TKAM Ch. 26-29 Journal #7: Scout

My assessment of the past few months is hard to explain. It’s been a hard and exciting time, yet scary too. School started again. School is very boring and I feel like I could learn more being out in the real world than stuck in a classroom all day. One time my teacher my talking about the Jews over in Germany and how they’re being persecuted by Hitler. She said that’s the difference between us and Germany and that alledgedly we don’t persecute anyone. I don’t understand how this can be true though because I overheard her talking at the courthouse and she was talking bad about the colored people. That’s persecuting isn’t it? I tried to ask Jem about it but when I mentioned the courthouse he got real mad at me, so I didn’t bring it up again.
Bob Ewell got fired at his job at the WPA. Atticus said it was from laziness, but Bob blamed it on Atticus. I thought this was somewhat true, but it was Bob Ewell’s fault. He ended up threatening Atticus and it made Jem and I real scared for him. Another thing that added to our fears was that Judge Taylor’s house was almost broken into, but he was home the robber left.
I over heard Atticus talking and I found out that Mr. Ewell was giving Helen a hard time when she walked to Link Deas’ place to work. He told Bob to stop and he did. I thought it was very nice of Mr. Deas to offer Helen a job, seeing as her husband died and she has kids to feed.
Halloween came up and this year there was a pageant. I was to play the part of a ham. The costume was an inconvienced but I consented to wear it. I thought that Atticus and Aunt Alexandra would go watch the play, but they were both too tired so I acted out my part in front of them and Calpurnia. They said I was a very nice ham.
When the pagean night came Jem walked me to the auditorium. On the way there Cecil scared us, it was a good joke. When the play started I sat down on the ground to await my turn to go on stage. I think I fell asleep but I woke up to the band playing and I thought that maybe I could go and catch up with all the rest of them without being noticed. I came out when Mrs. Merriweather was carrying the state flag. Everybody laughed really hard and Mrs. Merriweather made me feel really bad about “ruining her play”.
On the way back from the play something really scary happened. I was wearing my ham costume and Jem and I were walking home in the pitch black dark. Jem heard something and we stopped, then I heard something finally, and we were attacked! Everything was all a blur because I couldn’t see, I kept tripping and I heard Jem yell out. Someone came to help us though and he carried Jem back to our house. Jem had a broken arm; I was alright but bruised up.
I had to explain to Atticus and Sheriff what happened. Sheriff said that Jem didn’t stab Mr. Ewell, but Atticus said he did. I understood what Atticus was saying, but Sheriff finally convinced Atticus that he didn’t.
Then I pointed to the man who had helped us, who was standing in the corner. It was then that I realized it was Boo Radley.
“Hey, Boo,” I said.

TKAM Ch. 16-19 Journal #6: Atticus

Today is the day of the case. I don’t know if we’ll win, but I’m hoping that the jury will actually listen to what we have to say. They won’t be PREJUDICE with Tom even though he’s black. Everyone from all over came to Maycomb to see the case. They did not come with SUBTLETY either. They packed picnics and sat outside the courthouse. I asked the kids not to come downtown.
I was trying to be calm about the case. Heck Tate came to the stand first. He told what he said was what happened and I asked him some questions. I find it interesting that no one called a doctor for poor Mayella. Tate described her injuries and then Mr. Ewell was called up to the stand. There home and their family life is not a good one. The possibility that it was actually Bob Ewell who raped Mayella is a big one. When he said his story, it was hard for me to pay attention. I already know that Tom is innocent. As much as I hate to say it Bob Ewell is trash. I’m sure that he’s lying and he’s just putting the blame on Tom.
I learned in his questioning that he was left handed and Mayella was hit in the left eye. I know that it’s possible for someone’s right hand to hit someone’s left eye, but that is IRRELEVENT because she had bruise marks made by a left hand.
Then Mayella was called to the stand. She told her side of the story. Some things matched up, but the timing and people’s roles were wrong. She started crying and she was crying about me. I felt so sorry for her because I knew her father was probably the one who had done this FRAUD. I was somewhat surprised that she got mad at me for calling her ma’am and things like that. I know that she probably has never been treated with respect and when I called her that she thought I was making fun of her, which I wasn’t. I left Judge Taylor to deal with that PREDICAMENT. She was having a hard time describing the events that happened. I suppose it was hard to lie when it was your father who had done something like that to you.
I confronted her outright and asked if it were her father who had raped her, but she stated very clearly that he had done nothing to hurt her. I felt so bad for making her hate me, I wish I didn’t have to speak the truth.
Tom Robinson was called up next, as he was my only witness. He told his story, which to me made the most sense. He didn’t fumble at all while he was talking, except to say that something wasn’t fit for the children and women to hear. He’s a nice man and very respectable, Mr. Link Deas even stood up in court to say so. He was sent out then, but I thought it was very nice of him to say something like that.
When Mr. Gilmer questioned him, I got rather mad. He treated Tom like he was nothing, like he wasn’t important. Tom answered COMPLACENTLY though, he didn’t give any trouble. I saw movement up on the balcony and I wondered who had left. So far the case wasn’t going bad, but I’m not sure if the jury is in our favor. It’s hard to educate people in a courtroom.

