
d le
arn
noth
ing
afte
r no
sle
ep. C
alpu
rnia
sai
d fo
r us
to tr
y an
d cl
ean
up th
e
fron
t yar
d.
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
sunh
at w
as s
uspe
nded
in a
thin
laye
r of
ice,
like
a f
ly in
am
ber,
and
we
had
to d
ig u
nder
the
dirt
for
her
hed
ge-c
lippe
rs. W
e fo
und
her
in h
er b
ack
yard
, gaz
ing
at h
er f
roze
n ch
arre
d az
alea
s. “
We’
re b
ring
ing
back
you
r th
ings
,
Mis
s M
audi
e,”
said
Jem
. “W
e’re
aw
ful s
orry
.”
Mis
s M
audi
e lo
oked
aro
und,
and
the
shad
ow o
f he
r ol
d gr
in c
ross
ed h
er f
ace.
“Alw
ays
wan
ted
a sm
alle
r ho
use,
Jem
Fin
ch. G
ives
me
mor
e ya
rd. J
ust t
hink
, I’l
l
have
mor
e ro
om f
or m
y az
alea
s no
w!”
“You
ain
’t g
riev
in‘,
Mis
s M
audi
e?”
I as
ked,
sur
pris
ed. A
tticu
s sa
id h
er h
ouse
was
near
ly a
ll s
he h
ad.
“Gri
evin
g, c
hild
? W
hy, I
hat
ed th
at o
ld c
ow b
arn.
Tho
ught
of
setti
n‘ f
ire
to it
a
hund
red
tim
es m
ysel
f, e
xcep
t the
y’d
lock
me
up.”
“But
—”
“Don
’t y
ou w
orry
abo
ut m
e, J
ean
Lou
ise
Fin
ch. T
here
are
way
s of
doi
ng th
ings
you
don’
t kno
w a
bout
. Why
, I’l
l bui
ld m
e a
littl
e ho
use
and
take
me
a co
uple
of
room
ers
and—
grac
ious
, I’l
l hav
e th
e fi
nest
yar
d in
Ala
bam
a. T
hose
Bel
lingr
aths
’ll l
ook
plai
n pu
ny w
hen
I ge
t sta
rted
!”
Jem
and
I lo
oked
at e
ach
othe
r. “
How
’d it
cat
ch, M
iss
Mau
die?
” he
ask
ed.
“I d
on’t
kno
w, J
em. P
roba
bly
the
flue
in th
e ki
tche
n. I
kep
t a f
ire
in th
ere
last
nigh
t for
my
pott
ed p
lant
s. H
ear
you
had
som
e un
expe
cted
com
pany
last
nig
ht,
Mis
s Je
an L
ouis
e.”
“How
’d y
ou k
now
?”
“Atti
cus
told
me
on h
is w
ay to
tow
n th
is m
orni
ng. T
ell y
ou th
e tr
uth,
I’d
like
to’v
e be
en w
ith y
ou. A
nd I
’d‘v
e ha
d se
nse
enou
gh to
turn
aro
und,
too.
”
Mis
s M
audi
e pu
zzle
d m
e. W
ith
mos
t of
her
poss
essi
ons
gone
and
her
bel
oved
yard
a s
ham
bles
, she
stil
l too
k a
live
ly a
nd c
ordi
al in
tere
st in
Jem
’s a
nd m
y af
fair
s.
She
mus
t hav
e se
en m
y pe
rple
xity
. She
sai
d, “
Onl
y th
ing
I w
orri
ed a
bout
last
nigh
t was
all
the
dang
er a
nd c
omm
otio
n it
caus
ed. T
his
who
le n
eigh
borh
ood
coul
d ha
ve g
one
up. M
r. A
very
’ll b
e in
bed
for
a w
eek—
he’s
rig
ht s
tove
up.
He’
s
too
old
to d
o th
ings
like
that
and
I to
ld h
im s
o. S
oon
as I
can
get
my
hand
s cl
ean
and
whe
n St
epha
nie
Cra
wfo
rd’s
not
look
ing,
I’l
l mak
e hi
m a
Lan
e ca
ke. T
hat
Ste
phan
ie’s
bee
n af
ter
my
reci
pe f
or th
irty
yea
rs, a
nd if
she
thin
ks I
’ll g
ive
it to
her
just
bec
ause
I’m
sta
ying
with
her
she
’s g
ot a
noth
er th
ink
com
ing.
”
I re
flec
ted
that
if M
iss
Mau
die
brok
e do
wn
and
gave
it to
her
, Mis
s St
epha
nie
coul
dn’t
fol
low
it a
nyw
ay. M
iss
Mau
die
had
once
let m
e se
e it
: am
ong
othe
r
thin
gs, t
he r
ecip
e ca
lled
for
one
larg
e cu
p of
sug
ar.
It w
as a
stil
l day
. The
air
was
so
cold
and
cle
ar w
e he
ard
the
cour
thou
se c
lock
clan
k, r
attle
and
str
ain
befo
re it
str
uck
the
hour
. Mis
s M
audi
e’s
nose
was
a c
olor
I
had
neve
r se
en b
efor
e, a
nd I
inqu
ired
abo
ut it
.
“I’v
e be
en o
ut h
ere
sinc
e si
x o’
cloc
k,”
she
said
. “Sh
ould
be
froz
en b
y no
w.”
She
held
up
her
hand
s. A
net
wor
k of
tiny
line
s cr
issc
ross
ed h
er p
alm
s, b
row
n w
ith
dirt
and
drie
d bl
ood.
“You
’ve
ruin
ed ‘
em,”
sai
d Je
m. “
Why
don
’t y
ou g
et a
col
ored
man
?” T
here
was
no n
ote
of s
acri
fice
in h
is v
oice
whe
n he
add
ed, “
Or
Scou
t’n’
me,
we
can
help
you.
”
Mis
s M
audi
e sa
id, “
Tha
nk y
ou s
ir, b
ut y
ou’v
e go
t a jo
b of
you
r ow
n ov
er th
ere.
”
She
poi
nted
to o
ur y
ard.
“You
mea
n th
e M
orph
odite
?” I
ask
ed. “
Sho
ot, w
e ca
n ra
ke h
im u
p in
a ji
ffy.
”
Mis
s M
audi
e st
ared
dow
n at
me,
her
lips
mov
ing
sile
ntly
. Sud
denl
y sh
e pu
t her
hand
s to
her
hea
d an
d w
hoop
ed. W
hen
we
left
her
, she
was
sti
ll ch
uckl
ing.
Jem
sai
d he
did
n’t k
now
wha
t was
the
mat
ter
wit
h he
r—th
at w
as ju
st M
iss
Mau
die.
Con
tent
s -
Pre
v / N
ext
Ch
ap
ter
9
“You
can
just
take
that
bac
k, b
oy!”
Thi
s or
der,
giv
en b
y m
e to
Cec
il J
acob
s, w
as th
e be
ginn
ing
of a
rat
her
thin
tim
e
for
Jem
and
me.
My
fist
s w
ere
clen
ched
and
I w
as r
eady
to le
t fly
. Att
icus
had
prom
ised
me
he w
ould
wea
r m
e ou
t if
he e
ver
hear
d of
me
figh
ting
any
mor
e; I
was
far
too
old
and
too
big
for
such
chi
ldis
h th
ings
, and
the
soon
er I
lear
ned
to
hold
in, t
he b
ette
r of
f ev
eryb
ody
wou
ld b
e. I
soo
n fo
rgot
.
Cec
il J
acob
s m
ade
me
forg
et. H
e ha
d an
noun
ced
in th
e sc
hool
yard
the
day
befo
re
that
Sco
ut F
inch
’s d
addy
def
ende
d ni
gger
s. I
den
ied
it, b
ut to
ld J
em.
“Wha
t’d
he m
ean
sayi
n‘ th
at?”
I a
sked
.
“Not
hing
,” J
em s
aid.
“A
sk A
ttic
us, h
e’ll
tell
you.
”
“Do
you
defe
nd n
igge
rs, A
ttic
us?”
I a
sked
him
that
eve
ning
.
“Of
cour
se I
do.
Don
’t s
ay n
igge
r, S
cout
. Tha
t’s
com
mon
.”
“‘s
wha
t eve
rybo
dy a
t sch
ool s
ays.
”
“Fro
m n
ow o
n it’
ll b
e ev
eryb
ody
less
one
—”
“Wel
l if
you
don’
t wan
t me
to g
row
up
talk
in‘
that
way
, why
do
you
send
me
to
scho
ol?”
My
fath
er lo
oked
at m
e m
ildly
, am
usem
ent i
n hi
s ey
es. D
espi
te o
ur c
ompr
omis
e,
my
cam
paig
n to
avo
id s
choo
l had
con
tinue
d in
one
for
m o
r an
othe
r si
nce
my
firs
t
day’
s do
se o
f it:
the
begi
nnin
g of
last
Sep
tem
ber
had
brou
ght o
n si
nkin
g sp
ells
,
dizz
ines
s, a
nd m
ild
gast
ric
com
plai
nts.
I w
ent s
o fa
r as
to p
ay a
nic
kel f
or th
e
priv
ilege
of
rubb
ing
my
head
aga
inst
the
head
of
Mis
s R
ache
l’s
cook
’s s
on, w
ho
was
aff
lict
ed w
ith
a tr
emen
dous
rin
gwor
m. I
t did
n’t t
ake.
But
I w
as w
orry
ing
anot
her
bone
. “D
o al
l law
yers
def
end
n-N
egro
es, A
tticu
s?”
“Of
cour
se th
ey d
o, S
cout
.”
“The
n w
hy d
id C
ecil
say
you
def
ende
d ni
gger
s? H
e m
ade
it s
ound
like
you
wer
e
runn
in‘
a st
ill.”
Att
icus
sig
hed.
“I’
m s
impl
y de
fend
ing
a N
egro
—hi
s na
me’
s T
om R
obin
son.
He
live
s in
that
litt
le s
ettle
men
t bey
ond
the
tow
n du
mp.
He’
s a
mem
ber
of
Cal
purn
ia’s
chu
rch,
and
Cal
kno
ws
his
fam
ily w
ell.
She
says
they
’re
clea
n-li
ving
folk
s. S
cout
, you
are
n’t o
ld e
noug
h to
und
erst
and
som
e th
ings
yet
, but
ther
e’s
been
som
e hi
gh ta
lk a
roun
d to
wn
to th
e ef
fect
that
I s
houl
dn’t
do
muc
h ab
out
defe
ndin
g th
is m
an. I
t’s
a pe
culia
r ca
se—
it w
on’t
com
e to
tria
l unt
il su
mm
er
sess
ion.
Joh
n T
aylo
r w
as k
ind
enou
gh to
giv
e us
a p
ostp
onem
ent…
”
“If
you
shou
ldn’
t be
defe
ndin
‘ hi
m, t
hen
why
are
you
doi
n’ it
?”
“For
a n
umbe
r of
rea
sons
,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
“T
he m
ain
one
is, i
f I
didn
’t I
cou
ldn’
t
hold
up
my
head
in to
wn,
I c
ould
n’t r
epre
sent
this
cou
nty
in th
e le
gisl
atur
e, I
coul
dn’t
eve
n te
ll yo
u or
Jem
not
to d
o so
met
hing
aga
in.”
“You
mea
n if
you
did
n’t d
efen
d th
at m
an, J
em a
nd m
e w
ould
n’t h
ave
to m
ind
you
any
mor
e?”
“Tha
t’s
abou
t rig
ht.”
“Why
?”
“Bec
ause
I c
ould
nev
er a
sk y
ou to
min
d m
e ag
ain.
Sco
ut, s
impl
y by
the
natu
re o
f
the
wor
k, e
very
law
yer
gets
at l
east
one
cas
e in
his
life
time
that
aff
ects
him
pers
onal
ly. T
his
one’
s m
ine,
I g
uess
. You
mig
ht h
ear
som
e ug
ly ta
lk a
bout
it a
t
scho
ol, b
ut d
o on
e th
ing
for
me
if y
ou w
ill:
you
just
hol
d yo
ur h
ead
high
and
kee
p
thos
e fi
sts
dow
n. N
o m
atte
r w
hat a
nybo
dy s
ays
to y
ou, d
on’t
you
let ‘
em g
et y
our
goat
. Try
fig
htin
g w
ith
your
hea
d fo
r a
chan
ge…
it’s
a g
ood
one,
eve
n if
it d
oes
resi
st le
arni
ng.”
“Atti
cus,
are
we
goin
g to
win
it?”
“No,
hon
ey.”
“The
n w
hy—
”
“Sim
ply
beca
use
we
wer
e lic
ked
a hu
ndre
d ye
ars
befo
re w
e st
arte
d is
no
reas
on
for
us n
ot to
try
to w
in,”
Atti
cus
said
.
“You
sou
nd li
ke C
ousi
n Ik
e F
inch
,” I
sai
d. C
ousi
n Ik
e Fi
nch
was
May
com
b
Cou
nty’
s so
le s
urvi
ving
Con
fede
rate
vet
eran
. He
wor
e a
Gen
eral
Hoo
d ty
pe b
eard
of w
hich
he
was
inor
dina
tely
vai
n. A
t lea
st o
nce
a ye
ar A
tticu
s, J
em a
nd I
cal
led
on h
im, a
nd I
wou
ld h
ave
to k
iss
him
. It w
as h
orri
ble.
Jem
and
I w
ould
list
en
resp
ectf
ully
to A
ttic
us a
nd C
ousi
n Ik
e re
hash
the
war
. “T
ell y
ou, A
ttic
us,”
Cou
sin
Ike
wou
ld s
ay, “
the
Mis
sour
i Com
prom
ise
was
wha
t lic
ked
us, b
ut if
I h
ad to
go
thro
ugh
it ag
in I
’d w
alk
ever
y st
ep o
f th
e w
ay th
ere
an‘
ever
y st
ep b
ack
jist l
ike
I
did
befo
re a
n’ f
urth
erm
ore
we’
d w
hip
‘em
this
tim
e… n
ow in
186
4, w
hen
Sto
new
all J
acks
on c
ame
arou
nd b
y—I
beg
your
par
don,
you
ng f
olks
. Ol’
Blu
e
Lig
ht w
as in
hea
ven
then
, God
res
t his
sai
ntly
bro
w…
”
“Com
e he
re, S
cout
,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
I c
raw
led
into
his
lap
and
tuck
ed m
y he
ad
unde
r hi
s ch
in. H
e pu
t his
arm
s ar
ound
me
and
rock
ed m
e ge
ntly
. “It
’s d
iffe
rent
this
tim
e,”
he s
aid.
“T
his
tim
e w
e ar
en’t
fig
htin
g th
e Y
anke
es, w
e’re
fig
htin
g ou
r
frie
nds.
But
rem
embe
r th
is, n
o m
atte
r ho
w b
itter
thin
gs g
et, t
hey’
re s
till o
ur
frie
nds
and
this
is s
till o
ur h
ome.
”
Wit
h th
is in
min
d, I
fac
ed C
ecil
Jaco
bs in
the
scho
olya
rd n
ext d
ay: “
You
gon
na
take
that
bac
k, b
oy?”
“You
got
ta m
ake
me
firs
t!”
he y
elle
d. “
My
folk
s sa
id y
our
dadd
y w
as a
dis
grac
e
an‘
that
nig
ger
ough
ta h
ang
from
the
wat
er-t
ank!
”
I dr
ew a
bea
d on
him
, rem
embe
red
wha
t Atti
cus
had
said
, the
n dr
oppe
d m
y fi
sts
and
wal
ked
away
, “Sc
out’
s a
cow
—w
ard!
” ri
ngin
g in
my
ears
. It w
as th
e fi
rst
tim
e I
ever
wal
ked
away
fro
m a
fig
ht.
Som
ehow
, if
I fo
ught
Cec
il I
wou
ld le
t Att
icus
dow
n. A
tticu
s so
rar
ely
aske
d Je
m
and
me
to d
o so
met
hing
for
him
, I c
ould
take
bei
ng c
alle
d a
cow
ard
for
him
. I f
elt
extr
emel
y no
ble
for
havi
ng r
emem
bere
d, a
nd r
emai
ned
nobl
e fo
r th
ree
wee
ks.
The
n C
hris
tmas
cam
e an
d di
sast
er s
truc
k.
Jem
and
I v
iew
ed C
hris
tmas
wit
h m
ixed
fee
ling
s. T
he g
ood
side
was
the
tree
and
Unc
le J
ack
Finc
h. E
very
Chr
istm
as E
ve d
ay w
e m
et U
ncle
Jac
k at
May
com
b
Junc
tion
, and
he
wou
ld s
pend
a w
eek
wit
h us
.
A f
lip o
f th
e co
in r
evea
led
the
unco
mpr
omis
ing
line
amen
ts o
f A
unt A
lexa
ndra
and
Fra
ncis
.
I su
ppos
e I
shou
ld in
clud
e U
ncle
Jim
my,
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra’s
hus
band
, but
as
he
neve
r sp
oke
a w
ord
to m
e in
my
life
exce
pt to
say
, “G
et o
ff th
e fe
nce,
” on
ce, I
neve
r sa
w a
ny r
easo
n to
take
not
ice
of h
im. N
eith
er d
id A
unt A
lexa
ndra
. Lon
g
ago,
in a
bur
st o
f fr
iend
lines
s, A
unty
and
Unc
le J
imm
y pr
oduc
ed a
son
nam
ed
Hen
ry, w
ho le
ft h
ome
as s
oon
as w
as h
uman
ly p
ossi
ble,
mar
ried
, and
pro
duce
d
Fra
ncis
. Hen
ry a
nd h
is w
ife
depo
site
d Fr
anci
s at
his
gra
ndpa
rent
s’ e
very
Chr
istm
as, t
hen
purs
ued
thei
r ow
n pl
easu
res.
No
amou
nt o
f si
ghin
g co
uld
indu
ce A
ttic
us to
let u
s sp
end
Chr
istm
as d
ay a
t hom
e.
We
wen
t to
Fin
ch’s
Lan
ding
eve
ry C
hris
tmas
in m
y m
emor
y. T
he f
act t
hat A
unty
was
a g
ood
cook
was
som
e co
mpe
nsat
ion
for
bein
g fo
rced
to s
pend
a r
elig
ious
holi
day
with
Fra
ncis
Han
cock
. He
was
a y
ear
olde
r th
an I
, and
I a
void
ed h
im o
n
prin
cipl
e: h
e en
joye
d ev
eryt
hing
I d
isap
prov
ed o
f, a
nd d
islik
ed m
y in
genu
ous
dive
rsio
ns.
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra w
as A
ttic
us’s
sis
ter,
but
whe
n Je
m to
ld m
e ab
out c
hang
elin
gs a
nd
sibl
ings
, I d
ecid
ed th
at s
he h
ad b
een
swap
ped
at b
irth
, tha
t my
gran
dpar
ents
had
perh
aps
rece
ived
a C
raw
ford
inst
ead
of a
Fin
ch. H
ad I
eve
r ha
rbor
ed th
e m
ysti
cal
noti
ons
abou
t mou
ntai
ns th
at s
eem
to o
bses
s la
wye
rs a
nd ju
dges
, Aun
t Ale
xand
ra
wou
ld h
ave
been
ana
logo
us to
Mou
nt E
vere
st: t
hrou
ghou
t my
earl
y lif
e, s
he w
as
cold
and
ther
e.
