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.