TKAM Ch. 13-15 Journal #5: Dill

I had to run away. I couldn’t stay with my family anymore. I know they don’t hate me, but they don’t need me. I was tired of being told to go somewhere else and to be basically told that I wasn’t wanted. So I ran away to Scout. Maycomb is my real home since it’s where I’m most happy. I had taken 13 dollars from my mom’s purse and got on the 9 o’clock train to Maycomb. I walked a long away to Jem and Scout’s house. When I got here I had to hide under the bed for about 2 hours. It was all stuffy and cramped under here, and when I heard them eating it drove me crazy! I was so hungry.
Finally Jem and Scout went to bed. I had just stuck my arm out to get out from under the bed when Scout stepped on it! I pulled it back fast and I heard her call out to Jem. They thought I was a snake! I waited until Jem poked me with a broom until I stuck my head out. Apparently I scared him real bad because he tried to hit me but he missed. When I saw Scouts face she looked surprised but I think she looked happy. She asked how I got here and I told her this long, exciting story. Then Jem asked how I got here and I told them the less exciting version.
Jem said I should let my mother know where I am. It was when he said this that I realized how much he changed. He was acting like a grown up. Then he did something an adult would do; he went and called Atticus. I wasn’t that scared of Atticus himself, I was scared that he was going to send me back. He was nice enough though; he told Scout to give me something to eat and then I said should take a bath. I was scared when I heard Aunt Rachel’s voice in the hall. She talked a lot and I tried to be on my best behavior through out the whole thing. At the end she said I could stay for a night and I smiled because I knew I would probably get to stay longer.
I went to sleep in Jem’s room. It was kind of hard to sleep with a traitor but I knew he meant well so I didn’t get mad at him that much. Early in the morning I crept into Scout’s room. She looked real peaceful lying there asleep. There wasn’t any room for me so I punched her to get her to scoot over. She asked why I had run away and I tried to explain to her. Scout’s got Jem to be with when Atticus is away. When Jem leaves Scout she always has Calpurnia. I don’t’ have anyone when my parents send me away. I think they love me but they have a funny way of showing it.
I started getting really sleepy and I just said whatever came to my mouth. Then Scout asked why Boo Radley never ran away, I told her what I thought was true, that he had no where to run to.
I was allowed to stay in Maycomb after a lot of pleading and convincing. It was a nice week with Scout and Jem. I missed being with those two. There was something different however about his stay, their Aunt Alexandra was there. She was an interesting woman. We were all sitting in the living room one evening when there was a knock on the door. Atticus went out to go meet with whoever it was. We looked out the window and saw it was a big group of people. They were talking about the Robinson guy, and they all seemed kind of nervous. They left eventually though.
A couple days later Scout and Jem appeared at my window. I followed them out to the sidewalk where I asked them what’s going on. Scout said that Jem’s got the look-arounds and then he said he’s just got this feeling. We walked down town and wound up at the jail. Some cars pulled up and men got out and surrounded Atticus. They started talking and the Scout ran over to Atticus. Jem and I followed; it looked kind of dangerous over there. The men started saying that Atticus had to get us out of there. Then Scout started talking to one of them like she knew him. It was Mr. Cunningham. She started talking about Walter Cunningham and entailments. He didn’t acknowledge her at first, but then he nodded. She just kept talking, oblivious to the fact that everyone was staring at her. When she finally realized this she asked, “What’s the matter?” Then Mr. Cunningham put his hands on her shoulders and said, “I’ll tell him you say hey, little lady.” Then everyone got in their car and left. Atticus talked to Mr. Underwood, and then we all went home. Scout and I walked together, watching Atticus and Jem up ahead.