Whe
n U
ncle
Jac
k ju
mpe
d do
wn
from
the
trai
n C
hris
tmas
Eve
day
, we
had
to w
ait
for
the
port
er to
han
d hi
m tw
o lo
ng p
acka
ges.
Jem
and
I a
lway
s th
ough
t it f
unny
whe
n U
ncle
Jac
k pe
cked
Att
icus
on
the
chee
k; th
ey w
ere
the
only
two
men
we
ever
saw
kis
s ea
ch o
ther
. Unc
le J
ack
shoo
k ha
nds
with
Jem
and
sw
ung
me
high
,
but n
ot h
igh
enou
gh: U
ncle
Jac
k w
as a
hea
d sh
orte
r th
an A
ttic
us; t
he b
aby
of th
e
fam
ily,
he
was
you
nger
than
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra. H
e an
d A
unty
look
ed a
like
, but
Unc
le J
ack
mad
e be
tter
use
of h
is f
ace:
we
wer
e ne
ver
war
y of
his
sha
rp n
ose
and
chin
.
He
was
one
of
the
few
men
of
scie
nce
who
nev
er te
rrif
ied
me,
pro
babl
y be
caus
e
he n
ever
beh
aved
like
a d
octo
r. W
hene
ver
he p
erfo
rmed
a m
inor
ser
vice
for
Jem
and
me,
as
rem
ovin
g a
splin
ter
from
a f
oot,
he w
ould
tell
us e
xact
ly w
hat h
e w
as
goin
g to
do,
giv
e us
an
esti
mat
ion
of h
ow m
uch
it w
ould
hur
t, an
d ex
plai
n th
e us
e
of a
ny to
ngs
he e
mpl
oyed
. One
Chr
istm
as I
lurk
ed in
cor
ners
nur
sing
a tw
iste
d
splin
ter
in m
y fo
ot, p
erm
ittin
g no
one
to c
ome
near
me.
Whe
n U
ncle
Jac
k ca
ught
me,
he
kept
me
laug
hing
abo
ut a
pre
ache
r w
ho h
ated
goi
ng to
chu
rch
so m
uch
that
eve
ry d
ay h
e st
ood
at h
is g
ate
in h
is d
ress
ing-
gow
n, s
mok
ing
a ho
okah
and
deli
veri
ng f
ive-
min
ute
serm
ons
to a
ny p
asse
rs-b
y w
ho d
esir
ed s
piri
tual
com
fort
. I
inte
rrup
ted
to m
ake
Unc
le J
ack
let m
e kn
ow w
hen
he w
ould
pul
l it o
ut, b
ut h
e
held
up
a bl
oody
spl
inte
r in
a p
air
of tw
eeze
rs a
nd s
aid
he y
anke
d it
whi
le I
was
laug
hing
, tha
t was
wha
t was
kno
wn
as r
elat
ivit
y.
“Wha
t’s
in th
ose
pack
ages
?” I
ask
ed h
im, p
oint
ing
to th
e lo
ng th
in p
arce
ls th
e
port
er h
ad g
iven
him
.
“Non
e of
you
r bu
sine
ss,”
he
said
.
Jem
sai
d, “
How
’s R
ose
Ayl
mer
?”
Ros
e A
ylm
er w
as U
ncle
Jac
k’s
cat.
She
was
a b
eaut
iful
yel
low
fem
ale
Unc
le J
ack
said
was
one
of
the
few
wom
en h
e co
uld
stan
d pe
rman
ently
. He
reac
hed
into
his
coat
poc
ket a
nd b
roug
ht o
ut s
ome
snap
shot
s. W
e ad
mir
ed th
em.
“She
’s g
ettin
‘ fa
t,” I
sai
d.
“I s
houl
d th
ink
so. S
he e
ats
all t
he le
ftov
er f
inge
rs a
nd e
ars
from
the
hosp
ital.”
“Aw
, tha
t’s
a da
mn
stor
y,”
I sa
id.
“I b
eg y
our
pard
on?”
Att
icus
sai
d, “
Don
’t p
ay a
ny a
ttent
ion
to h
er, J
ack.
She
’s tr
ying
you
out
. Cal
say
s
she’
s be
en c
ussi
ng f
luen
tly f
or a
wee
k, n
ow.”
Unc
le J
ack
rais
ed h
is e
yebr
ows
and
said
not
hing
. I w
as p
roce
edin
g on
the
dim
theo
ry, a
side
fro
m th
e in
nate
attr
activ
enes
s of
suc
h w
ords
, tha
t if
Att
icus
dis
cove
red
I ha
d pi
cked
them
up
at
scho
ol h
e w
ould
n’t m
ake
me
go.
But
at s
uppe
r th
at e
veni
ng w
hen
I as
ked
him
to p
ass
the
dam
n ha
m, p
leas
e, U
ncle
Jack
poi
nted
at m
e. “
See
me
afte
rwar
ds, y
oung
lady
,” h
e sa
id.
Whe
n su
pper
was
ove
r, U
ncle
Jac
k w
ent t
o th
e liv
ingr
oom
and
sat
dow
n. H
e
slap
ped
his
thig
hs f
or m
e to
com
e si
t on
his
lap.
I li
ked
to s
mel
l him
: he
was
like
a
bott
le o
f al
coho
l and
som
ethi
ng p
leas
antly
sw
eet.
He
push
ed b
ack
my
bang
s an
d
look
ed a
t me.
“Y
ou’r
e m
ore
like
Att
icus
than
you
r m
othe
r,”
he s
aid.
“Y
ou’r
e al
so
grow
ing
out o
f yo
ur p
ants
a li
ttle
.”
“I r
ecko
n th
ey f
it al
l rig
ht.”
“You
like
wor
ds li
ke d
amn
and
hell
now
, don
’t y
ou?”
I sa
id I
rec
kone
d so
.
“Wel
l I d
on’t
,” s
aid
Unc
le J
ack,
“no
t unl
ess
ther
e’s
extr
eme
prov
ocat
ion
conn
ecte
d w
ith
‘em
. I’l
l be
here
a w
eek,
and
I d
on’t
wan
t to
hear
any
wor
ds li
ke
that
whi
le I
’m h
ere.
Sco
ut, y
ou’l
l get
in tr
oubl
e if
you
go
arou
nd s
ayin
g th
ings
like
that
. You
wan
t to
grow
up
to b
e a
lady
, don
’t y
ou?”
I sa
id n
ot p
arti
cula
rly.
“Of
cour
se y
ou d
o. N
ow le
t’s
get t
o th
e tr
ee.”
We
deco
rate
d th
e tr
ee u
ntil
bedt
ime,
and
that
nig
ht I
dre
amed
of
the
two
long
pack
ages
for
Jem
and
me.
Nex
t mor
ning
Jem
and
I d
ived
for
them
: the
y w
ere
from
Att
icus
, who
had
wri
tten
Unc
le J
ack
to g
et th
em f
or u
s, a
nd th
ey w
ere
wha
t
we
had
aske
d fo
r.
“Don
’t p
oint
them
in th
e ho
use,
” sa
id A
tticu
s, w
hen
Jem
aim
ed a
t a p
ictu
re o
n th
e
wal
l.
“You
’ll h
ave
to te
ach
‘em
to s
hoot
,” s
aid
Unc
le J
ack.
“Tha
t’s
your
job,
” sa
id A
tticu
s. “
I m
erel
y bo
wed
to th
e in
evita
ble.
”
It to
ok A
tticu
s’s
cour
troo
m v
oice
to d
rag
us a
way
fro
m th
e tr
ee. H
e de
clin
ed to
let
us ta
ke o
ur a
ir r
ifle
s to
the
Lan
ding
(I
had
alre
ady
begu
n to
thin
k of
sho
otin
g
Fra
ncis
) an
d sa
id if
we
mad
e on
e fa
lse
mov
e he
’d ta
ke th
em a
way
fro
m u
s fo
r
good
.
Fin
ch’s
Lan
ding
con
sist
ed o
f th
ree
hund
red
and
sixt
y-si
x st
eps
dow
n a
high
blu
ff
and
endi
ng in
a je
tty.
Far
ther
dow
n st
ream
, bey
ond
the
bluf
f, w
ere
trac
es o
f an
old
cott
on la
ndin
g, w
here
Fin
ch N
egro
es h
ad lo
aded
bal
es a
nd p
rodu
ce, u
nloa
ded
bloc
ks o
f ic
e, f
lour
and
sug
ar, f
arm
equ
ipm
ent,
and
fem
inin
e ap
pare
l. A
two-
rut
road
ran
fro
m th
e ri
vers
ide
and
vani
shed
am
ong
dark
tree
s. A
t the
end
of
the
road
was
a tw
o-st
orie
d w
hite
hou
se w
ith p
orch
es c
ircl
ing
it up
stai
rs a
nd d
owns
tair
s. I
n
his
old
age,
our
anc
esto
r Si
mon
Fin
ch h
ad b
uilt
it to
ple
ase
his
nagg
ing
wif
e; b
ut
wit
h th
e po
rche
s al
l res
embl
ance
to o
rdin
ary
hous
es o
f its
era
end
ed. T
he in
tern
al
arra
ngem
ents
of
the
Fin
ch h
ouse
wer
e in
dica
tive
of
Sim
on’s
gui
lele
ssne
ss a
nd th
e
abso
lute
trus
t with
whi
ch h
e re
gard
ed h
is o
ffsp
ring
.
The
re w
ere
six
bedr
oom
s up
stai
rs, f
our
for
the
eigh
t fem
ale
chil
dren
, one
for
Wel
com
e F
inch
, the
sol
e so
n, a
nd o
ne f
or v
isit
ing
rela
tive
s. S
impl
e en
ough
; but
the
daug
hter
s’ r
oom
s co
uld
be r
each
ed o
nly
by o
ne s
tair
case
, Wel
com
e’s
room
and
the
gues
troo
m o
nly
by a
noth
er. T
he D
augh
ters
’ S
tair
case
was
in th
e gr
ound
-
floo
r be
droo
m o
f th
eir
pare
nts,
so
Sim
on a
lway
s kn
ew th
e ho
urs
of h
is d
augh
ters
’
noct
urna
l com
ings
and
goi
ngs.
The
re w
as a
kitc
hen
sepa
rate
fro
m th
e re
st o
f th
e ho
use,
tack
ed o
nto
it b
y a
woo
den
catw
alk;
in th
e ba
ck y
ard
was
a r
usty
bel
l on
a po
le, u
sed
to s
umm
on
fiel
d ha
nds
or a
s a
dist
ress
sig
nal;
a w
idow
’s w
alk
was
on
the
roof
, but
no
wid
ows
wal
ked
ther
e—fr
om it
, Sim
on o
vers
aw h
is o
vers
eer,
wat
ched
the
rive
r-bo
ats,
and
gaze
d in
to th
e li
ves
of s
urro
undi
ng la
ndho
lder
s.
The
re w
ent w
ith
the
hous
e th
e us
ual l
egen
d ab
out t
he Y
anke
es: o
ne F
inch
fem
ale,
rece
ntly
eng
aged
, don
ned
her
com
plet
e tr
ouss
eau
to s
ave
it fr
om r
aide
rs in
the
neig
hbor
hood
; she
bec
ame
stuc
k in
the
door
to th
e D
augh
ters
’ S
tair
case
but
was
dous
ed w
ith
wat
er a
nd f
inal
ly p
ushe
d th
roug
h. W
hen
we
arri
ved
at th
e L
andi
ng,
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra k
isse
d U
ncle
Jac
k, F
ranc
is k
isse
d U
ncle
Jac
k, U
ncle
Jim
my
shoo
k ha
nds
sile
ntly
with
Unc
le J
ack,
Jem
and
I g
ave
our
pres
ents
to F
ranc
is, w
ho
gave
us
a pr
esen
t. Je
m f
elt h
is a
ge a
nd g
ravi
tate
d to
the
adul
ts, l
eavi
ng m
e to
ente
rtai
n ou
r co
usin
. Fra
ncis
was
eig
ht a
nd s
lick
ed b
ack
his
hair
.
“Wha
t’d
you
get f
or C
hris
tmas
?” I
ask
ed p
olit
ely.
“Jus
t wha
t I a
sked
for
,” h
e sa
id. F
ranc
is h
ad r
eque
sted
a p
air
of k
nee-
pant
s, a
red
leat
her
book
sack
, fiv
e sh
irts
and
an
unti
ed b
ow ti
e.
“Tha
t’s
nice
,” I
lied
. “Je
m a
nd m
e go
t air
rif
les,
and
Jem
got
a c
hem
istr
y se
t—”
“A to
y on
e, I
rec
kon.
”
“No,
a r
eal o
ne. H
e’s
gonn
a m
ake
me
som
e in
visi
ble
ink,
and
I’m
gon
na w
rite
to
Dil
l in
it.”
Fra
ncis
ask
ed w
hat w
as th
e us
e of
that
.
“Wel
l, ca
n’t y
ou ju
st s
ee h
is f
ace
whe
n he
get
s a
lette
r fr
om m
e w
ith
noth
ing
in it
?
It’l
l dri
ve h
im n
uts.
”
Tal
king
to F
ranc
is g
ave
me
the
sens
atio
n of
set
tlin
g sl
owly
to th
e bo
ttom
of
the
ocea
n. H
e w
as th
e m
ost b
orin
g ch
ild
I ev
er m
et. A
s he
live
d in
Mob
ile, h
e co
uld
not i
nfor
m o
n m
e to
sch
ool a
utho
ritie
s, b
ut h
e m
anag
ed to
tell
ever
ythi
ng h
e kn
ew
to A
unt A
lexa
ndra
, who
in tu
rn u
nbur
dene
d he
rsel
f to
Att
icus
, who
eith
er f
orgo
t it
or g
ave
me
hell
, whi
chev
er s
truc
k hi
s fa
ncy.
But
the
only
tim
e I
ever
hea
rd
Att
icus
spe
ak s
harp
ly to
any
one
was
whe
n I
once
hea
rd h
im s
ay, “
Sis
ter,
I d
o th
e
best
I c
an w
ith th
em!”
It h
ad s
omet
hing
to d
o w
ith m
y go
ing
arou
nd in
ove
rall
s.
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra w
as f
anat
ical
on
the
subj
ect o
f m
y at
tire.
I c
ould
not
pos
sibl
y
hope
to b
e a
lady
if I
wor
e br
eech
es; w
hen
I sa
id I
cou
ld d
o no
thin
g in
a d
ress
, she
said
I w
asn’
t sup
pose
d to
be
doin
g th
ings
that
req
uire
d pa
nts.
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra’s
visi
on o
f m
y de
port
men
t inv
olve
d pl
ayin
g w
ith s
mal
l sto
ves,
tea
sets
, and
wea
ring
the
Add
-A-P
earl
nec
klac
e sh
e ga
ve m
e w
hen
I w
as b
orn;
fur
ther
mor
e, I
sho
uld
be
a ra
y of
sun
shin
e in
my
fath
er’s
lone
ly li
fe. I
sug
gest
ed th
at o
ne c
ould
be
a ra
y of
suns
hine
in p
ants
just
as
wel
l, bu
t Aun
ty s
aid
that
one
had
to b
ehav
e li
ke a
sunb
eam
, tha
t I w
as b
orn
good
but
had
gro
wn
prog
ress
ivel
y w
orse
eve
ry y
ear.
She
hur
t my
feel
ings
and
set
my
teet
h pe
rman
entl
y on
edg
e, b
ut w
hen
I as
ked
Att
icus
abo
ut it
, he
said
ther
e w
ere
alre
ady
enou
gh s
unbe
ams
in th
e fa
mil
y an
d to
go o
n ab
out m
y bu
sine
ss, h
e di
dn’t
min
d m
e m
uch
the
way
I w
as.
At C
hris
tmas
din
ner,
I s
at a
t the
litt
le ta
ble
in th
e di
ning
room
; Jem
and
Fra
ncis
sat
wit
h th
e ad
ults
at t
he d
inin
g ta
ble.
Aun
ty h
ad c
ontin
ued
to is
olat
e m
e lo
ng a
fter
Jem
and
Fra
ncis
gra
duat
ed to
the
big
tabl
e. I
oft
en w
onde
red
wha
t she
thou
ght I
’d
do, g
et u
p an
d th
row
som
ethi
ng?
I so
met
imes
thou
ght o
f as
king
her
if s
he w
ould
let m
e si
t at t
he b
ig ta
ble
wit
h th
e re
st o
f th
em ju
st o
nce,
I w
ould
pro
ve to
her
how
civi
lized
I c
ould
be;
aft
er a
ll, I
ate
at h
ome
ever
y da
y w
ith
no m
ajor
mis
haps
.
Whe
n I
begg
ed A
tticu
s to
use
his
infl
uenc
e, h
e sa
id h
e ha
d no
ne—
we
wer
e
gues
ts, a
nd w
e sa
t whe
re s
he to
ld u
s to
sit
. He
also
sai
d A
unt A
lexa
ndra
did
n’t
unde
rsta
nd g
irls
muc
h, s
he’d
nev
er h
ad o
ne.
But
her
coo
king
mad
e up
for
eve
ryth
ing:
thre
e ki
nds
of m
eat,
sum
mer
veg
etab
les
from
her
pan
try
shel
ves;
pea
ch p
ickl
es, t
wo
kind
s of
cak
e an
d am
bros
ia
cons
titu
ted
a m
odes
t Chr
istm
as d
inne
r. A
fter
war
ds, t
he a
dults
mad
e fo
r th
e
livi
ngro
om a
nd s
at a
roun
d in
a d
azed
con
ditio
n. J
em la
y on
the
floo
r, a
nd I
wen
t
to th
e ba
ck y
ard.
“Pu
t on
your
coa
t,” s
aid
Atti
cus
drea
mil
y, s
o I
didn
’t h
ear
him
.
Fra
ncis
sat
bes
ide
me
on th
e ba
ck s
teps
. “T
hat w
as th
e be
st y
et,”
I s
aid.
“Gra
ndm
a’s
a w
onde
rful
coo
k,”
said
Fra
ncis
. “S
he’s
gon
na te
ach
me
how
.”
“Boy
s do
n’t c
ook.
” I
gigg
led
at th
e th
ough
t of
Jem
in a
n ap
ron.
“Gra
ndm
a sa
ys a
ll m
en s
houl
d le
arn
to c
ook,
that
men
oug
hta
be c
aref
ul w
ith
thei
r w
ives
and
wai
t on
‘em
whe
n th
ey d
on’t
fee
l goo
d,”
said
my
cous
in.
“I d
on’t
wan
t Dill
wai
tin‘
on
me,
” I
said
. “I’
d ra
ther
wai
t on
him
.”
“Dill
?”
“Yea
h. D
on’t
say
any
thin
g ab
out i
t yet
, but
we’
re g
onna
get
mar
ried
as
soon
as
we’
re b
ig e
noug
h. H
e as
ked
me
last
sum
mer
.”
Fra
ncis
hoo
ted.
“Wha
t’s
the
mat
ter
wit
h hi
m?”
I a
sked
. “A
in’t
any
thin
g th
e m
atte
r w
ith h
im.”
