To kill a mocking bird #9 Scout's prespective

It was dark out.  I was disappointed but t0 tired to think about what happened to me at the pageant.  I was thinking about how my teacher said I ruined the play.  I didn't think I had that big of a part.  Jem and I started walking out.  We walked a little and than I forgot that I had left my shoes.  I looked back and Jem reassured me that I would get my shoes back.  My costume was so tight and the chicken wire would sometimes stab my arms and legs as I moved.  I did have two whole slots to look through so it was okay. 

I couldn't see a thing.  But Jem said I was glowing because there was shiny paint.  We walked and it was silent.  I couldn't tell exactly what direction we were taking but it seemed as if Jem allegedly knew where we were.  Suddenly Jem stopped and I stopped.  He told me that he had heard footsteps.  We  agreed that it was probably Cecil and we were going to either try to scare him or yell out things about him.  Jem had a look of Apprehension on his face.  We walked some more and I heard it.  I stopped and yelled Cecil is a big wet hen!  No reply.  I was scared now but Jem was always aware and I felt safe with him just like I felt with Atticus.   Soon we reached the road.  

We heard loud footsteps.  Quick taps against the ground.  Jem yells to run.  I try and try but I lose balance and fall.  The footsteps got louder and I heard a loud cling like swords hitting each other.  At this point I knew it was real.  The Mesh was falling apart.  I heard Jem huffing and puffing and I could smell whiskey.  There were loud screeches from what sounded like an old man and Jem.  I was scared but everything was blurry.  I felt like I was looking through a telescope.  I was narrow visioned.  Everything was blurry.  I saw movement in the shadows.  I than heard Jem yelp and than it went silent.  Footsteps towards me.  I felt rough hands constrict me.  The arms slowly applied pressure.  Suddenly there was a jerk.  the strangling stopped.  The next thing that I knew there was a person holding Jem and was stumbling towards the house.  I made it to the house and Aunt Alexandra took the costume off of me.  She called Dr. Reynolds and Atticus called Heck Tate.  

I thought that Jem was dead but Aunt Alexandra and Dr. Raymond informed me that this was not true.  This was inevitable from the beginning we shouldn't have been alone in the dark coming home from school.  We were an easy target to whoever it was.  We were all Atticus had and if someone killed us and got away with it Atticus would be left with nothing.  Although it was inconvenient that I couldn't run away from the killer because of my costume but it was convenient because my costume saved me and I probably couldn't run as fast as this man.  I wouldn't say that it was improbable or probably for this to happen.  Who ever it was, they weren't trying to just kill us it was part of getting at Atticus because no one in the right mind would kill a child for something that wasn't a big deal.

To Kill a mocking bird #8 prespective of Jem

Our father was calm.  He always was.  Even in troublesome situations like this one.  I was worried for myself but mostly Atticus.  Because of that Bob Ewell.  I hate that man.  I want him to put himself in Tom's shoes.  All Bob Ewell is , is trash.  He is a drunk and a racist.  He doesn't have morals.  He is trying to blame a man for something that he didn't do and try to get him killed for it.

Atticus said that he had to get his anger out on something and that if he saved all of his children from getting an extra beating that he was fine with it.  Bob Ewell had spit in Atticus' face and than threatened to kill him.  I love Atticus and if he wanted to kill him he would have to get through me.  I didn't really mean that I would put up a fight but Bob Ewell wouldn't get to our Atticus if I was involved.  Aunty and I were worried although Atticus was calm and peaceful.  We didn't understand how he could be so calm even if he thought that he was done.  One false move and Atticus could die.  I know that sadly Atticus wouldn't even fight Bob Ewell because Atticus is an old man and he likes to settle things with words.

I felt that I was just like Atticus.  I was growing up to be him.  I use my words, I don't fight, most of the time I am calm and I am smart.  I wanted daddy to get a gun.  After all he is the deadliest shot in Maycomb.  It's to bad that Atticus wouldn't just go on and shoot Bob Ewell.