TKAM Ch. 10-11 Jounral #4: Scout

Did you know Atticus was called One-Shot Finch? Well I didn’t, and I don’t know why people don’t tell me these things. Here Jem and I were thinking that Atticus was just old and couldn’t do anything, when really I think he’s the bravest man I know. He shot that crazy dog in one shot! Right in the head! Jem and I were walking down the street when we saw Tim Johnson was walking all funny toward us. He was a long way off but Jem wanted to go run and tell Cal. He did, and Cal called Atticus. When everyone was inside and the gun was brought out it was scary. Everything was silent as Tim Johnson slowly came into view. Atticus had to take the gun and it me scared half to death! He was too old to shoot a mad dog, wasn’t he? He aimed the gun, and his body seemed to relax. He was perfectly still and right when Tim Johnson leapt to come toward us, Atticus shot him! It was a perfect shot; anyone or anything that’s being aimed at by Atticus is in peril. I wanted to tell everyone at school about Atticus, but Jem said that I shouldn’t. If Atticus had wanted everyone to know about it he would’ve, instead of remaining inconspicuous.
I guess Jem wanted a change of scenery, or maybe he felt more grown up or something, because we went further to meet Atticus after work. To do this we had to go past Ms. Dubose’s house. I would rather not do this, but Jem said I had to grow up. She was the meanest old lady that ever lived. She always talked bad about Atticus and made me feel real embarrassed because he was taking that Tom person’s case. Jem always got the maddest though. When I say mad I mean crazy. He had just bought me my baton and we were walking back from town. When we came to Ms. Dubose’s house she wasn’t on the porch. Then Jem ran into her yard with my baton and cut all the flowers off her plants. Then took my baton and snapped it in a half! I started screaming and he told me to shut up, but I didn’t and he kicked me and I fell. He didn’t seem at all sorry for being cantankerous, but he seemed sorry about making me fall. We went home to wait for Atticus.
When he came through the door, his voice called out to Jem. It didn’t sound like a happy voice. Atticus had my baton in his hand as he walked in the room, and he asked Jem if he were responsible, but he asked it in a way that seemed like he already knew. Jem said yes, I don’t think he even thought to contridict Atticus. Atticus told Jem to go talk to Ms. Dubose, I was going to go with him in case she shot him with her CSA pistol, but Atticus called me back.
When Jem came back he said that she had told him he had to read to her for 2 hours for a month! It was a horrible punishment but I went with him every time. It was awful; I tried not to look at her. She had a lot of spit that always came out of her mouth. Her mouth always moved as if it were saying inaudible things but it was moving by itself I think. She would always pick on Jem and correct him at every word he said wrong or couldn’t say at all. As soon as the alarm clock went off we got out of there fast. One time Atticus came by, and I found out that she had been setting it later and later each time. Finally it was over for good though and me and Jem were free!
One evening we were all together and Atticus got a call from Ms. Dubose and he went over her house. When he came back he told us she had died. I didn’t know what I felt. I think it would be wrong to feel happy that someone died, so I settled on relief. Atticus said she was a morphine addict and that she was trying to get herself off of it. She died with a clean system, which Jem told me was a good thing. Atticus said that there was more to bravery than shooting something and that Ms. Dubose was a great lady. I’m not sure I believe that because she sure was mean to us, but when I left the room Jen was playing with the petals on the flower Ms. Dubose had given to him. I thought that was a nice thing to do even for a sick, mean lady.