“You
mea
n th
at li
ttle
run
t Gra
ndm
a sa
ys s
tays
wit
h M
iss
Rac
hel e
very
sum
mer
?”
“Tha
t’s
exac
tly w
ho I
mea
n.”
“I k
now
all
abo
ut h
im,”
sai
d Fr
anci
s.
“Wha
t abo
ut h
im?”
“Gra
ndm
a sa
ys h
e ha
sn’t
got
a h
ome—
”
“Has
too,
he
live
s in
Mer
idia
n.”
“—he
just
get
s pa
ssed
aro
und
from
rel
ativ
e to
rel
ativ
e, a
nd M
iss
Rac
hel k
eeps
him
eve
ry s
umm
er.”
“Fra
ncis
, tha
t’s
not s
o!”
Fra
ncis
gri
nned
at m
e. “
You
’re
mig
hty
dum
b so
met
imes
, Jea
n L
ouis
e. G
uess
you
don’
t kno
w a
ny b
ette
r, th
ough
.”
“Wha
t do
you
mea
n?”
“If
Unc
le A
ttic
us le
ts y
ou r
un a
roun
d w
ith
stra
y do
gs, t
hat’
s hi
s ow
n bu
sine
ss,
like
Gra
ndm
a sa
ys, s
o it
ain
’t y
our
faul
t. I
gues
s it
ain
’t y
our
faul
t if
Unc
le A
ttic
us
is a
nig
ger-
love
r be
side
s, b
ut I
’m h
ere
to te
ll y
ou it
cer
tain
ly d
oes
mor
tify
the
rest
of th
e fa
mily
—”
“Fra
ncis
, wha
t the
hel
l do
you
mea
n?”
“Jus
t wha
t I s
aid.
Gra
ndm
a sa
ys it
’s b
ad e
noug
h he
lets
you
all
run
wil
d, b
ut n
ow
he’s
turn
ed o
ut a
nig
ger-
love
r w
e’ll
neve
r be
abl
e to
wal
k th
e st
reet
s of
May
com
b
agin
. He’
s ru
inin
‘ th
e fa
mil
y, th
at’s
wha
t he’
s do
in’.
”
Fra
ncis
ros
e an
d sp
rint
ed d
own
the
catw
alk
to th
e ol
d ki
tche
n. A
t a s
afe
dist
ance
he c
alle
d, “
He’
s no
thin
‘ bu
t a n
igge
r-lo
ver!
”
“He
is n
ot!”
I r
oare
d. “
I do
n’t k
now
wha
t you
’re
talk
in‘
abou
t, bu
t you
bet
ter
cut
it o
ut th
is r
ed h
ot m
inut
e!”
I le
aped
off
the
step
s an
d ra
n do
wn
the
catw
alk.
It w
as e
asy
to c
olla
r Fr
anci
s. I
said
take
it b
ack
quic
k.
Fra
ncis
jerk
ed lo
ose
and
sped
into
the
old
kitc
hen.
“N
igge
r-lo
ver!
” he
yel
led.
Whe
n st
alki
ng o
ne’s
pre
y, it
is b
est t
o ta
ke o
ne’s
tim
e. S
ay n
othi
ng, a
nd a
s su
re a
s
eggs
he
will
bec
ome
curi
ous
and
emer
ge. F
ranc
is a
ppea
red
at th
e ki
tche
n do
or.
“You
sti
ll m
ad, J
ean
Lou
ise?
” he
ask
ed te
ntat
ivel
y.
“Not
hing
to s
peak
of,
” I
said
.
Fra
ncis
cam
e ou
t on
the
catw
alk.
“You
gon
na ta
ke it
bac
k, F
ra—
anci
s?”
But
I w
as to
o qu
ick
on th
e dr
aw. F
ranc
is
shot
bac
k in
to th
e ki
tche
n, s
o I
reti
red
to th
e st
eps.
I c
ould
wai
t pat
ient
ly. I
had
sat
ther
e pe
rhap
s fi
ve m
inut
es w
hen
I he
ard
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra s
peak
: “W
here
’s
Fra
ncis
?”
“He’
s ou
t yon
der
in th
e ki
tche
n.”
“He
know
s he
’s n
ot s
uppo
sed
to p
lay
in th
ere.
”
Fra
ncis
cam
e to
the
door
and
yel
led,
“G
rand
ma,
she
’s g
ot m
e in
her
e an
d sh
e
won
’t le
t me
out!
”
“Wha
t is
all t
his,
Jea
n L
ouis
e?”
I lo
oked
up
at A
unt A
lexa
ndra
. “I
have
n’t g
ot h
im in
ther
e, A
unty
, I a
in’t
hol
din‘
him
.”
“Yes
she
is,”
sho
uted
Fra
ncis
, “sh
e w
on’t
let m
e ou
t!”
“Hav
e yo
u al
l bee
n fu
ssin
g?”
“Jea
n L
ouis
e go
t mad
at m
e, G
rand
ma,
” ca
lled
Fra
ncis
.
“Fra
ncis
, com
e ou
t of
ther
e! J
ean
Lou
ise,
if I
hea
r an
othe
r w
ord
out o
f yo
u I’
ll te
ll
your
fat
her.
Did
I h
ear
you
say
hell
a w
hile
ago
?”
“Nom
e.”
“I th
ough
t I d
id. I
’d b
ette
r no
t hea
r it
aga
in.”
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra w
as a
bac
k-po
rch
liste
ner.
The
mom
ent s
he w
as o
ut o
f si
ght
Fra
ncis
cam
e ou
t hea
d up
and
gri
nnin
g. “
Don
’t y
ou f
ool w
ith m
e,”
he s
aid.
He
jum
ped
into
the
yard
and
kep
t his
dis
tanc
e, k
icki
ng tu
fts
of g
rass
, tur
ning
arou
nd o
ccas
iona
lly
to s
mil
e at
me.
Jem
app
eare
d on
the
porc
h, lo
oked
at u
s, a
nd
wen
t aw
ay. F
ranc
is c
lim
bed
the
mim
osa
tree
, cam
e do
wn,
put
his
han
ds in
his
pock
ets
and
stro
lled
aro
und
the
yard
. “H
ah!”
he
said
. I a
sked
him
who
he
thou
ght
he w
as, U
ncle
Jac
k? F
ranc
is s
aid
he r
ecko
ned
I go
t tol
d, f
or m
e to
just
sit
ther
e
and
leav
e hi
m a
lone
.
“I a
in’t
bot
heri
n‘ y
ou,”
I s
aid.
Fra
ncis
look
ed a
t me
care
fully
, con
clud
ed th
at I
had
bee
n su
ffic
ient
ly s
ubdu
ed,
and
croo
ned
soft
ly, “
Nig
ger-
love
r…”
Thi
s ti
me,
I s
plit
my
knuc
kle
to th
e bo
ne o
n hi
s fr
ont t
eeth
. My
left
impa
ired
, I
sail
ed in
wit
h m
y ri
ght,
but n
ot f
or lo
ng. U
ncle
Jac
k pi
nned
my
arm
s to
my
side
s
and
said
, “St
and
still
!”
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra m
inis
tere
d to
Fra
ncis
, wip
ing
his
tear
s aw
ay w
ith h
er
hand
kerc
hief
, rub
bing
his
hai
r, p
attin
g hi
s ch
eek.
Atti
cus,
Jem
, and
Unc
le J
imm
y
had
com
e to
the
back
por
ch w
hen
Fran
cis
star
ted
yell
ing.
“Who
sta
rted
this
?” s
aid
Unc
le J
ack.
Fra
ncis
and
I p
oint
ed a
t eac
h ot
her.
“G
rand
ma,
” he
baw
led,
“sh
e ca
lled
me
a
who
re-l
ady
and
jum
ped
on m
e!”
“Is
that
true
, Sco
ut?”
sai
d U
ncle
Jac
k.
“I r
ecko
n so
.”
Whe
n U
ncle
Jac
k lo
oked
dow
n at
me,
his
fea
ture
s w
ere
like
Aun
t Ale
xand
ra’s
.
“You
kno
w I
told
you
you
’d g
et in
trou
ble
if y
ou u
sed
wor
ds li
ke th
at?
I to
ld y
ou,
didn
’t I
?”
“Yes
sir
, but
—”
“Wel
l, yo
u’re
in tr
oubl
e no
w. S
tay
ther
e.”
I w
as d
ebat
ing
whe
ther
to s
tand
ther
e or
run
, and
tarr
ied
in in
deci
sion
a m
omen
t
too
long
: I tu
rned
to f
lee
but U
ncle
Jac
k w
as q
uick
er. I
fou
nd m
ysel
f su
dden
ly
look
ing
at a
tiny
ant
str
uggl
ing
wit
h a
brea
d cr
umb
in th
e gr
ass.
“I’l
l nev
er s
peak
to y
ou a
gain
as
long
as
I liv
e! I
hat
e yo
u an
‘ de
spis
e yo
u an
’
hope
you
die
tom
orro
w!”
A s
tate
men
t tha
t see
med
to e
ncou
rage
Unc
le J
ack,
mor
e
than
any
thin
g. I
ran
to A
ttic
us f
or c
omfo
rt, b
ut h
e sa
id I
had
it c
omin
g an
d it
was
high
tim
e w
e w
ent h
ome.
I c
lim
bed
into
the
back
sea
t of
the
car
with
out s
ayin
g
good
-bye
to a
nyon
e, a
nd a
t hom
e I
ran
to m
y ro
om a
nd s
lam
med
the
door
. Jem
trie
d to
say
som
ethi
ng n
ice,
but
I w
ould
n’t l
et h
im.
Whe
n I
surv
eyed
the
dam
age
ther
e w
ere
only
sev
en o
r ei
ght r
ed m
arks
, and
I w
as
refl
ecti
ng u
pon
rela
tivi
ty w
hen
som
eone
kno
cked
on
the
door
. I a
sked
who
it w
as;
Unc
le J
ack
answ
ered
.
“Go
away
!”
Unc
le J
ack
said
if I
talk
ed li
ke th
at h
e’d
lick
me
agai
n, s
o I
was
qui
et. W
hen
he
ente
red
the
room
I r
etre
ated
to a
cor
ner
and
turn
ed m
y ba
ck o
n hi
m. “
Sco
ut,”
he
said
, “do
you
stil
l hat
e m
e?”
“Go
on, p
leas
e si
r.”
“Why
, I d
idn’
t thi
nk y
ou’d
hol
d it
aga
inst
me,
” he
sai
d. “
I’m
dis
appo
inte
d in
you
—yo
u ha
d th
at c
omin
g an
d yo
u kn
ow it
.”
“Did
n’t e
ither
.”
“Hon
ey, y
ou c
an’t
go
arou
nd c
alli
ng p
eopl
e—”
“You
ain
’t f
air,
” I
said
, “yo
u ai
n’t f
air.
”
Unc
le J
ack’
s ey
ebro
ws
wen
t up.
“N
ot f
air?
How
not
?”
“You
’re
real
nic
e, U
ncle
Jac
k, a
n‘ I
rec
kon
I lo
ve y
ou e
ven
afte
r w
hat y
ou d
id, b
ut
you
don’
t und
erst
and
chil
dren
muc
h.”
Unc
le J
ack
put h
is h
ands
on
his
hips
and
look
ed d
own
at m
e. “
And
why
do
I no
t
unde
rsta
nd c
hild
ren,
Mis
s Je
an L
ouis
e? S
uch
cond
uct a
s yo
urs
requ
ired
littl
e
unde
rsta
ndin
g. I
t was
obs
trep
erou
s, d
isor
derl
y an
d ab
usiv
e—”
“You
gon
na g
ive
me
a ch
ance
to te
ll yo
u? I
don
’t m
ean
to s
ass
you,
I’m
just
tryi
n‘
to te
ll yo
u.”
Unc
le J
ack
sat d
own
on th
e be
d. H
is e
yebr
ows
cam
e to
geth
er, a
nd h
e pe
ered
up
at
me
from
und
er th
em. “
Proc
eed,
” he
sai
d.
I to
ok a
dee
p br
eath
. “W
ell,
in th
e fi
rst p
lace
you
nev
er s
topp
ed to
gim
me
a
chan
ce to
tell
you
my
side
of
it—
you
just
lit r
ight
into
me.
Whe
n Je
m a
n‘ I
fus
s
Att
icus
doe
sn’t
eve
r ju
st li
sten
to J
em’s
sid
e of
it, h
e he
ars
min
e to
o, a
n’ in
the
seco
nd p
lace
you
told
me
neve
r to
use
wor
ds li
ke th
at e
xcep
t in
ex-e
xtre
me
prov
ocat
ion,
and
Fra
ncis
pro
voca
ted
me
enou
gh to
kno
ck h
is b
lock
off
—”
Unc
le J
ack
scra
tche
d hi
s he
ad. “
Wha
t was
you
r si
de o
f it,
Sco
ut?”
“Fra
ncis
cal
led
Att
icus
som
ethi
n‘, a
n’ I
was
n’t a
bout
to ta
ke it
off
him
.”
“Wha
t did
Fra
ncis
cal
l him
?”
“A n
igge
r-lo
ver.
I a
in’t
ver
y su
re w
hat i
t mea
ns, b
ut th
e w
ay F
ranc
is s
aid
it—te
ll
you
one
thin
g ri
ght n
ow, U
ncle
Jac
k, I
’ll b
e—I
swea
r be
fore
God
if I
’ll s
it th
ere
and
let h
im s
ay s
omet
hin‘
abo
ut A
ttic
us.”
“He
calle
d A
ttic
us th
at?”
“Yes
sir
, he
did,
an‘
a lo
t mor
e. S
aid
Atti
cus’
d be
the
ruin
atio
n of
the
fam
ily
an’
he le
t Jem
an
me
run
wild
…”
Fro
m th
e lo
ok o
n U
ncle
Jac
k’s
face
, I th
ough
t I w
as in
for
it a
gain
. Whe
n he
sai
d,
“We’
ll s
ee a
bout
this
,” I
kne
w F
ranc
is w
as in
for
it. “
I’ve
a g
ood
min
d to
go
out
ther
e to
nigh
t.”
“Ple
ase
sir,
just
let i
t go.
Ple
ase.
”
“I’v
e no
inte
ntio
n of
letti
ng it
go,
” he
sai
d. “
Ale
xand
ra s
houl
d kn
ow a
bout
this
.
The
idea
of—
wai
t’ll
I ge
t my
hand
s on
that
boy
…”
“Unc
le J
ack,
ple
ase
prom
ise
me
som
ethi
n‘, p
leas
e si
r. P
rom
ise
you
won
’t te
ll
Att
icus
abo
ut th
is. H
e—he
ask
ed m
e on
e ti
me
not t
o le
t any
thin
g I
hear
d ab
out
him
mak
e m
e m
ad, a
n’ I
’d r
uthe
r hi
m th
ink
we
wer
e fi
ghtin
‘ ab
out s
omet
hin’
els
e
inst
ead.
Ple
ase
prom
ise…
”
“But
I d
on’t
like
Fra
ncis
get
ting
aw
ay w
ith
som
ethi
ng li
ke th
at—
”
“He
didn
’t. Y
ou r
ecko
n yo
u co
uld
tie u
p m
y ha
nd?
It’s
stil
l ble
edin
‘ so
me.
”
“Of
cour
se I
will
, bab
y. I
kno
w o
f no
han
d I
wou
ld b
e m
ore
deli
ghte
d to
tie
up.
Wil
l you
com
e th
is w
ay?”
Unc
le J
ack
gall
antl
y bo
wed
me
to th
e ba
thro
om. W
hile
he
clea
ned
and
band
aged
my
knuc
kles
, he
ente
rtai
ned
me
with
a ta
le a
bout
a f
unny
nea
rsig
hted
old
gent
lem
an w
ho h
ad a
cat
nam
ed H
odge
, and
who
cou
nted
all
the
crac
ks in
the
side
wal
k w
hen
he w
ent t
o to
wn.
“T
here
now
,” h
e sa
id. “
You
’ll h
ave
a ve
ry
unla
dylik
e sc
ar o
n yo
ur w
eddi
ng-r
ing
fing
er.”
“Tha
nk y
ou s
ir. U
ncle
Jac
k?”
“Ma’
am?”
“Wha
t’s
a w
hore
-lad
y?”
Unc
le J
ack
plun
ged
into
ano
ther
long
tale
abo
ut a
n ol
d P
rim
e M
inis
ter
who
sat
in
the
Hou
se o
f C
omm
ons
and
blew
fea
ther
s in
the
air
and
trie
d to
kee
p th
em th
ere
whe
n al
l abo
ut h
im m
en w
ere
losi
ng th
eir
head
s. I
gue
ss h
e w
as tr
ying
to a
nsw
er
my
ques
tion,
but
he
mad
e no
sen
se w
hats
oeve
r.
Lat
er, w
hen
I w
as s
uppo
sed
to b
e in
bed
, I w
ent d
own
the
hall
for
a dr
ink
of w
ater
and
hear
d A
ttic
us a
nd U
ncle
Jac
k in
the
livin
groo
m:
“I s
hall
neve
r m
arry
, Atti
cus.
”
“Why
?”
“I m
ight
hav
e ch
ildre
n.”
Att
icus
sai
d, “
You
’ve
a lo
t to
lear
n, J
ack.
”
“I k
now
. You
r da
ught
er g
ave
me
my
firs
t les
sons
this
aft
erno
on. S
he s
aid
I di
dn’t
unde
rsta
nd c
hild
ren
muc
h an
d to
ld m
e w
hy. S
he w
as q
uite
rig
ht. A
tticu
s, s
he to
ld
me
how
I s
houl
d ha
ve tr
eate
d he
r—oh
dea
r, I
’m s
o so
rry
I ro
mpe
d on
her
.”
Att
icus
chu
ckle
d. “
She
earn
ed it
, so
don’
t fee
l too
rem
orse
ful.”
I w
aite
d, o
n te
nter
hook
s, f
or U
ncle
Jac
k to
tell
Att
icus
my
side
of
it. B
ut h
e
didn
’t. H
e si
mpl
y m
urm
ured
, “H
er u
se o
f ba
thro
om in
vect
ive
leav
es n
othi
ng to
the
imag
inat
ion.
But
she
doe
sn’t
kno
w th
e m
eani
ng o
f ha
lf s
he s
ays—
she
aske
d
me
wha
t a w
hore
-lad
y w
as…
”
“Did
you
tell
her?
”
“No,
I to
ld h
er a
bout
Lor
d M
elbo
urne
.”
“Jac
k! W
hen
a ch
ild a
sks
you
som
ethi
ng, a
nsw
er h
im, f
or g
oodn
ess’
sak
e. B
ut
don’
t mak
e a
prod
uctio
n of
it. C
hild
ren
are
child
ren,
but
they
can
spo
t an
evas
ion
quic
ker
than
adu
lts, a
nd e
vasi
on s
impl
y m
uddl
es ‘
em. N
o,”
my
fath
er m
used
,
“you
had
the
righ
t ans
wer
this
aft
erno
on, b
ut th
e w
rong
rea
sons
. Bad
lang
uage
is
a st
age
all c
hild
ren
go th
roug
h, a
nd it
die
s w
ith ti
me
whe
n th
ey le
arn
they
’re
not
attr
actin
g at
tent
ion
with
it. H
othe
aded
ness
isn’
t. S
cout
’s g
ot to
lear
n to
kee
p he
r
head
and
lear
n so
on, w
ith
wha
t’s
in s
tore
for
her
thes
e ne
xt f
ew m
onth
s. S
he’s
com
ing
alon
g, th
ough
. Jem
’s g
etti
ng o
lder
and
she
fol
low
s hi
s ex
ampl
e a
good
bit
now
. All
she
nee
ds is
ass
ista
nce
som
etim
es.”