Tom Robinson was in a prison.  Atticus told me that he would be put in an electric chair if he wasn't excused from it.  Atticus told me that he had a fair chance of it but I wasn't sure.  I had analyzed the case a lot and I put a lot of thinking into the outcome and when I think legitamently, I realize that Tom will die.  I hate thinking about this but I have to state the facts.  Why is rape the capital defense anyways? Shouldn't it be murder?  I know it's horrible but im sure most people would rather be raped than killed.

A little bit later I heard Scout talking to Atticus about rape.  Atticus told Scout that Walter Cunningham tried to acquit Tom Robinson.  Scout is so happy she wants to invite Walter Cunningham over.  Aunt Alexandra tells scout that the Cunninghams are trash.

Journal # 7 To Kill a mocking bird Dills prespective

There he was.  Mr Dolphus Raymond.  I had heard many things about him and how he lives from Jem and Scout.  Not necessarily bad in my opinion but slightly weird.  He was with a black woman.  This was unheard of.  He is the father of many mixed children.  I hear that they don't fit in anywhere.  Not with the blacks because they are half white and not with the whites because they are half black.  I felt bad for these kids because they didn't fit in.  Mr. Raymond supposedly is very rich and treats the kids very nicely.  he also lives in the black neighborhood and owns a lot of land.  Rumor has it this old Dolphus Raymond is a total drunky.  Everyone says that he keeps Whiskey in a brown lunch bag.  Suddenly I was called over.  I condescended because I was afraid of him and the stories about his wife and him.  I went anyways.  He told me to take a drink from his bag.  I took a sip and smiled.  It was coca cola!  All this time I thought it was whiskey.  Butt I was oblivious to the reasoning of this.  Everyone in town thought he was a drunky but he really wasn't.  I asked him why he gave himself a bad name.  He explained to me something very interesting.  He told me that he wasn't much of a drinker.  He also said that he liked living with black folks.  Said that no one would have understood him if he just said that he liked it so he pretends that he is under the influence of alchahol so that people believe that thats not really what he wants but that is what the whiskey is making him do.

I was so sad from the way that Mr. Gilmer treated Tom Robinson.  So  he cheered me up by saying that when he was to grow up he would understand it better.  Mr Dolphus Raymond is  a good person who only means well.  He just tries to deceive people by acting like he is a drunky so he can excuse his like for negroes.  

He told Scout that her father was a good person.  Said that she was to young to understand it but once she looked around the court room she could realize it.  Scout was quickly reminded that she was missing the case.  

We both walked in as Atticus was talking to the jury.  This was important and I knew not to bother anyone.  Atticus was telling the jury about how the Ewells didn't have any physical or medical evidence  that Tom Robinson did anything leaving the accusation wrong.  Atticus told the court that the prosecutor didn't have any whiteness other than the tow testimonies.  Atticus also said that Mayella broke a social norm.  She tempted a black person.

Atticus said that Bob Ewell was Left handed and must have beet up Mayella because her right eye was hurt.  Tom Robinson couldn't hit with his left arm because of the cotton machine incident.  

Atticus made a very good point.  All men were made equal in court.  The jury had to remember it was two white people versus a black person and that it was unfair if the jury was thinking as if he is unequal.

Just as Atticus finished up Calpurnia came into the room.  I knew we were in trouble.  She handed Atticus a letter.  Probably from Aunt Alexandra.  Atticus took a look around the room and announced that his children had gone missing.  Than someone said that they had been up with reverend Sykes for some time.  I, Scout and Jem went down to talk to Atticus.  We begged him to see the final verdict.  Atticus told us to go home and eat slowly because we weren't going to miss anything.  We came back a while later.  The Jury was still making a decision.  They came out.  Ultimately Tom Robinson was found guilty.  My heart dropped.  As Atticus left the courthouse the negroes all stood up and we stood up also.  I wish I had a dad like Atticus who was cool and deffended people who needed it.  

Journal #6 Nararated by Bob Ewell

November 21 last year.

I was out in the forest.  It was dark out.  wright round sunset.  I be holdin manys kindlin for the fire back at are house.  I got back and I was walkin to the front door I looked through the window ta see my daughter kissin a nigger.  And It was Tom Robinson. Everything got dark.  I saw myself beating my daughter Mayella.