TKAM Ch 8-9 journal #3: Atticus

I’m having a hard time with Jem and Scout. Don’t get me wrong, I love them both and I think they are the greatest things in my life. It’s just hard raising them without a mother, and I wonder if I’m doing the right things. Their Aunt sure doesn’t think so; it was so hard to take all the woman’s complaining. I felt bad for Scout the most; she was always getting picked on. I suppose that she could be more girly, but with an older brother as her idol, I don’t think she knows any better. In time I think she will be become acquainted with the feminine side of life, even if right now she’s perplexed on why some one would want to wear a dress.
The children seem to be fanatical with Boo Radley. It gets worse when Dill comes and I’m debating whether or not I should have a serious talk with them. When poor Mrs. Radley died the children asked if I had seen Boo, which I hadn’t. More excitement came when snow appeared the next morning. It was the coldest winter is God knows how long. I was in the middle of shaving when Scout started screaming, of course I ran to her, only to find that she had discovered snow. She and Jem were so excited; it made me happy just to see them happy.
When I cam home from dinner, I found that Jem had done good work while I was away. He and Scout had created a likeness of Mr. Avery and even though I thought it was very funny, I couldn’t let them keep it the front yard. They disguised it a little, which satisfied me. I made sure to compliment Jem, he deserved it.
I awoke in the middle of the night to the smell of burning smoke. My first thought was the children; I needed to get them out. I saw that it was Ms. Maudie’s house, the one adjacent to ours. Once we all got outside I made sure they were well away from the flames. After everything was done, we all went back inside the house. I noticed a blanket around Scout’s shoulders, and they informed that they didn’t know where or who it had come from. I came to the conclusion that it was Boo Radley himself, since he would’ve been the only one able to do that.
I’m not really making any progress with my case. Everyone is giving me a hard time about it, but I can handle it. It’s when people give my children a hard time about it is when it really makes me angry. I told Scout not to fight with anyone that called me that stupid name; I told here that it would make me angry. She’s too young to understand why I would defend Tom Robinson. The world is changing; we can’t have separate people in a place where we are supposed to be united. I’m proving something to myself by taking on this case, even if I know I won’t win it.
The relatives are always a hard time to overcome. Scout’s Aunt Alexandra isn’t the easiest person to get a long, but I put on a brave face for Jem and Scout. It doesn’t when Scout has taken on the liking of cussing. Alexandra gives me a hard time about raising her. I do the best I can and Calpurnia helps a lot, but it seems like Alexandra doesn’t approve. We left Finch Landing early, Scout got in some trouble with Francis. Jack took care of it, not the way I would’ve done, but he’s learning. I gave him some advice when we got back home and we had a conversation about the Robinson case. It was nice talking to an adult that understands.

TKAM Ch. 4-7 Journal 2: Dill

I always have a good time when I come to Maycomb. It’s definitely because of Scout and Jem, without them the summer would be long and boring. The best part is when we do stuff with Boo Radley. This summer we acted out whole scenes of Boo’s life. Jem always got to fake stab me in the leg with the scissors. Sometime we quibbled about which part we would play but we mostly got fair turns. One time though we were so caught up in the play that none of us noticed Atticus standing there watching us. We stopped real quick though when we saw him. He would get mad at us for acting out the things we did and he would say that we were tormenting Boo.

It all started the first day I came back. I had told Jem and Scout about the Hot Steam’s and Jem got mad at Scout for disagreeing with him. Scout wanted to be pushed in the tire and when Jem pushed her he pushed her right into Boo Radley’s yard! Scout got real scared and was frozen for a little and then ran back to us. Jem then got the idea to act out Boo Radley, which we did all summer long.

I started hanging out with Jem a lot more. Me and Scout’s relationship teetered on the edge most of the time though. I wasn’t sure if she was mad at me for proposing to her then leaving her out almost always. She started hanging out Miss Maudie, who I think is a nice lady. She makes us cakes and lets us explore her backyard. I felt bad because of me and Jem’s evasion of Scout, but Jem seemed intent on not hanging out with a “girl”, as he says.

One day I started thinking that Boo might like some company. If he had survived the tyranny of his father he might want some friends to talk to. Jem and I decided to give him a note by sticking it through the shutter. We were right in the middle of doing it when Atticus comes walking by! I started ringing the alarm bell even though I knew it would do no good. Atticus got really mad but I think that we could agree unanimously that he was trying hard to keep a straight face. He had tricked Jem with some fancy words and probably found it funny.