“Atti
cus,
you
’ve
neve
r la
id a
han
d on
her
.”
“I a
dmit
that
. So
far
I’ve
bee
n ab
le to
get
by
with
thre
ats.
Jac
k, s
he m
inds
me
as
wel
l as
she
can.
Doe
sn’t
com
e up
to s
crat
ch h
alf
the
tim
e, b
ut s
he tr
ies.
”
“Tha
t’s
not t
he a
nsw
er,”
sai
d U
ncle
Jac
k.
“No,
the
answ
er is
she
kno
ws
I kn
ow s
he tr
ies.
Tha
t’s
wha
t mak
es th
e di
ffer
ence
.
Wha
t bot
hers
me
is th
at s
he a
nd J
em w
ill h
ave
to a
bsor
b so
me
ugly
thin
gs p
rett
y
soon
. I’m
not
wor
ried
abo
ut J
em k
eepi
ng h
is h
ead,
but
Sco
ut’d
just
as
soon
jum
p
on s
omeo
ne a
s lo
ok a
t him
if h
er p
ride
’s a
t sta
ke…
”
I w
aite
d fo
r U
ncle
Jac
k to
bre
ak h
is p
rom
ise.
He
still
did
n’t.
“Atti
cus,
how
bad
is th
is g
oing
to b
e? Y
ou h
aven
’t h
ad to
o m
uch
chan
ce to
disc
uss
it.”
“It c
ould
n’t b
e w
orse
, Jac
k. T
he o
nly
thin
g w
e’ve
got
is a
bla
ck m
an’s
wor
d
agai
nst t
he E
wel
ls‘.
The
evi
denc
e bo
ils
dow
n to
you
-did
—I-
didn
’t. T
he ju
ry
coul
dn’t
pos
sibl
y be
exp
ecte
d to
take
Tom
Rob
inso
n’s
wor
d ag
ains
t the
Ew
ells
’—
are
you
acqu
aint
ed w
ith th
e E
wel
ls?”
Unc
le J
ack
said
yes
, he
rem
embe
red
them
. He
desc
ribe
d th
em to
Att
icus
, but
Att
icus
sai
d, “
You
’re
a ge
nera
tion
off
. The
pre
sent
one
s ar
e th
e sa
me,
thou
gh.”
“Wha
t are
you
goi
ng to
do,
then
?”
“Bef
ore
I’m
thro
ugh,
I in
tend
to ja
r th
e ju
ry a
bit
—I
thin
k w
e’ll
hav
e a
reas
onab
le
chan
ce o
n ap
peal
, tho
ugh.
I r
eally
can
’t te
ll at
this
sta
ge, J
ack.
You
kno
w, I
’d
hope
d to
get
thro
ugh
life
with
out a
cas
e of
this
kin
d, b
ut J
ohn
Tay
lor
poin
ted
at
me
and
said
, ‘Y
ou’r
e It
.’”
“Let
this
cup
pas
s fr
om y
ou, e
h?”
“Rig
ht. B
ut d
o yo
u th
ink
I co
uld
face
my
child
ren
othe
rwis
e? Y
ou k
now
wha
t’s
goin
g to
hap
pen
as w
ell a
s I
do, J
ack,
and
I h
ope
and
pray
I c
an g
et J
em a
nd S
cout
thro
ugh
it w
ithou
t bitt
erne
ss, a
nd m
ost o
f al
l, w
ithou
t cat
chin
g M
ayco
mb’
s us
ual
dise
ase.
Why
rea
sona
ble
peop
le g
o st
ark
ravi
ng m
ad w
hen
anyt
hing
invo
lvin
g a
Neg
ro c
omes
up,
is s
omet
hing
I d
on’t
pre
tend
to u
nder
stan
d… I
just
hop
e th
at
Jem
and
Sco
ut c
ome
to m
e fo
r th
eir
answ
ers
inst
ead
of li
sten
ing
to th
e to
wn.
I
hope
they
trus
t me
enou
gh…
Jea
n L
ouis
e?”
My
scal
p ju
mpe
d. I
stu
ck m
y he
ad a
roun
d th
e co
rner
. “Si
r?”
“Go
to b
ed.”
I sc
urri
ed to
my
room
and
wen
t to
bed.
Unc
le J
ack
was
a p
rinc
e of
a f
ello
w n
ot to
let m
e do
wn.
But
I n
ever
fig
ured
out
how
Att
icus
kne
w I
was
list
enin
g, a
nd it
was
not u
ntil
man
y ye
ars
late
r th
at I
rea
lized
he
wan
ted
me
to h
ear
ever
y w
ord
he s
aid.
Con
tent
s -
Pre
v / N
ext
Ch
ap
ter
10
Att
icus
was
fee
ble:
he
was
nea
rly
fift
y. W
hen
Jem
and
I a
sked
him
why
he
was
so
old,
he
said
he
got s
tart
ed la
te, w
hich
we
felt
ref
lect
ed u
pon
his
abili
ties
and
man
lines
s. H
e w
as m
uch
olde
r th
an th
e pa
rent
s of
our
sch
ool c
onte
mpo
rari
es, a
nd
ther
e w
as n
othi
ng J
em o
r I
coul
d sa
y ab
out h
im w
hen
our
clas
smat
es s
aid,
“M
y
fath
er—
”
Jem
was
foo
tbal
l cra
zy. A
tticu
s w
as n
ever
too
tired
to p
lay
keep
-aw
ay, b
ut w
hen
Jem
wan
ted
to ta
ckle
him
Atti
cus
wou
ld s
ay, “
I’m
too
old
for
that
, son
.”
Our
fat
her
didn
’t d
o an
ythi
ng. H
e w
orke
d in
an
offi
ce, n
ot in
a d
rugs
tore
. Att
icus
did
not d
rive
a d
ump-
truc
k fo
r th
e co
unty
, he
was
not
the
sher
iff,
he
did
not f
arm
,
wor
k in
a g
arag
e, o
r do
any
thin
g th
at c
ould
pos
sibl
y ar
ouse
the
adm
irat
ion
of
anyo
ne.
Bes
ides
that
, he
wor
e gl
asse
s. H
e w
as n
earl
y bl
ind
in h
is le
ft e
ye, a
nd s
aid
left
eyes
wer
e th
e tr
ibal
cur
se o
f th
e Fi
nche
s. W
hene
ver
he w
ante
d to
see
som
ethi
ng
wel
l, he
turn
ed h
is h
ead
and
look
ed f
rom
his
rig
ht e
ye.
He
did
not d
o th
e th
ings
our
sch
oolm
ates
’ fa
ther
s di
d: h
e ne
ver
wen
t hun
ting
, he
did
not p
lay
poke
r or
fis
h or
dri
nk o
r sm
oke.
He
sat i
n th
e liv
ingr
oom
and
rea
d.
Wit
h th
ese
attr
ibut
es, h
owev
er, h
e w
ould
not
rem
ain
as in
cons
picu
ous
as w
e
wis
hed
him
to: t
hat y
ear,
the
scho
ol b
uzze
d w
ith
talk
abo
ut h
im d
efen
ding
Tom
Rob
inso
n, n
one
of w
hich
was
com
plim
enta
ry. A
fter
my
bout
wit
h C
ecil
Jac
obs
whe
n I
com
mit
ted
mys
elf
to a
pol
icy
of c
owar
dice
, wor
d go
t aro
und
that
Sco
ut
Fin
ch w
ould
n’t f
ight
any
mor
e, h
er d
addy
wou
ldn’
t let
her
. Thi
s w
as n
ot e
ntir
ely
corr
ect:
I w
ould
n’t f
ight
pub
licl
y fo
r A
tticu
s, b
ut th
e fa
mil
y w
as p
riva
te g
roun
d. I
wou
ld f
ight
any
one
from
a th
ird
cous
in u
pwar
ds to
oth
and
nail.
Fra
ncis
Han
cock
,
for
exam
ple,
kne
w th
at.
Whe
n he
gav
e us
our
air
-rif
les
Atti
cus
wou
ldn’
t tea
ch u
s to
sho
ot. U
ncle
Jac
k
inst
ruct
ed u
s in
the
rudi
men
ts th
ereo
f; h
e sa
id A
tticu
s w
asn’
t int
eres
ted
in g
uns.
Att
icus
sai
d to
Jem
one
day
, “I’
d ra
ther
you
sho
t at t
in c
ans
in th
e ba
ck y
ard,
but
I
know
you
’ll g
o af
ter
bird
s. S
hoot
all
the
blue
jays
you
wan
t, if
you
can
hit
‘em
, but
rem
embe
r it’
s a
sin
to k
ill a
moc
king
bird
.”
Tha
t was
the
only
tim
e I
ever
hea
rd A
tticu
s sa
y it
was
a s
in to
do
som
ethi
ng, a
nd I
aske
d M
iss
Mau
die
abou
t it.
“You
r fa
ther
’s r
ight
,” s
he s
aid.
“M
ocki
ngbi
rds
don’
t do
one
thin
g bu
t mak
e m
usic
for
us to
enj
oy. T
hey
don’
t eat
up
peop
le’s
gar
dens
, don
’t n
est i
n co
rncr
ibs,
they
don’
t do
one
thin
g bu
t sin
g th
eir
hear
ts o
ut f
or u
s. T
hat’
s w
hy it
’s a
sin
to k
ill a
moc
king
bird
.”
“Mis
s M
audi
e, th
is is
an
old
neig
hbor
hood
, ain
’t it
?”
“Bee
n he
re lo
nger
than
the
tow
n.”
“Nom
e, I
mea
n th
e fo
lks
on o
ur s
tree
t are
all
old
. Jem
and
me’
s th
e on
ly c
hild
ren
arou
nd h
ere.
Mrs
. Dub
ose
is c
lose
on
to a
hun
dred
and
Mis
s R
ache
l’s
old
and
so
are
you
and
Att
icus
.”
“I d
on’t
cal
l fif
ty v
ery
old,
” sa
id M
iss
Mau
die
tart
ly. “
Not
bei
ng w
heel
ed a
roun
d
yet,
am I
? N
eith
er’s
you
r fa
ther
. But
I m
ust s
ay P
rovi
denc
e w
as k
ind
enou
gh to
burn
dow
n th
at o
ld m
auso
leum
of
min
e, I
’m to
o ol
d to
kee
p it
up—
may
be y
ou’r
e
righ
t, Je
an L
ouis
e, th
is is
a s
ettl
ed n
eigh
borh
ood.
You
’ve
neve
r be
en a
roun
d
youn
g fo
lks
muc
h, h
ave
you?
”
“Yes
sum
, at s
choo
l.”
“I m
ean
youn
g gr
own-
ups.
You
’re
luck
y, y
ou k
now
. You
and
Jem
hav
e th
e
bene
fit o
f yo
ur f
athe
r’s
age.
If
your
fat
her
was
thir
ty y
ou’d
fin
d lif
e qu
ite
diff
eren
t.”
“I s
ure
wou
ld. A
tticu
s ca
n’t d
o an
ythi
ng…
”
“You
’d b
e su
rpri
sed,
” sa
id M
iss
Mau
die.
“T
here
’s li
fe in
him
yet
.”
“Wha
t can
he
do?”
“Wel
l, he
can
mak
e so
meb
ody’
s w
ill s
o ai
rtig
ht c
an’t
any
body
med
dle
wit
h it
.”
“Sho
ot…
”
“Wel
l, di
d yo
u kn
ow h
e’s
the
best
che
cker
-pla
yer
in th
is to
wn?
Why
, dow
n at
the
Lan
ding
whe
n w
e w
ere
com
ing
up, A
ttic
us F
inch
cou
ld b
eat e
very
body
on
both
side
s of
the
rive
r.”
“Goo
d L
ord,
Mis
s M
audi
e, J
em a
nd m
e be
at h
im a
ll th
e tim
e.”
“It’
s ab
out t
ime
you
foun
d ou
t it’
s be
caus
e he
lets
you
. Did
you
kno
w h
e ca
n pl
ay
a Je
w’s
Har
p?”
Thi
s m
odes
t acc
ompl
ishm
ent s
erve
d to
mak
e m
e ev
en m
ore
asha
med
of
him
.
“Wel
l…”
she
said
.
“Wel
l, w
hat,
Mis
s M
audi
e?”
“Wel
l not
hing
. Not
hing
—it
see
ms
with
all
that
you
’d b
e pr
oud
of h
im. C
an’t
ever
ybod
y pl
ay a
Jew
’s H
arp.
Now
kee
p ou
t of
the
way
of
the
carp
ente
rs. Y
ou’d
bett
er g
o ho
me,
I’l
l be
in m
y az
alea
s an
d ca
n’t w
atch
you
. Pla
nk m
ight
hit
you
.”
I w
ent t
o th
e ba
ck y
ard
and
foun
d Je
m p
lugg
ing
away
at a
tin
can,
whi
ch s
eem
ed
stup
id w
ith
all t
he b
luej
ays
arou
nd. I
ret
urne
d to
the
fron
t yar
d an
d bu
sied
mys
elf
for
two
hour
s er
ectin
g a
com
plic
ated
bre
astw
orks
at t
he s
ide
of th
e po
rch,
cons
istin
g of
a ti
re, a
n or
ange
cra
te, t
he la
undr
y ha
mpe
r, th
e po
rch
chai
rs, a
nd a
smal
l U.S
. fla
g Je
m g
ave
me
from
a p
opco
rn b
ox.
Whe
n A
tticu
s ca
me
hom
e to
din
ner
he f
ound
me
crou
ched
dow
n ai
min
g ac
ross
the
stre
et. “
Wha
t are
you
sho
otin
g at
?”
“Mis
s M
audi
e’s
rear
end
.”
Att
icus
turn
ed a
nd s
aw m
y ge
nero
us ta
rget
ben
ding
ove
r he
r bu
shes
. He
push
ed
his
hat t
o th
e ba
ck o
f hi
s he
ad a
nd c
ross
ed th
e st
reet
. “M
audi
e,”
he c
alle
d, “
I
thou
ght I
’d b
ette
r w
arn
you.
You
’re
in c
onsi
dera
ble
peri
l.”
Mis
s M
audi
e st
raig
hten
ed u
p an
d lo
oked
tow
ard
me.
She
sai
d, “
Att
icus
, you
are
a
devi
l fro
m h
ell.”
Whe
n A
tticu
s re
turn
ed h
e to
ld m
e to
bre
ak c
amp.
“D
on’t
you
eve
r le
t me
catc
h
you
poin
ting
that
gun
at a
nybo
dy a
gain
,” h
e sa
id.
I w
ishe
d m
y fa
ther
was
a d
evil
from
hel
l. I
soun
ded
out C
alpu
rnia
on
the
subj
ect.
“Mr.
Fin
ch?
Why
, he
can
do lo
ts o
f th
ings
.”
“Lik
e w
hat?
” I
aske
d.
Cal
purn
ia s
crat
ched
her
hea
d. “
Wel
l, I
don’
t rig
htly
kno
w,”
she
sai
d.
Jem
und
erlin
ed it
whe
n he
ask
ed A
tticu
s if
he
was
goi
ng o
ut f
or th
e M
etho
dist
s
and
Att
icus
sai
d he
’d b
reak
his
nec
k if
he
did,
he
was
just
too
old
for
that
sor
t of
thin
g. T
he M
etho
dist
s w
ere
tryi
ng to
pay
off
thei
r ch
urch
mor
tgag
e, a
nd h
ad
chal
leng
ed th
e B
aptis
ts to
a g
ame
of to
uch
foot
ball
. Eve
rybo
dy in
tow
n’s
fath
er
was
pla
ying
, it s
eem
ed, e
xcep
t Atti
cus.
Jem
sai
d he
did
n’t e
ven
wan
t to
go, b
ut h
e
was
una
ble
to r
esis
t foo
tbal
l in
any
form
, and
he
stoo
d gl
oom
ily o
n th
e si
delin
es
wit
h A
tticu
s an
d m
e w
atch
ing
Cec
il J
acob
s’s
fath
er m
ake
touc
hdow
ns f
or th
e
Bap
tists
.
One
Sat
urda
y Je
m a
nd I
dec
ided
to g
o ex
plor
ing
with
our
air
-rif
les
to s
ee if
we
coul
d fi
nd a
rab
bit o
r a
squi
rrel
. We
had
gone
abo
ut f
ive
hund
red
yard
s be
yond
the
Rad
ley
Plac
e w
hen
I no
ticed
Jem
squ
intin
g at
som
ethi
ng d
own
the
stre
et. H
e
had
turn
ed h
is h
ead
to o
ne s
ide
and
was
look
ing
out o
f th
e co
rner
s of
his
eye
s.
“Wha
tcha
look
ing
at?”
“Tha
t old
dog
dow
n yo
nder
,” h
e sa
id.
“Tha
t’s
old
Tim
Joh
nson
, ain
’t it
?”
“Yea
h.”
Tim
Joh
nson
was
the
prop
erty
of
Mr.
Har
ry J
ohns
on w
ho d
rove
the
Mob
ile
bus
and
live
d on
the
sout
hern
edg
e of
tow
n. T
im w
as a
live
r-co
lore
d bi
rd d
og, t
he p
et
of M
ayco
mb.
“Wha
t’s
he d
oing
?”
“I d
on’t
kno
w, S
cout
. We
bette
r go
hom
e.”
“Aw
Jem
, it’
s F
ebru
ary.
”
“I d
on’t
car
e, I
’m g
onna
tell
Cal
.”
We
race
d ho
me
and
ran
to th
e ki
tche
n.
“Cal
,” s
aid
Jem
, “ca
n yo
u co
me
dow
n th
e si
dew
alk
a m
inut
e?”
“Wha
t for
, Jem
? I
can’
t com
e do
wn
the
side
wal
k ev
ery
time
you
wan
t me.
”
“The
re’s
som
ethi
n‘ w
rong
wit
h an
old
dog
dow
n yo
nder
.”
Cal
purn
ia s
ighe
d. “
I ca
n’t w
rap
up a
ny d
og’s
foo
t now
. The
re’s
som
e ga
uze
in th
e
bath
room
, go
get i
t and
do
it y
ours
elf.
”
Jem
sho
ok h
is h
ead.
“H
e’s
sick
, Cal
. Som
ethi
ng’s
wro
ng w
ith h
im.”
“Wha
t’s
he d
oin‘
, try
ing
to c
atch
his
tail?
”
“No,
he’
s do
in‘
like
this
.”
Jem
gul
ped
like
a go
ldfi
sh, h
unch
ed h
is s
houl
ders
and
twit
ched
his
tors
o. “
He’
s
goin
‘ lik
e th
at, o
nly
not l
ike
he m
eans
to.”
“Are
you
telli
ng m
e a
stor
y, J
em F
inch
?” C
alpu
rnia
’s v
oice
har
dene
d.
“No
Cal
, I s
wea
r I’
m n
ot.”
“Was
he
runn
in‘?