"Ahh" I screamed.

I sat up.  It was a dream.  Today was the trial and I was ina horrible mood.  Mayella, my daughter knew what the fake story was.  Tom Robinson raped her after she asked him to cut something up for her.  There were no flaws in or plan.  We could lie through the whole case.  The odds were gainst Atticus and his nigger.  

I hated Atticus. him and his snotty lil chillrin. They be actin like dey know everything cause he reads dem books all day.  Dey don know nuthin bout livin like we do.  I got me a sandwich out of da dumbster and a thing of wiskey.  

Mayella came in da kitchen.  We didn't talk at all.  We both knew that today was the day. We were gon get Tom Robinson lynched.  Those Damn Niggers are always botherin us white folks. I hate em.

Mayella and mes walked to them there court house and waited for the trial to start.  i was called up to the stand.  Atticus asked me to explain the whole story. So I told him.  

One day I was bringin some kindlin home from the woods.  I heard my Mayella yelllin so I dropped me kindlin and ran to the house. When I got there it was round sunset and Tom Robinson took off runnin. Mayella was okay and I went to go fetch Officer.  Mayella was on the floor and she was beat up.  

Than Atticus was askin me some dumb questions like.  Can you read and write?  He asked me to wright my name on one of them papers.  So I wrote.  I used my left hand and he asked me if I was left handed.  I told em just cause I was left handed dont mean nothin.  

Atticus kept on askin me the same der questions over and over.  did you go get a doctor? was she hurt, did she need medical attention.  He than asked me what side the bruise there was on told him it was her right eye but den I realized it was her left.  Atticus was onta somethin but i didnt know what.

Den Mayella was called up to the stand. I didn't listen cause I wasn't interested.  Than Atticus asked a question that caught my ear.  Has your father ever hit you.  Mayella paused and looked at me.  I made no facial expression.  she knew she would get it later if she answered wrongly.  This could give Atticus the whole case.  I had figured out that he was accusing me of beating her up.  He was onto me and it wasn't good.  

Mayella kept on cryin up there. Just like I tol her ta do.  Atticus called up Tom Robinson.  I knew that the real story would be comin but who in Maycomb would believe a nigger.  Tom Robinson came up.  

"He said it like this.  I was waling by the Ewell's house and Mayella asked me to fix a door hinge.  So I went in to the front yard.  I opened the door repeatedly.  Nothing was wrong.  Than she told me that she wanted something inside.  She wanted me to get on a chair and get something from the top of the shelf.  So I did.  Than she grabbed me.  But it was more like a hug.  Than she kissed me." Tom Robinson told.

I was bracing myself.  I looked around and it seemed like nobody had formulated an opinion so far.

Tom Robinson Continued

"Than he said that he tried to get out of the house as Mayella was asking for him to kiss him.  than Mayellas father Bob Ewell looked in and called her a nasty name.  I ran out as soon as I got the chance." 

The questioning went on.  Someone in the stands stood up and said that he had had Tom Robinson working for him for 10 years and he never had a problem.  I had just realized something.  Tom Robinsons left arm was short and useless.  That mean that bruise on Mayellas left eye would be a problem.  How would he be able to rape her.  Oh no I thought to myself.  

Atticus was done and we took a ten minute break.

Journal #5 in the perspective of Jem

Chapter 14

            It seemed like since Atticus started gettin real busy with his cases, when we would go round town, therd' be alota commotions and wisperin goin on behind our backs.  All I knew was that Atticus's defendant is a Negro.  I also knew that Scout was gettin a lot of trouble about it at school so maybe the same ol thing was happinin in town.

            I was eavesdropping on Scout and Atticus's conversation.  Scout asked what "rape," was.  I learned this word because Scout also asked Calpurnia but she told er to go n' ask Atticus.  He told her what it was but I could tell she didn't understand a word o' it.  Neither did I but I knew it had somethin to do with a girl.  

            Aunty Alexandra came to town.  I don't like her.  She comes in our house and just starts bossing us around and telling us that we aren’t like real gentlemen and ladies.  Atticus has changed since Aunty got here.  He made Scout cry for the first time in a while.  Atticus is startin ta get nit picky with whatever we do.  