On the last night before I left Maycomb we went for a walk. Jem and I had already planned on peeking in Boo Radley’s window. We hadn’t planned on Scout coming along, but she did, which I didn’t mind. We went around the back fence and crept real quietly up to the back porch. I looked in the window and didn’t see anything except a little bit of light. Jem wanted to go on the porch, I figured he’d be ok because he’d already touched the house before and he hadn’t gotten killed. When he stood on the step it squeaked really loud, Jem was scared and then hopped up to the top. Then he crawled to the window, it was easy to see him because the moon was really bright that night. I looked over at Scout to see if she was ok, and when I did I don’t think I had ever seen someone so scared in my entire life. I looked in the direction of where she was looking at and saw the most terrifying thing ever. It was a shadow and it was going to kill Jem! We ran out of there as fast as we could. Everything was a blur, there was a gunshot, then we went under a fence, then Jem lost his pants, there was screaming, and then back to the street.

We ran to the crowd that was around the Radley place where I had to come up with a lie to explain Jem’s lost pants. In the end it was all ok, and I had to say goodbye to Jem and Scout for the summer. I was about to leave, but decided to kiss Scout because we were engaged after all. I can’t wait till I come back next summer, that’s the best time out of the whole year.

TOKM Ch.1-3 Journal #1: Jem

This summer had been a great one, probably, well maybe, the most the exciting one yet. We got Dill this summer from Meridian. He came for the summer to stay with his aunt, but he left when school started. He was always thinking of crazy things to do, he dared me to touch the Radley Place! Dill was fascinated by the house, he would stare it at and wonder what was going on inside. I told him the absolute truth about Boo. Miss Crawford told me everything about what happened. But that didn’t stop Dill, no way. He wanted to make Boo come out of the house! I already knew that he came out at night and walked around town. Dill didn’t care that Boo was one malevolent person. One day Dill made a bet that I couldn’t go past the front gate. I was real scared at first; wouldn’t you be intimidated if you had to go up to where Boo Radley lived? I had never said no to any dare, but this one was a tough one. I could die! Finally Dill irked me enough by saying that I was too scared and that people from Meridian were braver than people in Maycomb. So I walked to the corner and stood there staring at the house. I was trying to think of a way to not put my life in danger when Dill made a compromise, he said that all I had to do what just touch the house, and he wouldn’t consider the dare declined. So I said yes, and ran as fast as I could, touched the house, and ran back faster than I’d ever run away from that cursed house.
When Dill had to leave it was a sad day. I had been nice having some one to run around with me and Scout. In the summer Scout is the best, she’ll go a long with all of my pronouncements no matter if they’re true or not. I just speak my mind and Scout believes it. I told her that when school starts it’ll be different. I can’t have my little sister following me everywhere. Even if we do have a lot of fun re-enacting scenes from books and having adventures, school is my place to be older.
I had to walk her to school the first day. (Atticus persuaded me.) It wasn’t that bad, not too many people saw me so I wasn’t upset or anything. My morning was uneventful, but when I asked Scout how hers was, it was a different story. The new teacher, Miss Caroline, had gotten irritated that Scout could read. I didn’t see the problem but Miss Caroline was using a new teaching method and I figured she knew best, she was beautiful after all. Scout just had to persevere through the day, it was her first and she needed to get used to it.
At lunch time I walk out and I see Scout messing up a Cunningham. It saw that it was Walter as I walked closer. I told her to stop; it was unfair that she was bigger than he was. She then explained how Miss Caroline had gotten her in trouble. I don’t think it was Miss Caroline’s fault any more than it was Scout’s. Miss Caroline is new to the town; she wouldn’t know everybody’s business like everyone else does. I felt bad for Walter though and invited him to lunch.
Calpurnia cooked a real good meal, but I guess Walter felt the need to add molasses to everything. I understood though, he probably never gets to have the stuff. Scout did not get this at all though and she asked very rudely what he was doing. Walter got all ashamed and Calpurnia asked Scout to come in the kitchen. I could hear some of what Calpurnia said to her and I felt bad. Scout was so young, but how else was she supposed to learn about the ways of people?
There was more trouble after lunch, with Burris. Scout told me everything that Saturday in between trips of taking supplies up to me in the tree house. He was very mean to Miss Caroline and he shouldn’t have said those things. I think she’ll get used the ways of Maycomb though; it’ll just take some time.
- Jem