”
“No,
he’
s ju
st m
osey
in‘
alon
g, s
o sl
ow y
ou c
an’t
har
dly
tell
it. H
e’s
com
in’
this
way
.”
Cal
purn
ia r
inse
d he
r ha
nds
and
foll
owed
Jem
into
the
yard
. “I
don’
t see
any
dog
,”
she
said
.
She
fol
low
ed u
s be
yond
the
Rad
ley
Plac
e an
d lo
oked
whe
re J
em p
oint
ed. T
im
John
son
was
not
muc
h m
ore
than
a s
peck
in th
e di
stan
ce, b
ut h
e w
as c
lose
r to
us.
He
wal
ked
erra
tica
lly,
as
if h
is r
ight
legs
wer
e sh
orte
r th
an h
is le
ft le
gs. H
e
rem
inde
d m
e of
a c
ar s
tuck
in a
san
dbed
.
“He’
s go
ne lo
psid
ed,”
sai
d Je
m.
Cal
purn
ia s
tare
d, th
en g
rabb
ed u
s by
the
shou
lder
s an
d ra
n us
hom
e. S
he s
hut t
he
woo
d do
or b
ehin
d us
, wen
t to
the
tele
phon
e an
d sh
oute
d, “
Gim
me
Mr.
Fin
ch’s
offi
ce!”
“Mr.
Fin
ch!”
she
sho
uted
. “T
his
is C
al. I
sw
ear
to G
od th
ere’
s a
mad
dog
dow
n
the
stre
et a
pie
ce—
he’s
com
in‘
this
way
, yes
sir
, he’
s—M
r. F
inch
, I d
ecla
re h
e is
—ol
d T
im J
ohns
on, y
es s
ir…
yes
sir…
yes
—”
She
hun
g up
and
sho
ok h
er h
ead
whe
n w
e tr
ied
to a
sk h
er w
hat A
tticu
s ha
d sa
id.
She
rat
tled
the
tele
phon
e ho
ok a
nd s
aid,
“M
iss
Eul
a M
ay—
now
ma’
am, I
’m
thro
ugh
talk
in‘
to M
r. F
inch
, ple
ase
don’
t con
nect
me
no m
ore—
liste
n, M
iss
Eul
a
May
, can
you
cal
l Mis
s R
ache
l and
Mis
s St
epha
nie
Cra
wfo
rd a
nd w
hoev
er’s
got
a
phon
e on
this
str
eet a
nd te
ll ’
em a
mad
dog
’s c
omin
‘? P
leas
e m
a’am
!”
Cal
purn
ia li
sten
ed. “
I kn
ow it
’s F
ebru
ary,
Mis
s E
ula
May
, but
I k
now
a m
ad d
og
whe
n I
see
one.
Ple
ase
ma’
am h
urry
!”
Cal
purn
ia a
sked
Jem
, “R
adle
ys g
ot a
pho
ne?”
Jem
look
ed in
the
book
and
sai
d no
. “T
hey
won
’t c
ome
out a
nyw
ay, C
al.”
“I d
on’t
car
e, I
’m g
onna
tell
‘em
.”
She
ran
to th
e fr
ont p
orch
, Jem
and
I a
t her
hee
ls. “
You
sta
y in
that
hou
se!”
she
yell
ed.
Cal
purn
ia’s
mes
sage
had
bee
n re
ceiv
ed b
y th
e ne
ighb
orho
od. E
very
woo
d do
or
wit
hin
our
rang
e of
vis
ion
was
clo
sed
tigh
t. W
e sa
w n
o tr
ace
of T
im J
ohns
on. W
e
wat
ched
Cal
purn
ia r
unni
ng to
war
d th
e R
adle
y Pl
ace,
hol
ding
her
ski
rt a
nd a
pron
abov
e he
r kn
ees.
She
wen
t up
to th
e fr
ont s
teps
and
ban
ged
on th
e do
or. S
he g
ot
no a
nsw
er, a
nd s
he s
hout
ed, “
Mr.
Nat
han,
Mr.
Art
hur,
mad
dog
’s c
omin
‘! M
ad
dog’
s co
min
’!”
“She
’s s
uppo
sed
to g
o ar
ound
in b
ack,
” I
said
.
Jem
sho
ok h
is h
ead.
“D
on’t
mak
e an
y di
ffer
ence
now
,” h
e sa
id.
Cal
purn
ia p
ound
ed o
n th
e do
or in
vai
n. N
o on
e ac
know
ledg
ed h
er w
arni
ng; n
o
one
seem
ed to
hav
e he
ard
it.
As
Cal
purn
ia s
prin
ted
to th
e ba
ck p
orch
a b
lack
For
d sw
ung
into
the
driv
eway
.
Att
icus
and
Mr.
Hec
k T
ate
got o
ut.
Mr.
Hec
k T
ate
was
the
sher
iff
of M
ayco
mb
Cou
nty.
He
was
as
tall
as A
tticu
s, b
ut
thin
ner.
He
was
long
-nos
ed, w
ore
boot
s w
ith s
hiny
met
al e
ye-h
oles
, boo
t pan
ts
and
a lu
mbe
r ja
cket
. His
bel
t had
a r
ow o
f bu
llet
s st
icki
ng in
it. H
e ca
rrie
d a
heav
y
rifl
e. W
hen
he a
nd A
tticu
s re
ache
d th
e po
rch,
Jem
ope
ned
the
door
.
“Sta
y in
side
, son
,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
“W
here
is h
e, C
al?”
“He
ough
ta b
e he
re b
y no
w,”
sai
d C
alpu
rnia
, poi
ntin
g do
wn
the
stre
et.
“Not
run
nin‘
, is
he?”
ask
ed M
r. T
ate.
“Naw
sir
, he’
s in
the
twitc
hin‘
sta
ge, M
r. H
eck.
”
“Sho
uld
we
go a
fter
him
, Hec
k?”
aske
d A
tticu
s.
“We
bett
er w
ait,
Mr.
Fin
ch. T
hey
usua
lly
go in
a s
trai
ght l
ine,
but
you
nev
er c
an
tell
. He
mig
ht f
ollo
w th
e cu
rve—
hope
he
does
or
he’l
l go
stra
ight
in th
e R
adle
y
back
yar
d. L
et’s
wai
t a m
inut
e.”
“Don
’t th
ink
he’l
l get
in th
e R
adle
y ya
rd,”
sai
d A
ttic
us. “
Fen
ce’l
l sto
p hi
m. H
e’ll
prob
ably
fol
low
the
road
…”
I th
ough
t mad
dog
s fo
amed
at t
he m
outh
, gal
lope
d, le
aped
and
lung
ed a
t thr
oats
,
and
I th
ough
t the
y di
d it
in A
ugus
t. H
ad T
im J
ohns
on b
ehav
ed th
us, I
wou
ld h
ave
been
less
fri
ghte
ned.
Not
hing
is m
ore
dead
ly th
an a
des
erte
d, w
aitin
g st
reet
. The
tree
s w
ere
stil
l, th
e
moc
king
bird
s w
ere
sile
nt, t
he c
arpe
nter
s at
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
hous
e ha
d va
nish
ed. I
hear
d M
r. T
ate
snif
f, th
en b
low
his
nos
e. I
saw
him
shi
ft h
is g
un to
the
croo
k of
his
arm
. I s
aw M
iss
Ste
phan
ie C
raw
ford
’s f
ace
fram
ed in
the
glas
s w
indo
w o
f he
r
fron
t doo
r. M
iss
Mau
die
appe
ared
and
sto
od b
esid
e he
r. A
tticu
s pu
t his
foo
t on
the
rung
of
a ch
air
and
rubb
ed h
is h
and
slow
ly d
own
the
side
of
his
thig
h.
“The
re h
e is
,” h
e sa
id s
oftl
y.
Tim
Joh
nson
cam
e in
to s
ight
, wal
king
daz
edly
in th
e in
ner
rim
of
the
curv
e
para
llel t
o th
e R
adle
y ho
use.
“Loo
k at
him
,” w
hisp
ered
Jem
. “M
r. H
eck
said
they
wal
ked
in a
str
aigh
t lin
e. H
e
can’
t eve
n st
ay in
the
road
.”
“He
look
s m
ore
sick
than
any
thin
g,”
I sa
id.
“Let
any
thin
g ge
t in
fron
t of
him
and
he’
ll c
ome
stra
ight
at i
t.”
Mr.
Tat
e pu
t his
han
d to
his
for
ehea
d an
d le
aned
for
war
d. “
He’
s go
t it a
ll r
ight
,
Mr.
Fin
ch.”
Tim
Joh
nson
was
adv
anci
ng a
t a s
nail
’s p
ace,
but
he
was
not
pla
ying
or
snif
fing
at
foli
age:
he
seem
ed d
edic
ated
to o
ne c
ours
e an
d m
otiv
ated
by
an in
visi
ble
forc
e
that
was
inch
ing
him
tow
ard
us. W
e co
uld
see
him
shi
ver
like
a h
orse
she
ddin
g
flie
s; h
is ja
w o
pene
d an
d sh
ut; h
e w
as a
list
, but
he
was
bei
ng p
ulle
d gr
adua
lly
tow
ard
us.
“He’
s lo
okin
‘ fo
r a
plac
e to
die
,” s
aid
Jem
.
Mr.
Tat
e tu
rned
aro
und.
“H
e’s
far
from
dea
d, J
em, h
e ha
sn’t
got
sta
rted
yet
.”
Tim
Joh
nson
rea
ched
the
side
str
eet t
hat r
an in
fro
nt o
f th
e R
adle
y P
lace
, and
wha
t rem
aine
d of
his
poo
r m
ind
mad
e hi
m p
ause
and
see
m to
con
side
r w
hich
roa
d
he w
ould
take
. He
mad
e a
few
hes
itan
t ste
ps a
nd s
topp
ed in
fro
nt o
f th
e R
adle
y
gate
; the
n he
trie
d to
turn
aro
und,
but
was
hav
ing
diff
icul
ty.
Att
icus
sai
d, “
He’
s w
ithi
n ra
nge,
Hec
k. Y
ou b
ette
r ge
t him
bef
ore
he g
oes
dow
n
the
side
str
eet—
Lor
d kn
ows
who
’s a
roun
d th
e co
rner
. Go
insi
de, C
al.”
Cal
purn
ia o
pene
d th
e sc
reen
doo
r, la
tche
d it
beh
ind
her,
then
unl
atch
ed it
and
hel
d
onto
the
hook
. She
trie
d to
blo
ck J
em a
nd m
e w
ith
her
body
, but
we
look
ed o
ut
from
ben
eath
her
arm
s.
“Tak
e hi
m, M
r. F
inch
.” M
r. T
ate
hand
ed th
e ri
fle
to A
tticu
s; J
em a
nd I
nea
rly
fain
ted.
“Don
’t w
aste
tim
e, H
eck,
” sa
id A
tticu
s. “
Go
on.”
“Mr.
Fin
ch, t
his
is a
one
-sho
t job
.”
Att
icus
sho
ok h
is h
ead
vehe
men
tly: “
Don
’t ju
st s
tand
ther
e, H
eck!
He
won
’t w
ait
all d
ay f
or y
ou—
”
“For
God
’s s
ake,
Mr.
Fin
ch, l
ook
whe
re h
e is
! M
iss
and
you’
ll g
o st
raig
ht in
to th
e
Rad
ley
hous
e! I
can
’t s
hoot
that
wel
l and
you
kno
w it
!”
“I h
aven
’t s
hot a
gun
in th
irty
yea
rs—
”
Mr.
Tat
e al
mos
t thr
ew th
e ri
fle
at A
tticu
s. “
I’d
feel
mig
hty
com
fort
able
if y
ou d
id
now
,” h
e sa
id.
In a
fog
, Jem
and
I w
atch
ed o
ur f
athe
r ta
ke th
e gu
n an
d w
alk
out i
nto
the
mid
dle
of th
e st
reet
. He
wal
ked
quic
kly,
but
I th
ough
t he
mov
ed li
ke a
n un
derw
ater
swim
mer
: tim
e ha
d sl
owed
to a
nau
seat
ing
craw
l.
Whe
n A
tticu
s ra
ised
his
gla
sses
Cal
purn
ia m
urm
ured
, “Sw
eet J
esus
hel
p hi
m,”
and
put h
er h
ands
to h
er c
heek
s.
Att
icus
pus
hed
his
glas
ses
to h
is f
oreh
ead;
they
sli
pped
dow
n, a
nd h
e dr
oppe
d
them
in th
e st
reet
. In
the
sile
nce,
I h
eard
them
cra
ck. A
tticu
s ru
bbed
his
eye
s an
d
chin
; we
saw
him
blin
k ha
rd.
In f
ront
of
the
Rad
ley
gate
, Tim
Joh
nson
had
mad
e up
wha
t was
left
of
his
min
d.
He
had
fina
lly tu
rned
him
self
aro
und,
to p
ursu
e hi
s or
igin
al c
ours
e up
our
str
eet.
He
mad
e tw
o st
eps
forw
ard,
then
sto
pped
and
rai
sed
his
head
. We
saw
his
bod
y
go r
igid
.
Wit
h m
ovem
ents
so
swif
t the
y se
emed
sim
ulta
neou
s, A
tticu
s’s
hand
yan
ked
a ba
ll-
tipp
ed le
ver
as h
e br
ough
t the
gun
to h
is s
houl
der.
The
rif
le c
rack
ed. T
im J
ohns
on le
aped
, flo
pped
ove
r an
d cr
umpl
ed o
n th
e
side
wal
k in
a b
row
n-an
d-w
hite
hea
p. H
e di
dn’t
kno
w w
hat h
it hi
m.
Mr.
Tat
e ju
mpe
d of
f th
e po
rch
and
ran
to th
e R
adle
y Pl
ace.
He
stop
ped
in f
ront
of
the
dog,
squ
atte
d, tu
rned
aro
und
and
tapp
ed h
is f
inge
r on
his
for
ehea
d ab
ove
his
left
eye
. “Y
ou w
ere
a lit
tle
to th
e ri
ght,
Mr.
Fin
ch,”
he
call
ed.
“Alw
ays
was
,” a
nsw
ered
Att
icus
. “If
I h
ad m
y ‘d
ruth
ers
I’d
take
a s
hotg
un.”
He
stoo
ped
and
pick
ed u
p hi
s gl
asse
s, g
roun
d th
e br
oken
lens
es to
pow
der
unde
r
his
heel
, and
wen
t to
Mr.
Tat
e an
d st
ood
look
ing
dow
n at
Tim
Joh
nson
.
Doo
rs o
pene
d on
e by
one
, and
the
neig
hbor
hood
slo
wly
cam
e al
ive.
Mis
s M
audi
e
wal
ked
dow
n th
e st
eps
wit
h M
iss
Ste
phan
ie C
raw
ford
.
Jem
was
par
alyz
ed. I
pin
ched
him
to g
et h
im m
ovin
g, b
ut w
hen
Atti
cus
saw
us
com
ing
he c
alle
d, “
Stay
whe
re y
ou a
re.”
Whe
n M
r. T
ate
and
Att
icus
ret
urne
d to
the
yard
, Mr.
Tat
e w
as s
mili
ng. “
I’ll
hav
e
Zee
bo c
olle
ct h
im,”
he
said
. “Y
ou h
aven
’t f
orgo
t muc
h, M
r. F
inch
. The
y sa
y it
neve
r le
aves
you
.”
Att
icus
was
sile
nt.
“Atti
cus?
” sa
id J
em.
“Yes
?”
“Not
hin‘
.”
“I s
aw th
at, O
ne-S
hot F
inch
!”
Att
icus
whe
eled
aro
und
and
face
d M
iss
Mau
die.
The
y lo
oked
at o
ne a
noth
er
wit
hout
say
ing
anyt
hing
, and
Atti
cus
got i
nto
the
sher
iff’
s ca
r. “
Com
e he
re,”
he
said
to J
em. “
Don
’t y
ou g
o ne
ar th
at d
og, y
ou u
nder
stan
d? D
on’t
go
near
him
,
he’s
just
as
dang
erou
s de
ad a
s al
ive.
”
“Yes
sir
,” s
aid
Jem
. “A
ttic
us—
”
“Wha
t, so
n?”
“Not
hing
.”
“Wha
t’s
the
mat
ter
wit
h yo
u, b
oy, c
an’t
you
talk
?” s
aid
Mr.
Tat
e, g
rinn
ing
at J
em.
“Did
n’t y
ou k
now
you
r da
ddy’
s—”
“Hus
h, H
eck,
” sa
id A
ttic
us, “
let’
s go
bac
k to
tow
n.”
Whe
n th
ey d
rove
aw
ay, J
em a
nd I
wen
t to
Mis
s S
teph
anie
’s f
ront
ste
ps. W
e sa
t
wai
ting
for
Zee
bo to
arr
ive
in th
e ga
rbag
e tr
uck.
Jem
sat
in n
umb
conf
usio
n, a
nd M
iss
Ste
phan
ie s
aid,
“U
h, u
h, u
h, w
ho’d
a th
ough
t
of a
mad
dog
in F
ebru
ary?
May
be h
e w
adn’
t mad
, may
be h
e w
as ju
st c
razy
. I’d
hate
to s
ee H
arry
Joh
nson
’s f
ace
whe
n he
get
s in
fro
m th
e M
obile
run
and
fin
ds
Att
icus
Fin
ch’s
sho
t his
dog
. Bet
he
was
just
ful
l of
flea
s fr
om s
omew
here
—”
Mis
s M
audi
e sa
id M
iss
Ste
phan
ie’d
be
sing
ing
a di
ffer
ent t
une
if T
im J
ohns
on
was
sti
ll co
min
g up
the
stre
et, t
hat t
hey’
d fi
nd o
ut s
oon
enou
gh, t
hey’
d se
nd h
is
head
to M
ontg
omer
y.
Jem
bec
ame
vagu
ely
arti
cula
te: “
‘d y
ou s
ee h
im, S
cout
? ’d
you
see
him
just
stan
din‘
ther
e?…
’n‘
all
of a
sud
den
he ju
st r
elax
ed a
ll ov
er, a
n’ it
look
ed li
ke th
at
gun
was
a p
art o
f hi
m…
an‘
he
did
it so
qui
ck, l
ike…
I h
afta
aim
for
ten
min
utes
’for
e I
can
hit s
omet
hin‘
…”
Mis
s M
audi
e gr
inne
d w
icke
dly.
“W
ell n
ow, M
iss
Jean
Lou
ise,
” sh
e sa
id, “
still
thin
k yo
ur f
athe
r ca
n’t d
o an
ythi
ng?
Stil
l ash
amed
of
him
?”
“Nom
e,”
I sa
id m
eekl
y.
“For
got t
o te
ll y
ou th
e ot
her
day
that
bes
ides
pla
ying
the
Jew
’s H
arp,
Att
icus
Fin
ch w
as th
e de
ades
t sho
t in
May
com
b C
ount
y in
his
tim
e.”
“Dea
d sh
ot…
” ec
hoed
Jem
.
“Tha
t’s
wha
t I s
aid,
Jem
Fin
ch. G
uess
you
’ll c
hang
e yo
ur tu
ne n
ow. T
he v
ery
idea
, did
n’t y
ou k
now
his
nic
knam
e w
as O
l‘ O
ne-S
hot w
hen
he w
as a
boy
? W
hy,
dow
n at
the
Lan
ding
whe
n he
was
com
ing
up, i
f he
sho
t fif
teen
tim
es a
nd h
it
four
teen
dov
es h
e’d
com
plai
n ab
out w
astin
g am
mun
itio
n.”
“He
neve
r sa
id a
nyth
ing
abou
t tha
t,” J
em m
utte
red.
“Nev
er s
aid
anyt
hing
abo
ut it
, did
he?
”
“No
ma’
am.”
“Won
der
why
he
neve
r go
es h
unti
n‘ n
ow,”
I s
aid.
“May
be I
can
tell
you,
” sa
id M
iss
Mau
die.
“If
you
r fa
ther
’s a
nyth
ing,
he’
s
civi
lized
in h
is h
eart
. Mar
ksm
ansh
ip’s
a g
ift o
f G
od, a
tale
nt—
oh, y
ou h
ave
to
prac
tice
to m
ake
it p
erfe
ct, b
ut s
hoot
in’s
dif
fere
nt f
rom
pla
ying
the
pian
o or
the
like
. I th
ink
may
be h
e pu
t his
gun
dow
n w
hen
he r
eali
zed
that
God
had
giv
en h
im
an u
nfai
r ad
vant
age
over
mos
t liv
ing
thin
gs. I
gue
ss h
e de
cide
d he
wou
ldn’
t sho
ot
till
he h
ad to
, and
he
had
to to
day.
”
“Loo
ks li
ke h
e’d
be p
roud
of
it,”
I sa
id.
“Peo
ple
in th
eir
righ
t min
ds n
ever
take
pri
de in
thei
r ta
lent
s,”
said
Mis
s M
audi
e.
We
saw
Zee
bo d
rive
up.
He
took
a p
itch
fork
fro
m th
e ba
ck o
f th
e ga
rbag
e tr
uck
and
ging
erly
lift
ed T
im J
ohns
on. H
e pi
tche
d th
e do
g on
to th
e tr
uck,
then
pou
red
som
ethi
ng f
rom
a g
allo
n ju
g on
and
aro
und
the
spot
whe
re T
im f
ell.
“Don
’t y
awl
com
e ov
er h
ere
for
a w
hile
,” h
e ca
lled.
Whe
n w
e w
ent h
ome
I to
ld J
em w
e’d
real
ly h
ave
som
ethi
ng to
talk
abo
ut a
t
scho
ol o
n M
onda
y. J
em tu
rned
on
me.
“Don
’t s
ay a
nyth
ing
abou
t it,
Sco
ut,”
he
said
.
“Wha
t? I
cer
tain
ly a
m. A
in’t
eve
rybo
dy’s
dad
dy th
e de
ades
t sho
t in
May
com
b
Cou
nty.
”
Jem
sai
d, “
I re
ckon
if h
e’d
wan
ted
us to
kno
w it
, he’
da to
ld u
s. I
f he
was
pro
ud o
f
it, h
e’da
told
us.
”
“May
be it
just
sli
pped
his
min
d,”
I sa
id.
“Naw
, Sco
ut, i
t’s
som
ethi
ng y
ou w
ould
n’t u
nder
stan
d. A
ttic
us is
rea
l old
, but
I
wou
ldn’
t car
e if
he
coul
dn’t
do
anyt
hing
—I
wou
ldn’
t car
e if
he
coul
dn’t
do
a
bles
sed
thin
g.”
Jem
pic
ked
up a
roc
k an
d th
rew
it ju
bila
ntly
at t
he c
arho
use.
Run
ning
aft
er it
, he
calle
d ba
ck: “
Att
icus
is a
gen
tlem
an, j
ust l
ike
me!
”
Con
tent
s -
Pre
v / N
ext
Ch
ap
ter
11
Whe
n w
e w
ere
smal
l, Je
m a
nd I
con
fine
d ou
r ac
tivi
ties
to th
e so
uthe
rn
neig
hbor
hood
, but
whe
n I
was
wel
l int
o th
e se
cond
gra
de a
t sch
ool a
nd
torm
enti
ng B
oo R
adle
y be
cam
e pa
sse,
the
busi
ness
sec
tion
of
May
com
b dr
ew u
s
freq
uent
ly u
p th
e st
reet
pas
t the
rea
l pro
pert
y of
Mrs
. Hen
ry L
afay
ette
Dub
ose.
It
was
impo
ssib
le to
go
to to
wn
wit
hout
pas
sing
her
hou
se u
nles
s w
e w
ishe
d to
wal
k
a m
ile o
ut o
f th
e w
ay. P
revi
ous
min
or e
ncou
nter
s w
ith
her
left
me
wit
h no
des
ire
for
mor
e, b
ut J
em s
aid
I ha
d to
gro
w u
p so
me
tim
e.
Mrs
. Dub
ose
lived
alo
ne e
xcep
t for
a N
egro
gir
l in
cons
tant
atte
ndan
ce, t
wo
door
s
up th
e st
reet
fro
m u
s in
a h
ouse
wit
h st
eep
fron
t ste
ps a
nd a
dog
-tro
t hal
l. S
he w
as
very
old
; she
spe
nt m
ost o
f ea
ch d
ay in
bed
and
the
rest
of
it in
a w
heel
chai
r. I
t
was
rum
ored
that
she
kep
t a C
SA p
isto
l con
ceal
ed a
mon
g he
r nu
mer
ous
shaw
ls
and
wra
ps.
Jem
and
I h
ated
her
. If
she
was
on
the
porc
h w
hen
we
pass
ed, w
e w
ould
be
rake
d
by h
er w
rath
ful g
aze,
sub
ject
ed to
rut
hles
s in
terr
ogat
ion
rega
rdin
g ou
r be
havi
or,
and
give
n a
mel
anch
oly
pred
icti
on o
n w
hat w
e w
ould
am
ount
to w
hen
we
grew
up, w
hich
was
alw
ays
noth
ing.
We
had
long
ago
giv
en u
p th
e id
ea o
f w
alki
ng p
ast
her
hous
e on
the
oppo
site
sid
e of
the
stre
et; t
hat o
nly
mad
e he
r ra
ise
her
voic
e an
d
let t
he w
hole
nei
ghbo
rhoo
d in
on
it.
We
coul
d do
not
hing
to p
leas
e he
r. I
f I
said
as
sunn
ily a
s I
coul
d, “
Hey
, Mrs
.
Dub
ose,
” I
wou
ld r
ecei
ve f
or a
n an
swer
, “D
on’t
you
say
hey
to m
e, y
ou u
gly
girl
!
You
say
goo
d af
tern
oon,
Mrs
. Dub
ose!
”
She
was
vic
ious
. Onc
e sh
e he
ard
Jem
ref
er to
our
fat
her
as “
Att
icus
” an
d he
r
reac
tion
was
apo
plec
tic. B
esid
es b
eing
the
sass
iest
, mos
t dis
resp
ectf
ul m
utts
who
ever
pas
sed
her
way
, we
wer
e to
ld th
at it
was
qui
te a
pity
our
fat
her
had
not
rem
arri
ed a
fter
our
mot
her’
s de
ath.
A lo
velie
r la
dy th
an o
ur m
othe
r ne
ver
live
d,
she
said
, and
it w
as h
eart
brea
king
the
way
Atti
cus
Finc
h le
t her
chi
ldre
n ru
n w
ild.
I di
d no
t rem
embe
r ou
r m
othe
r, b
ut J
em d
id—
he w
ould
tell
me
abou
t her
som
etim
es—
and
he w
ent l
ivid
whe
n M
rs. D
ubos
e sh
ot u
s th
is m
essa
ge.
Jem
, hav
ing
surv
ived
Boo
Rad
ley,
a m
ad d
og a
nd o
ther
terr
ors,
had
con
clud
ed
that
it w
as c
owar
dly
to s
top
at M
iss
Rac
hel’
s fr
ont s
teps
and
wai
t, an
d ha
d
decr
eed
that
we
mus
t run
as
far
as th
e po
st o
ffic
e co
rner
eac
h ev
enin
g to
mee
t
Att
icus
com
ing
from
wor
k. C
ount
less
eve
ning
s A
tticu
s w
ould
fin
d Je
m f
urio
us a
t
som
ethi
ng M
rs. D
ubos
e ha
d sa
id w
hen
we
wen
t by.
“Eas
y do
es it
, son
,” A
ttic
us w
ould
say
. “Sh
e’s
an o
ld la
dy a
nd s
he’s
ill.
You
just
hold
you
r he
ad h
igh
and
be a
gen
tlem
an. W
hate
ver
she
says
to y
ou, i
t’s
your
job
not t
o le
t her
mak
e yo
u m
ad.”
Jem
wou
ld s
ay s
he m
ust n
ot b
e ve
ry s
ick,
she
holl
ered
so.
Whe
n th
e th
ree
of u
s ca
me
to h
er h
ouse
, Atti
cus
wou
ld s
wee
p of
f hi
s
hat,
wav
e ga
llan
tly
to h
er a
nd s
ay, “
Goo
d ev
enin
g, M
rs. D
ubos
e! Y
ou lo
ok li
ke a
pict
ure
this
eve
ning
.”
I ne
ver
hear
d A
ttic
us s
ay li
ke a
pic
ture
of
wha
t. H
e w
ould
tell
her
the
cour
thou
se
new
s, a
nd w
ould
say
he
hope
d w
ith a
ll hi
s he
art s
he’d
hav
e a
good
day
tom
orro
w.
He
wou
ld r
etur
n hi
s ha
t to
his
head
, sw
ing
me
to h
is s
houl
ders
in h
er v
ery
pres
ence
, and
we
wou
ld g
o ho
me
in th
e tw
iligh
t. It
was
tim
es li
ke th
ese
whe
n I
thou
ght m
y fa
ther
, who
hat
ed g
uns
and
had
neve
r be
en to
any
war
s, w
as th
e
brav
est m
an w
ho e
ver
live
d.
The
day
aft
er J
em’s
twel
fth
birt
hday
his
mon
ey w
as b
urni
ng u
p hi
s po
cket
s, s
o w
e
head
ed f
or to
wn
in th
e ea
rly
afte
rnoo
n. J
em th
ough
t he
had
enou
gh to
buy
a
min
iatu
re s
team
eng
ine
for
him
self
and
a tw
irlin
g ba
ton
for
me.
I ha
d lo
ng h
ad m
y ey
e on
that
bat
on: i
t was
at V
. J. E
lmor
e’s,
it w
as b
edec
ked
wit
h se
quin
s an
d ti
nsel
, it c
ost s
even
teen
cen
ts. I
t was
then
my
burn
ing
ambi
tion
to g
row
up
and
twir
l with
the
May
com
b C
ount
y H
igh
Sch
ool b
and.
Hav
ing
deve
lope
d m
y ta
lent
to w
here
I c
ould
thro
w u
p a
stic
k an
d al
mos
t cat
ch it
com
ing
dow
n, I
had
cau
sed
Cal
purn
ia to
den
y m
e en
tran
ce to
the
hous
e ev
ery
tim
e sh
e
saw
me
with
a s
tick
in m
y ha
nd. I
fel
t tha
t I c
ould
ove
rcom
e th
is d
efec
t with
a r
eal
bato
n, a
nd I
thou
ght i
t gen
erou
s of
Jem
to b
uy o
ne f
or m
e.
Mrs
. Dub
ose
was
sta
tion
ed o
n he
r po
rch
whe
n w
e w
ent b
y.
“Whe
re a
re y
ou tw
o go
ing
at th
is ti
me
of d
ay?”
she
sho
uted
. “P
layi
ng h
ooky
, I
supp
ose.
I’l
l jus
t cal
l up
the
prin
cipa
l and
tell
him
!” S
he p
ut h
er h
ands
on
the
whe
els
of h
er c
hair
and
exe
cute
d a
perf
ect r
ight
fac
e.
“Aw
, it’
s S
atur
day,
Mrs
. Dub
ose,
” sa
id J
em.
“Mak
es n
o di
ffer
ence
if it
’s S
atur
day,
” sh
e sa
id o
bscu
rely
. “I
won
der
if y
our
fath
er k
now
s w
here
you
are
?”
“Mrs
. Dub
ose,
we’
ve b
een
goin
‘ to
tow
n by
our
selv
es s
ince
we
wer
e th
is h
igh.
”
Jem
pla
ced
his
hand
pal
m d
own
abou
t tw
o fe
et a
bove
the
side
wal
k.
“Don
’t y
ou li
e to
me!
” sh
e ye
lled.
“Je
rem
y F
inch
, Mau
die
Atk
inso
n to
ld m
e yo
u
brok
e do
wn
her
scup
pern
ong
arbo
r th
is m
orni
ng. S
he’s
goi
ng to
tell
your
fat
her
and
then
you
’ll w
ish
you
neve
r sa
w th
e lig
ht o
f da
y! I
f yo
u ar
en’t
sen
t to
the
refo
rm s
choo
l bef
ore
next
wee
k, m
y na
me’
s no
t Dub
ose!
”
Jem
, who
had
n’t b
een
near
Mis
s M
audi
e’s
scup
pern
ong
arbo
r si
nce
last
sum
mer
,
and
who
kne
w M
iss
Mau
die
wou
ldn’
t tel
l Att
icus
if h
e ha
d, is
sued
a g
ener
al
deni
al.
“Don
’t y
ou c
ontr
adic
t me!
” M
rs. D
ubos
e ba
wle
d. “
And
you
—”
she
poin
ted
an
arth
riti
c fi
nger
at m
e—“w
hat a
re y
ou d
oing
in th
ose
over
alls
? Y
ou s
houl
d be
in a
dres
s an
d ca
mis
ole,
you
ng la
dy!
You
’ll g
row
up
wai
ting
on ta
bles
if s
omeb
ody
does
n’t c
hang
e yo
ur w
ays—
a Fi
nch
wai
ting
on
tabl
es a
t the
O.K
. Caf
é—ha
h!”
I w
as te
rrif
ied.
The
O.K
. Caf
é w
as a
dim
org
aniz
atio
n on
the
nort
h si
de o
f th
e
squa
re. I
gra
bbed
Jem
’s h
and
but h
e sh
ook
me
loos
e.
“Com
e on
, Sco
ut,”
he
whi
sper
ed. “
Don
’t p
ay a
ny a
ttent
ion
to h
er, j
ust h
old
your
head
hig
h an
d be
a g
entl
eman
.”
But
Mrs
. Dub
ose
held
us:
“N
ot o
nly
a Fi
nch
wai
ting
on ta
bles
but
one
in th
e
cour
thou
se la
win
g fo
r ni
gger
s!”
Jem
stif
fene
d. M
rs. D
ubos
e’s
shot
had
gon
e ho
me
and
she
knew
it:
“Yes
inde
ed, w
hat h
as th
is w
orld
com
e to
whe
n a
Finc
h go
es a
gain
st h
is r
aisi
ng?
I’ll
tell
you
!” S
he p
ut h
er h
and
to h
er m
outh
. Whe
n sh
e dr
ew it
aw
ay, i
t tra
iled
a
long
sil
ver
thre
ad o
f sa
liva.
“Y
our
fath
er’s
no
bett
er th
an th
e ni
gger
s an
d tr
ash
he
wor
ks f
or!”
Jem
was
sca
rlet
. I p
ulle
d at
his
sle
eve,
and
we
wer
e fo
llow
ed u
p th
e si
dew
alk
by a
phil
ippi
c on
our
fam
ily’
s m
oral
deg
ener
atio
n, th
e m
ajor
pre
mis
e of
whi
ch w
as
that
hal
f th
e F
inch
es w
ere
in th
e as
ylum
any
way
, but
if o
ur m
othe
r w
ere
livin
g w
e
wou
ld n
ot h
ave
com
e to
suc
h a
stat
e.
I w
asn’
t sur
e w
hat J
em r
esen
ted
mos
t, bu
t I to
ok u
mbr
age
at M
rs. D
ubos
e’s
asse
ssm
ent o
f th
e fa
mil
y’s
men
tal h
ygie
ne. I
had
bec
ome
alm
ost a
ccus
tom
ed to
hear
ing
insu
lts a
imed
at A
tticu
s. B
ut th
is w
as th
e fi
rst o
ne c
omin
g fr
om a
n ad
ult.
Exc
ept f
or h
er r
emar
ks a
bout
Att
icus
, Mrs
. Dub
ose’
s at
tack
was
onl
y ro
utin
e.
The
re w
as a
hin
t of
sum
mer
in th
e ai
r—in
the
shad
ows
it w
as c
ool,
but t
he s
un
was
war
m, w
hich
mea
nt g
ood
times
com
ing:
no
scho
ol a
nd D
ill.
Jem
bou
ght h
is s
team
eng
ine
and
we
wen
t by
Elm
ore’
s fo
r m
y ba
ton.
Jem
took
no
plea
sure
in h
is a
cqui
siti
on; h
e ja
mm
ed it
in h
is p
ocke
t and
wal
ked
sile
ntly
bes
ide
me
tow
ard
hom
e. O
n th
e w
ay h
ome
I ne
arly
hit
Mr.
Lin
k D
eas,
who
sai
d, “
Loo
k
out n
ow, S
cout
!” w
hen
I m
isse
d a
toss
, and
whe
n w
e ap
proa
ched
Mrs
. Dub
ose’
s
hous
e m
y ba
ton
was
gri
my
from
hav
ing
pick
ed it
up
out o
f th
e di
rt s
o m
any
times
.
She
was
not
on
the
porc
h.
In la
ter
year
s, I
som
etim
es w
onde
red
exac
tly w
hat m
ade
Jem
do
it, w
hat m
ade
him
bre
ak th
e bo
nds
of “
You
just
be
a ge
ntle
man
, son
,” a
nd th
e ph
ase
of s
elf-
cons
ciou
s re
ctitu
de h
e ha
d re
cent
ly e
nter
ed. J
em h
ad p
roba
bly
stoo
d as
muc
h gu
ff
abou
t Att
icus
law
ing
for
nigg
ers
as h
ad I
, and
I to
ok it
for
gra
nted
that
he
kept
his
tem
per—
he h
ad a
nat
ural
ly tr
anqu
il di
spos
ition
and
a s
low
fus
e. A
t the
tim
e,
how
ever
, I th
ough
t the
onl
y ex
plan
atio
n fo
r w
hat h
e di
d w
as th
at f
or a
few
min
utes
he
sim
ply
wen
t mad
.
Wha
t Jem
did
was
som
ethi
ng I
’d d
o as
a m
atte
r of
cou
rse
had
I no
t bee
n un
der
Att
icus
’s in
terd
ict,
whi
ch I
ass
umed
incl
uded
not
fig
htin
g ho
rrib
le o
ld la
dies
. We
had
just
com
e to
her
gat
e w
hen
Jem
sna
tche
d m
y ba
ton
and
ran
flai
ling
wild
ly u
p
the
step
s in
to M
rs. D
ubos
e’s
fron
t yar
d, f
orge
tting
eve
ryth
ing
Att
icus
had
sai
d,
forg
ettin
g th
at s
he p
acke
d a
pist
ol u
nder
her
sha
wls
, for
getti
ng th
at if
Mrs
.
Dub
ose
mis
sed,
her
gir
l Jes
sie
prob
ably
wou
ldn’
t.
He
did
not b
egin
to c
alm
dow
n un
til h
e ha
d cu
t the
tops
off
eve
ry c
amel
lia b
ush
Mrs
. Dub
ose
owne
d, u
ntil
the
grou
nd w
as li
ttere
d w
ith g
reen
bud
s an
d le
aves
. He
bent
my
bato
n ag
ains
t his
kne
e, s
napp
ed it
in tw
o an
d th
rew
it d
own.
By
that
tim
e I
was
shr
ieki
ng. J
em y
anke
d m
y ha
ir, s
aid
he d
idn’
t car
e, h
e’d
do it
agai
n if
he
got a
cha
nce,
and
if I
did
n’t s
hut u
p he
’d p
ull e
very
hai
r ou
t of
my
head
. I d
idn’
t shu
t up
and
he k
icke
d m
e. I
lost
my
bala
nce
and
fell
on m
y fa
ce.
Jem
pic
ked
me
up r
ough
ly b
ut lo
oked
like
he
was
sor
ry. T
here
was
not
hing
to s
ay.
We
did
not c
hoos
e to
mee
t Att
icus
com
ing
hom
e th
at e
veni
ng. W
e sk
ulke
d
arou
nd th
e ki
tche
n un
til C
alpu
rnia
thre
w u
s ou
t. B
y so
me
voo-
doo
syst
em
Cal
purn
ia s
eem
ed to
kno
w a
ll a
bout
it. S
he w
as a
less
than
sat
isfa
ctor
y so
urce
of
pall
iatio
n, b
ut s
he d
id g
ive
Jem
a h
ot b
iscu
it-a
nd-b
utte
r w
hich
he
tore
in h
alf
and
shar
ed w
ith
me.
It t
aste
d li
ke c
otto
n.
We
wen
t to
the
livin
groo
m. I
pic
ked
up a
foo
tbal
l mag
azin
e, f
ound
a p
ictu
re o
f
Dix
ie H
owel
l, sh
owed
it to
Jem
and
sai
d, “
Thi
s lo
oks
like
you
.” T
hat w
as th
e
nice
st th
ing
I co
uld
thin
k to
say
to h
im, b
ut it
was
no
help
. He
sat b
y th
e w
indo
ws,
hunc
hed
dow
n in
a r
ocki
ng c
hair
, sco
wlin
g, w
aiti
ng. D
ayli
ght f
aded
.
Tw
o ge
olog
ical
age
s la
ter,
we
hear
d th
e so
les
of A
tticu
s’s
shoe
s sc
rape
the
fron
t
step
s. T
he s
cree
n do
or s
lam
med
, the
re w
as a
pau
se—
Atti
cus
was
at t
he h
at r
ack
in
the
hall
—an
d w
e he
ard
him
cal
l, “J
em!”
His
voi
ce w
as li
ke th
e w
inte
r w
ind.
Att
icus
sw
itche
d on
the
ceil
ing
ligh
t in
the
livi
ngro
om a
nd f
ound
us
ther
e, f
roze
n
still
. He
carr
ied
my
bato
n in
one
han
d; it
s fi
lthy
yell
ow ta
ssel
trai
led
on th
e ru
g.
He
held
out
his
oth
er h
and;
it c
onta
ined
fat
cam
ellia
bud
s.
“Jem
,” h
e sa
id, “
are
you
resp
onsi
ble
for
this
?”
“Yes
sir
.”
“Why
’d y
ou d
o it
?”
Jem
sai
d so
ftly
, “Sh
e sa
id y
ou la
wed
for
nig
gers
and
tras
h.”
“You
did
this
bec
ause
she
sai
d th
at?”
Jem
’s li
ps m
oved
, but
his
, “Y
es s
ir,”
was
inau
dibl
e.
“Son
, I h
ave
no d
oubt
that
you
’ve
been
ann
oyed
by
your
con
tem
pora
ries
abo
ut
me
law
ing
for
nigg
ers,
as
you
say,
but
to d
o so
met
hing
like
this
to a
sic
k ol
d la
dy
is in
excu
sabl
e. I
str
ongl
y ad
vise
you
to g
o do
wn
and
have
a ta
lk w
ith M
rs.
Dub
ose,
” sa
id A
tticu
s. “
Com
e st
raig
ht h
ome
afte
rwar
d.”
Jem
did
not
mov
e.
“Go
on, I
sai
d.”
I fo
llow
ed J
em o
ut o
f th
e li
ving
room
. “C
ome
back
her
e,”
Atti
cus
said
to m
e. I
cam
e ba
ck.
Att
icus
pic
ked
up th
e M
obil
e P
ress
and
sat
dow
n in
the
rock
ing
chai
r Je
m h
ad
vaca
ted.
For
the
life
of m
e, I
did
not
und
erst
and
how
he
coul
d si
t the
re in
col
d
bloo
d an
d re
ad a
new
spap
er w
hen
his
only
son
sto
od a
n ex
cell
ent c
hanc
e of
bei
ng
mur
dere
d w
ith a
Con
fede
rate
Arm
y re
lic. O
f co
urse
Jem
ant
agon
ized
me
som
etim
es u
ntil
I co
uld
kill
him
, but
whe
n it
cam
e do
wn
to it
he
was
all
I h
ad.
Att
icus
did
not
see
m to
rea
lize
this
, or
if h
e di
d he
did
n’t c
are.
I ha
ted
him
for
that
, but
whe
n yo
u ar
e in
trou
ble
you
beco
me
easi
ly ti
red:
soo
n I
was
hid
ing
in h
is la
p an
d hi
s ar
ms
wer
e ar
ound
me.
“You
’re
mig
hty
big
to b
e ro
cked
,” h
e sa
id.
“You
don
’t c
are
wha
t hap
pens
to h
im,”
I s
aid.
“Y
ou ju
st s
end
him
on
to g
et s
hot
at w
hen
all h
e w
as d
oin‘
was
sta
ndin
’ up
for
you
.”
Att
icus
pus
hed
my
head
und
er h
is c
hin.
“It
’s n
ot ti
me
to w
orry
yet
,” h
e sa
id. “
I
neve
r th
ough
t Jem
’d b
e th
e on
e to
lose
his
hea
d ov
er th
is—
thou
ght I
’d h
ave
mor
e
trou
ble
wit
h yo
u.”
I sa
id I
did
n’t s
ee w
hy w
e ha
d to
kee
p ou
r he
ads
anyw
ay, t
hat n
obod
y I
knew
at
scho
ol h
ad to
kee
p hi
s he
ad a
bout
any
thin
g.
“Sco
ut,”
sai
d A
ttic
us, “
whe
n su
mm
er c
omes
you
’ll h
ave
to k
eep
your
hea
d ab
out
far
wor
se th
ings
… it
’s n
ot f
air
for
you
and
Jem
, I k
now
that
, but
som
etim
es w
e
have
to m
ake
the
best
of
thin
gs, a
nd th
e w
ay w
e co
nduc
t our
selv
es w
hen
the
chip
s
are
dow
n—w
ell,
all I
can
say
is, w
hen
you
and
Jem
are
gro
wn,
may
be y
ou’l
l loo
k
back
on
this
with
som
e co
mpa
ssio
n an
d so
me
feel
ing
that
I d
idn’
t let
you
dow
n.
Thi
s ca
se, T
om R
obin
son’
s ca
se, i
s so
met
hing
that
goe
s to
the
esse
nce
of a
man
’s
cons
cien
ce—
Sco
ut, I
cou
ldn’
t go
to c
hurc
h an
d w
orsh
ip G
od if
I d
idn’
t try
to h
elp
that
man
.”
“Atti
cus,
you
mus
t be
wro
ng…
”
“How
’s th
at?”
“Wel
l, m
ost f
olks
see
m to
thin
k th
ey’r
e ri
ght a
nd y
ou’r
e w
rong
…”
“The
y’re
cer
tain
ly e
ntit
led
to th
ink
that
, and
they
’re
enti
tled
to f
ull r
espe
ct f
or
thei
r op
inio
ns,”
sai
d A
ttic
us, “
but b
efor
e I
can
live
with
oth
er f
olks
I’v
e go
t to
live
wit
h m
ysel
f. T
he o
ne th
ing
that
doe
sn’t
abi
de b
y m
ajor
ity
rule
is a
per
son’
s
cons
cien
ce.”
Whe
n Je
m r
etur
ned,
he
foun
d m
e st
ill i
n A
tticu
s’s
lap,
“W
ell,
son?
” sa
id A
tticu
s.
He
set m
e on
my
feet
, and
I m
ade
a se
cret
rec
onna
issa
nce
of J
em. H
e se
emed
to
be a
ll in
one
pie
ce, b
ut h
e ha
d a
quee
r lo
ok o
n hi
s fa
ce. P
erha
ps s
he h
ad g
iven
him
a do
se o
f ca
lom
el.
“I c
lean
ed it
up
for
her
and
said
I w
as s
orry
, but
I a
in’t
, and
that
I’d
wor
k on
‘em
ever
Sat
urda
y an
d tr
y to
mak
e ’e
m g
row
bac
k ou
t.”
“The
re w
as n
o po
int i
n sa
ying
you
wer
e so
rry
if y
ou a
ren’
t,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
“Je
m,
she’
s ol
d an
d il
l. Y
ou c
an’t
hol
d he
r re
spon
sibl
e fo
r w
hat s
he s
ays
and
does
. Of
cour
se, I
’d r
athe
r sh
e’d
have
sai
d it
to m
e th
an to
eit
her
of y
ou, b
ut w
e ca
n’t
alw
ays
have
our
‘dr
uthe
rs.”
Jem
see
med
fas
cina
ted
by a
ros
e in
the
carp
et. “
Att
icus
,” h
e sa
id, “
she
wan
ts m
e
to r
ead
to h
er.”
“Rea
d to
her
?”
“Yes
sir
. She
wan
ts m
e to
com
e ev
ery
afte
rnoo
n af
ter
scho
ol a
nd S
atur
days
and
read
to h
er o
ut lo
ud f
or tw
o ho
urs.
Atti
cus,
do
I ha
ve to
?”
“Cer
tain
ly.”
“But
she
wan
ts m
e to
do
it f
or a
mon
th.”
“The
n yo
u’ll
do it
for
a m
onth
.”
Jem
pla
nted
his
big
toe
delic
atel
y in
the
cent
er o
f th
e ro
se a
nd p
ress
ed it
in.
Fin
ally
he
said
, “A
tticu
s, it
’s a
ll ri
ght o
n th
e si
dew
alk
but i
nsid
e it
’s—
it’s
all d
ark
and
cree
py. T
here
’s s
hado
ws
and
thin
gs o
n th
e ce
iling
…”
Att
icus
sm
iled
gri
mly
. “T
hat s
houl
d ap
peal
to y
our
imag
inat
ion.
Jus
t pre
tend
you’
re in
side
the
Rad
ley
hous
e.”
The
fol
low
ing
Mon
day
afte
rnoo
n Je
m a
nd I
cli
mbe
d th
e st
eep
fron
t ste
ps to
Mrs
.
Dub
ose’
s ho
use
and
padd
ed d
own
the
open
hal
lway
. Jem
, arm
ed w
ith I
vanh
oe
and
full
of
supe
rior
kno
wle
dge,
kno
cked
at t
he s
econ
d do
or o
n th
e le
ft.
“Mrs
. Dub
ose?
” he
cal
led.
Jess
ie o
pene
d th
e w
ood
door
and
unl
atch
ed th
e sc
reen
doo
r.
“Is
that
you
, Jem
Fin
ch?”
she
sai
d. “
You
got
you
r si
ster
wit
h yo
u. I
don
’t k
now
—”
“Let
‘em
bot
h in
, Jes
sie,
” sa
id M
rs. D
ubos
e. J
essi
e ad
mit
ted
us a
nd w
ent o
ff to
the
kitc
hen.
An
oppr
essi
ve o
dor
met
us
whe
n w
e cr
osse
d th
e th
resh
old,
an
odor
I h
ad m
et
man
y tim
es in
rai
n-ro
tted
gray
hou
ses
whe
re th
ere
are
coal
-oil
lam
ps, w
ater
dipp
ers,
and
unb
leac
hed
dom
esti
c sh
eets
. It a
lway
s m
ade
me
afra
id, e
xpec
tant
,
wat
chfu
l.
In th
e co
rner
of
the
room
was
a b
rass
bed
, and
in th
e be
d w
as M
rs. D
ubos
e. I
won
dere
d if
Jem
’s a
ctiv
itie
s ha
d pu
t her
ther
e, a
nd f
or a
mom
ent I
fel
t sor
ry f
or
her.
She
was
lyin
g un
der
a pi
le o
f qu
ilts
and
look
ed a
lmos
t fri
endl
y.
The
re w
as a
mar
ble-
topp
ed w
ashs
tand
by
her
bed;
on
it w
ere
a gl
ass
with
a
teas
poon
in it
, a r
ed e
ar s
yrin
ge, a
box
of
abso
rben
t cot
ton,
and
a s
teel
ala
rm c
lock
stan
ding
on
thre
e ti
ny le
gs.
“So
you
brou
ght t
hat d
irty
littl
e si
ster
of
your
s, d
id y
ou?”
was
her
gre
etin
g.
Jem
sai
d qu
ietly
, “M
y si
ster
ain
’t d
irty
and
I a
in’t
sca
red
of y
ou,”
alt
houg
h I
noti
ced
his
knee
s sh
akin
g.
I w
as e
xpec
ting
a ti
rade
, but
all
she
said
was
, “Y
ou m
ay c
omm
ence
rea
ding
,
Jere
my.
”
Jem
sat
dow
n in
a c
ane-
botto
m c
hair
and
ope
ned
Ivan
hoe.
I p
ulle
d up
ano
ther
one
and
sat b
esid
e hi
m.
“Com
e cl
oser
,” s
aid
Mrs
. Dub
ose.
“C
ome
to th
e si
de o
f th
e be
d.”
We
mov
ed o
ur c
hair
s fo
rwar
d. T
his
was
the
near
est I
had
eve
r be
en to
her
, and
the
thin
g I
wan
ted
mos
t to
do w
as m
ove
my
chai
r ba
ck a
gain
.
She
was
hor
ribl
e. H
er f
ace
was
the
colo
r of
a d
irty
pil
low
case
, and
the
corn
ers
of
her
mou
th g
liste
ned
with
wet
, whi
ch in
ched
like
a g
laci
er d
own
the
deep
gro
oves
encl
osin
g he
r ch
in. O
ld-a
ge li
ver
spot
s do
tted
her
chee
ks, a
nd h
er p
ale
eyes
had
blac
k pi
npoi
nt p
upil
s. H
er h
ands
wer
e kn
obby
, and
the
cutic
les
wer
e gr
own
up
over
her
fin
gern
ails
. Her
bot
tom
pla
te w
as n
ot in
, and
her
upp
er li
p pr
otru
ded;
from
tim
e to
tim
e sh
e w
ould
dra
w h
er n
ethe
r lip
to h
er u
pper
pla
te a
nd c
arry
her
chin
wit
h it.
Thi
s m
ade
the
wet
mov
e fa
ster
.
I di
dn’t
look
any
mor
e th
an I
had
to. J
em r
eope
ned
Ivan
hoe
and
bega
n re
adin
g. I
trie
d to
kee
p up
wit
h hi
m, b
ut h
e re
ad to
o fa
st. W
hen
Jem
cam
e to
a w
ord
he
didn
’t k
now
, he
skip
ped
it, b
ut M
rs. D
ubos
e w
ould
cat
ch h
im a
nd m
ake
him
spe
ll
it o
ut. J
em r
ead
for
perh
aps
twen
ty m
inut
es, d
urin
g w
hich
tim
e I
look
ed a
t the
soot
-sta
ined
man
telp
iece
, out
the
win
dow
, any
whe
re to
kee
p fr
om lo
okin
g at
her
.
As
he r
ead
alon
g, I
not
iced
that
Mrs
. Dub
ose’
s co
rrec
tion
s gr
ew f
ewer
and
far
ther
betw
een,
that
Jem
had
eve
n le
ft o
ne s
ente
nce
dang
ling
in m
id-a
ir. S
he w
as n
ot
list
enin
g.
I lo
oked
tow
ard
the
bed.
Som
ethi
ng h
ad h
appe
ned
to h
er. S
he la
y on
her
bac
k, w
ith
the
quil
ts u
p to
her
chin
. Onl
y he
r he
ad a
nd s
houl
ders
wer
e vi
sibl
e. H
er h
ead
mov
ed s
low
ly f
rom
sid
e
to s
ide.
Fro
m ti
me
to ti
me
she
wou
ld o
pen
her
mou
th w
ide,
and
I c
ould
see
her
tong
ue u
ndul
ate
fain
tly.
Cor
ds o
f sa
liva
wou
ld c
olle
ct o
n he
r lip
s; s
he w
ould
dra
w
them
in, t
hen
open
her
mou
th a
gain
. Her
mou
th s
eem
ed to
hav
e a
priv
ate
exis
tenc
e of
its
own.
It w
orke
d se
para
te a
nd a
part
fro
m th
e re
st o
f he
r, o
ut a
nd in
,
like
a c
lam
hol
e at
low
tide
. Occ
asio
nall
y it
wou
ld s
ay, “
Pt,”
like
som
e vi
scou
s
subs
tanc
e co
min
g to
a b
oil.
I pu
lled
Jem
’s s
leev
e.
He
look
ed a
t me,
then
at t
he b
ed. H
er h
ead
mad
e its
reg
ular
sw
eep
tow
ard
us, a
nd
Jem
sai
d, “
Mrs
. Dub
ose,
are
you
all
righ
t?”
She
did
not
hea
r hi
m.
The
ala
rm c
lock
wen
t off
and
sca
red
us s
tiff.
A m
inut
e la
ter,
ner
ves
stil
l tin
glin
g,
Jem
and
I w
ere
on th
e si
dew
alk
head
ed f
or h
ome.
We
did
not r
un a
way
, Jes
sie
sent
us:
bef
ore
the
cloc
k w
ound
dow
n sh
e w
as in
the
room
pus
hing
Jem
and
me
out o
f it.
“Sho
o,”
she
said
, “yo
u al
l go
hom
e.”
Jem
hes
itat
ed a
t the
doo
r.
“It’
s ti
me
for
her
med
icin
e,”
Jess
ie s
aid.
As
the
door
sw
ung
shut
beh
ind
us I
saw
Jess
ie w
alki
ng q
uick
ly to
war
d M
rs. D
ubos
e’s
bed.
It w
as o
nly
thre
e fo
rty-
five
whe
n w
e go
t hom
e, s
o Je
m a
nd I
dro
p-ki
cked
in th
e
back
yar
d un
til it
was
tim
e to
mee
t Att
icus
. Atti
cus
had
two
yello
w p
enci
ls f
or m
e
and
a fo
otba
ll m
agaz
ine
for
Jem
, whi
ch I
sup
pose
was
a s
ilent
rew
ard
for
our
firs
t
day’
s se
ssio
n w
ith
Mrs
. Dub
ose.
Jem
told
him
wha
t hap
pene
d.
“Did
she
fri
ghte
n yo
u?”
aske
d A
tticu
s.
“No
sir,
” sa
id J
em, “
but s
he’s
so
nast
y. S
he h
as f
its
or s
omet
hin‘
. She
spi
ts a
lot.”
“She
can
’t h
elp
that
. Whe
n pe
ople
are
sic
k th
ey d
on’t
look
nic
e so
met
imes
.”
“She
sca
red
me,
” I
said
.
Att
icus
look
ed a
t me
over
his
gla
sses
. “Y
ou d
on’t
hav
e to
go
with
Jem
, you
know
.”
The
nex
t aft
erno
on a
t Mrs
. Dub
ose’
s w
as th
e sa
me
as th
e fi
rst,
and
so w
as th
e
next
, unt
il gr
adua
lly
a pa
tter
n em
erge
d: e
very
thin
g w
ould
beg
in n
orm
ally
—th
at
is, M
rs. D
ubos
e w
ould
hou
nd J
em f
or a
whi
le o
n he
r fa
vori
te s
ubje
cts,
her
cam
ellia
s an
d ou
r fa
ther
’s n
igge
r-lo
ving
pro
pens
ities
; she
wou
ld g
row
incr
easi
ngly
sil
ent,
then
go
away
fro
m u
s. T
he a
larm
clo
ck w
ould
rin
g, J
essi
e
wou
ld s
hoo
us o
ut, a
nd th
e re
st o
f th
e da
y w
as o
urs.
“Atti
cus,
” I
said
one
eve
ning
, “w
hat e
xact
ly is
a n
igge
r-lo
ver?
”
Att
icus
’s f
ace
was
gra
ve. “
Has
som
ebod
y be
en c
allin
g yo
u th
at?”
“No
sir,
Mrs
. Dub
ose
call
s yo
u th
at. S
he w
arm
s up
eve
ry a
fter
noon
cal
ling
you
that
. Fra
ncis
cal
led
me
that
last
Chr
istm
as, t
hat’
s w
here
I f
irst
hea
rd it
.”
“Is
that
the
reas
on y
ou ju
mpe
d on
him
?” a
sked
Att
icus
.
“Yes
sir
…”
“The
n w
hy a
re y
ou a
skin
g m
e w
hat i
t mea
ns?”
I tr
ied
to e
xpla
in to
Atti
cus
that
it w
asn’
t so
muc
h w
hat F
ranc
is s
aid
that
had
infu
riat
ed m
e as
the
way
he
had
said
it. “
It w
as li
ke h
e’d
said
sno
t-no
se o
r
som
ethi
n‘.”
“Sco
ut,”
sai
d A
ttic
us, “
nigg
er-l
over
is ju
st o
ne o
f th
ose
term
s th
at d
on’t
mea
n
anyt
hing
—lik
e sn
ot-n
ose.
It’
s ha
rd to
exp
lain
—ig
nora
nt, t
rash
y pe
ople
use
it
whe
n th
ey th
ink
som
ebod
y’s
favo
ring
Neg
roes
ove
r an
d ab
ove
them
selv
es. I
t’s
slip
ped
into
usa
ge w
ith
som
e pe
ople
like
our
selv
es, w
hen
they
wan
t a c
omm
on,
ugly
term
to la
bel s
omeb
ody.
”
“You
are
n’t r
eall
y a
nigg
er-l
over
, the
n, a
re y
ou?”
“I c
erta
inly
am
. I d
o m
y be
st to
love
eve
rybo
dy…
I’m
har
d pu
t, so
met
imes
—
baby
, it’
s ne
ver
an in
sult
to b
e ca
lled
wha
t som
ebod
y th
inks
is a
bad
nam
e. I
t jus
t
show
s yo
u ho
w p
oor
that
per
son
is, i
t doe
sn’t
hur
t you
. So
don’
t let
Mrs
. Dub
ose
get y
ou d
own.
She
has
eno
ugh
trou
bles
of
her
own.
”
One
aft
erno
on a
mon
th la
ter
Jem
was
plo
ughi
ng h
is w
ay th
roug
h S
ir W
alte
r
Sco
ut, a
s Je
m c
alle
d hi
m, a
nd M
rs. D
ubos
e w
as c
orre
ctin
g hi
m a
t eve
ry tu
rn,
whe
n th
ere
was
a k
nock
on
the
door
. “C
ome
in!”
she
scr
eam
ed.
Att
icus
cam
e in
. He
wen
t to
the
bed
and
took
Mrs
. Dub
ose’
s ha
nd. “
I w
as c
omin
g
from
the
offi
ce a
nd d
idn’
t see
the
child
ren,
” he
sai
d. “
I th
ough
t the
y m
ight
sti
ll be
here
.”
Mrs
. Dub
ose
smile
d at
him
. For
the
life
of m
e I
coul
d no
t fig
ure
out h
ow s
he
coul
d br
ing
hers
elf
to s
peak
to h
im w
hen
she
seem
ed to
hat
e hi
m s
o. “
Do
you
know
wha
t tim
e it
is, A
tticu
s?”
she
said
. “E
xact
ly f
ourt
een
min
utes
pas
t fiv
e. T
he
alar
m c
lock
’s s
et f
or f
ive-
thir
ty. I
wan
t you
to k
now
that
.”
It s
udde
nly
cam
e to
me
that
eac
h da
y w
e ha
d be
en s
tayi
ng a
littl
e lo
nger
at M
rs.
Dub
ose’
s, th
at th
e al
arm
clo
ck w
ent o
ff a
few
min
utes
late
r ev
ery
day,
and
that
she
was
wel
l int
o on
e of
her
fit
s by
the
tim
e it
soun
ded.
Tod
ay s
he h
ad
anta
goni
zed
Jem
for
nea
rly
two
hour
s w
ith n
o in
tent
ion
of h
avin
g a
fit,
and
I fe
lt
hope
less
ly tr
appe
d. T
he a
larm
clo
ck w
as th
e si
gnal
for
our
rel
ease
; if
one
day
it
did
not r
ing,
wha
t wou
ld w
e do
?
“I h
ave
a fe
elin
g th
at J
em’s
rea
ding
day
s ar
e nu
mbe
red,
” sa
id A
tticu
s.
“Onl
y a
wee
k lo
nger
, I th
ink,
” sh
e sa
id, “
just
to m
ake
sure
…”
Jem
ros
e. “
But
—”
Att
icus
put
out
his
han
d an
d Je
m w
as s
ilent
. On
the
way
hom
e, J
em s
aid
he h
ad to
do it
just
for
a m
onth
and
the
mon
th w
as u
p an
d it
was
n’t f
air.
“Jus
t one
mor
e w
eek,
son
,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
“No,
” sa
id J
em. “
Yes
,” s
aid
Atti
cus.
The
fol
low
ing
wee
k fo
und
us b
ack
at M
rs. D
ubos
e’s.
The
ala
rm c
lock
had
cea
sed
soun
ding
, but
Mrs
. Dub
ose
wou
ld r
elea
se u
s w
ith, “
Tha
t’ll
do,
” so
late
in th
e
afte
rnoo
n A
tticu
s w
ould
be
hom
e re
adin
g th
e pa
per
whe
n w
e re
turn
ed. A
lthou
gh
her
fits
had
pas
sed
off,
she
was
in e
very
oth
er w
ay h
er o
ld s
elf:
whe
n S
ir W
alte
r
Sco
tt be
cam
e in
volv
ed in
leng
thy
desc
ript
ions
of
moa
ts a
nd c
astle
s, M
rs. D
ubos
e
wou
ld b
ecom
e bo
red
and
pick
on
us:
“Jer
emy
Fin
ch, I
told
you
you
’d li
ve to
reg
ret t
eari
ng u
p m
y ca
mel
lias.
You
reg
ret
it n
ow, d
on’t
you
?”
Jem
wou
ld s
ay h
e ce
rtai
nly
did.
“Tho
ught
you
cou
ld k
ill m
y Sn
ow-o
n-th
e-M
ount
ain,
did
you
? W
ell,
Jess
ie s
ays
the
top’
s gr
owin
g ba
ck o
ut. N
ext t
ime
you’
ll kn
ow h
ow to
do
it r
ight
, won
’t y
ou?
You
’ll p
ull i
t up
by th
e ro
ots,
won
’t y
ou?”
Jem
wou
ld s
ay h
e ce
rtai
nly
wou
ld.
“Don
’t y
ou m
utte
r at
me,
boy
! Y
ou h
old
up y
our
head
and
say
yes
ma’
am. D
on’t
gues
s yo
u fe
el li
ke h
oldi
ng it
up,
thou
gh, w
ith
your
fat
her
wha
t he
is.”
Jem
’s c
hin
wou
ld c
ome
up, a
nd h
e w
ould
gaz
e at
Mrs
. Dub
ose
wit
h a
face
dev
oid
of r
esen
tmen
t. T
hrou
gh th
e w
eeks
he
had
culti
vate
d an
exp
ress
ion
of p
olit
e an
d
deta
ched
inte
rest
, whi
ch h
e w
ould
pre
sent
to h
er in
ans
wer
to h
er m
ost b
lood
-
curd
ling
inve
ntio
ns.
At l
ast t
he d
ay c
ame.
Whe
n M
rs. D
ubos
e sa
id, “
Tha
t’ll
do,”
one
aft
erno
on, s
he
adde
d, “
And
that
’s a
ll. G
ood-
day
to y
ou.”
It w
as o
ver.
We
boun
ded
dow
n th
e si
dew
alk
on a
spr
ee o
f sh
eer
reli
ef, l
eapi
ng
and
how
ling
.
Tha
t spr
ing
was
a g
ood
one:
the
days
gre
w lo
nger
and
gav
e us
mor
e pl
ayin
g tim
e.
Jem
’s m
ind
was
occ
upie
d m
ostly
with
the
vita
l sta
tist
ics
of e
very
col
lege
foo
tbal
l
play
er in
the
natio
n. E
very
nig
ht A
tticu
s w
ould
rea
d us
the
spor
ts p
ages
of
the
new
spap
ers.
Ala
bam
a m
ight
go
to th
e R
ose
Bow
l aga
in th
is y
ear,
judg
ing
from
its
pros
pect
s, n
ot o
ne o
f w
hose
nam
es w
e co
uld
pron
ounc
e. A
tticu
s w
as in
the
mid
dle
of W
indy
Sea
ton’
s co
lum
n on
e ev
enin
g w
hen
the
tele
phon
e ra
ng.
He
answ
ered
it, t
hen
wen
t to
the
hat r
ack
in th
e ha
ll. “
I’m
goi
ng d
own
to M
rs.
Dub
ose’
s fo
r a
whi
le,”
he
said
. “I
won
’t b
e lo
ng.”
But
Att
icus
sta
yed
away
unt
il lo
ng p
ast m
y be
dtim
e. W
hen
he r
etur
ned
he w
as
carr
ying
a c
andy
box
. Atti
cus
sat d
own
in th
e liv
ingr
oom
and
put
the
box
on th
e
floo
r be
side
his
cha
ir.
“Wha
t’d
she
wan
t?”
aske
d Je
m.
We
had
not s
een
Mrs
. Dub
ose
for
over
a m
onth
. She
was
nev
er o
n th
e po
rch
any
mor
e w
hen
we
pass
ed.
“She
’s d
ead,
son
,” s
aid
Att
icus
. “Sh
e di
ed a
few
min
utes
ago
.”
“Oh,
” sa
id J
em. “
Wel
l.”
“Wel
l is
righ
t,” s
aid
Att
icus
. “Sh
e’s
not s
uffe
ring
any
mor
e. S
he w
as s
ick
for
a
long
tim
e. S
on, d
idn’
t you
kno
w w
hat h
er f
its w
ere?
”
Jem
sho
ok h
is h
ead.
“Mrs
. Dub
ose
was
a m
orph
ine
addi
ct,”
sai
d A
ttic
us. “
She
took
it a
s a
pain
-kill
er
for
year
s. T
he d
octo
r pu
t her
on
it. S
he’d
hav
e sp
ent t
he r
est o
f he
r lif
e on
it a
nd
died
wit
hout
so
muc
h ag
ony,
but
she
was
too
cont
rary
—”
“Sir
?” s
aid
Jem
.
Att
icus
sai
d, “
Just
bef
ore
your
esc
apad
e sh
e ca
lled
me
to m
ake
her
wil
l. D
r.
Rey
nold
s to
ld h
er s
he h
ad o
nly
a fe
w m
onth
s le
ft. H
er b
usin
ess
affa
irs
wer
e in
perf
ect o
rder
but
she
sai
d, ‘
The
re’s
sti
ll on
e th
ing
out o
f or
der.
’”
“Wha
t was
that
?” J
em w
as p
erpl
exed
.
“She
sai
d sh
e w
as g
oing
to le
ave
this
wor
ld b
ehol
den
to n
othi
ng a
nd n
obod
y. J
em,
whe
n yo
u’re
sic
k as
she
was
, it’
s al
l rig
ht to
take
any
thin
g to
mak
e it
eas
ier,
but
it
was
n’t a
ll ri
ght f
or h
er. S
he s
aid
she
mea
nt to
bre
ak h
erse
lf o
f it
bef
ore
she
died
,
and
that
’s w
hat s
he d
id.”
Jem
sai
d, “
You
mea
n th
at’s
wha
t her
fit
s w
ere?
”
“Yes
, tha
t’s
wha
t the
y w
ere.
Mos
t of
the
time
you
wer
e re
adin
g to
her
I d
oubt
if
she
hear
d a
wor
d yo
u sa
id. H
er w
hole
min
d an
d bo
dy w
ere
conc
entr
ated
on
that
alar
m c
lock
. If
you
hadn
’t f
alle
n in
to h
er h
ands
, I’d
hav
e m
ade
you
go r
ead
to h
er
anyw
ay. I
t may
hav
e be
en s
ome
dist
ract
ion.
The
re w
as a
noth
er r
easo
n—”
“Did
she
die
fre
e?”
aske
d Je
m.
“As
the
mou
ntai
n ai
r,”
said
Att
icus
. “S
he w
as c
onsc
ious
to th
e la
st, a
lmos
t.
Con
scio
us,”
he
smil
ed, “
and
cant
anke
rous
. She
sti
ll d
isap
prov
ed h
eart
ily
of m
y
doin
gs, a
nd s
aid
I’d
prob
ably
spe
nd th
e re
st o
f m
y lif
e ba
iling
you
out
of
jail.
She
had
Jess
ie f
ix y
ou th
is b
ox—
”
Att
icus
rea
ched
dow
n an
d pi
cked
up
the
cand
y bo
x. H
e ha
nded
it to
Jem
.
Jem
ope
ned
the
box.
Ins
ide,
sur
roun
ded
by w
ads
of d
amp
cott
on, w
as a
whi
te,
wax
y, p
erfe
ct c
amel
lia.
It w
as a
Sno
w-o
n-th
e-M
ount
ain.
Jem
’s e
yes
near
ly p
oppe
d ou
t of
his
head
. “O
ld h
ell-
devi
l, ol
d he
ll-d
evil
!” h
e
scre
amed
, fli
ngin
g it
dow
n. “
Why
can
’t s
he le
ave
me
alon
e?”
In a
fla
sh A
tticu
s w
as u
p an
d st
andi
ng o
ver
him
. Jem
bur
ied
his
face
in A
tticu
s’s
shir
t fro
nt. “
Sh-h
,” h
e sa
id. “
I th
ink
that
was
her
way
of
telli
ng y
ou—
ever
ythi
ng’s
all r
ight
now
, Jem
, eve
ryth
ing’
s al
l rig
ht. Y
ou k
now
, she
was
a g
reat
lady
.”
“A la
dy?”
Jem
rai
sed
his
head
. His
fac
e w
as s
carl
et. “
Aft
er a
ll th
ose
thin
gs s
he
said
abo
ut y
ou, a
lady
?”
“She
was
. She
had
her
ow
n vi
ews
abou
t thi
ngs,
a lo
t dif
fere
nt f
rom
min
e,
may
be…
son
, I to
ld y
ou th
at if
you
had
n’t l
ost y
our
head
I’d
hav
e m
ade
you
go
read
to h
er. I
wan
ted
you
to s
ee s
omet
hing
abo
ut h
er—
I w
ante
d yo
u to
see
wha
t
real
cou
rage
is, i
nste
ad o
f ge
tting
the
idea
that
cou
rage
is a
man
wit
h a
gun
in h
is
hand
. It’
s w
hen
you
know
you
’re
lick
ed b
efor
e yo
u be
gin
but y
ou b
egin
any
way
and
you
see
it th
roug
h no
mat
ter
wha
t. Y
ou r
arel
y w
in, b
ut s
omet
imes
you
do.
Mrs
. Dub
ose
won
, all
nin
ety-
eigh
t pou
nds
of h
er. A
ccor
ding
to h
er v
iew
s, s
he
died
beh
olde
n to
not
hing
and
nob
ody.
She
was
the
brav
est p
erso
n I
ever
kne
w.”
Jem
pic
ked
up th
e ca
ndy
box
and
thre
w it
in th
e fi
re. H
e pi
cked
up
the
cam
elli
a,
and
whe
n I
wen
t off
to b
ed I
saw
him
fin
geri
ng th
e w
ide
peta
ls. A
tticu
s w
as
read
ing
the
pape
r.
PA
RT
TW
O
Con
tent
s -
Pre
v / N
ext
Ch
ap
ter
12
Jem
was
twel
ve. H
e w
as d
iffi
cult
to li
ve w
ith, i
ncon
sist
ent,
moo
dy. H
is a
ppet
ite
was
app
allin
g, a
nd h
e to
ld m
e so
man
y tim
es to
sto
p pe
ster
ing
him
I c
onsu
lted
Att
icus
: “R
ecko
n he
’s g
ot a
tape
wor
m?”
Att
icus
sai
d no
, Jem
was
gro
win
g. I
mus
t
be p
atie
nt w
ith
him
and
dis
turb
him
as
littl
e as
pos
sibl
e.
Thi
s ch
ange
in J
em h
ad c
ome
abou
t in
a m
atte
r of
wee
ks. M
rs. D
ubos
e w
as n
ot
cold
in h
er g
rave
—Je
m h
ad s
eem
ed g
rate
ful e
noug
h fo
r m
y co
mpa
ny w
hen
he
wen
t to
read
to h
er. O
vern
ight
, it s
eem
ed, J
em h
ad a
cqui
red
an a
lien
set o
f va
lues
and
was
tryi
ng to
impo
se th
em o
n m
e: s
ever
al ti
mes
he
wen
t so
far
as to
tell
me
wha
t to
do. A
fter
one
alt
erca
tion
whe
n Je
m h
olle
red,
“It
’s ti
me
you
star
ted
bein
‘ a
girl
and
act
ing
righ
t!”
I bu
rst i
nto
tear
s an
d fl
ed to
Cal
purn
ia.
“Don
’t y
ou f
ret t
oo m
uch
over
Mis
ter
Jem
—”
she
bega
n.
“Mis
ter
Jem
?”
“Yea
h, h
e’s
just
abo
ut M
iste
r Je
m n
ow.”
“He
ain’
t tha
t old
,” I
sai
d. “
All
he
need
s is
som
ebod
y to
bea
t him
up,
and
I a
in’t
big
enou
gh.”
“Bab
y,”
said
Cal
purn
ia, “
I ju
st c
an’t
hel
p it
if M
iste
r Je
m’s
gro
win
‘ up
. He’
s