            It seems as though Aunt Alexandra was oblivious of any kind of lifestyle we had before.  Aunty fits in real well with everyone else in town though.  The townspeople welcomed her but I don know why.  She yells at us for every little thing that we do.

            Tonight I was telling Scout to stop antagonizing Aunt Alexandra.  I knew she didn’t like getting bossed around but it was partly for her own good.  I was just trying to look out for her.  She started punching me in the stomach and the face so I smacked her.  She got back up and before I knew it Atticus was pushing us apart.  I turned off the lights.

"Night Scout," I said, trying to flip a new leaf.

" Good night Jem," she said back.  

            A minute later Scout called me into her room to look for a rattlesnake under her bed.  I used a broom and was sweeping under the bed.  I hit something.  It definitely wasn't a little animal.  It was a person.  I was about to yell for Atticus when I heard Dill's soft voice come out from under the bed.  Dill emerged.  I wasn't sure about how he got here or why he was under Scout's bed.

            I was excited to see him.  He told us that he wasn't getting enough love from his parents so he ran away.  He also said that his mom had remarried another man who wouldn't let him go over the summer.

            He looked hungry so Scout went and got Dill some leftovers from the kitchen.  Dill ate it all up in a heartbeat.  Dill said he hadn’t eaten for a whole day

            I had to do it.  Atticus trusted me and I knew that Atticus would be okay and eh wouldn't freak out.  I called for Atticus to come up stairs.  Atticus was always so calm that even some of the most surprising and weird things wouldn't faze him. Atticus came upstairs to find Scout and Dill talking together and me, in the corner.  Scout gave me a dirty look but I knew that I had to do it.  At least it dispelled all of the guilty feelings that I had about Dill hiding in our house.

            Atticus didn’t mind at all he just wanted Dill to tell Aunt Rachel that he was visiting.  Atticus than just continued on amiably.

Dill slept in my bead that night.  We talked a little and than he slipped out of bead and told me that he was going to go talk to Scout.

Journal # 4 narrated as Calpurnia

Chapter 10

Jem and Scout were outside playing with there air rifles when suddenly I hear Jem quickly open the door and slam it.  I was in the kitchen cleaning and Jem ran in.  Jem told me that old Tim Johnson was injured and walking like a mad dog on the streets.  Tim Johnson was Maycomb's pet but according to Jem he had gone mad.  

“Honey, I can’t come outside right now I’m preoccupied with the dishes,” I said.

“Please Calpurnia, Tim Johnson has gone mad and he is injured,” Jem exclaimed.

“Alright, I’ll be out in a sec,” I said

Scout was right by Jem’s scout the whole time.  Jem is luck to have a sister that he truly loves and does everything with.  Also she is always there for him.

Jem and Scout ran outside.  By the time I had got there Jem and Scout were already staring at Tim Johnson.  I looked around.  But I couldn’t see any dog. 

 “We are in great Peril Cal!” Jem exclaimed.

“I don’t see no dog Jem,” I said

Jem pointed to a wolf looking dog.  It sure was Tim Johnson.  And he had gone mad.  I rushed the children inside.  I closed the door and ran to the phone.  I called Atticus as soon as I could and told him to get back to the house because Tim Johnson lost his mind.  Than I told everyone on the neighborhood that was going on.  Soon the whole neighbor hood knew what was going on.  Everyone had their doors shut tight. 

Soon Enough Atticus came to the block just in time as Tim Johnson was walking through our part of the block.  The Sheriff pulled out his gun.  I was looking through the blinds.  After looking at the dog he gave the gun to Atticus who quickly rested it on his shoulder aimed, I turned away And shot the dog. 

This was a good thing for the kids to realize how cool their father was since they thought he was boring and that he was only a bad checker player.  Soon I heard the door open.  Jem and Scout ran out the door to Scout.  Atticus and shot the dog in the head.  I looked at Atticus face as he turned around.  He looked like he contradicted what he had just done.

 

                                    Chapter 11

Jem and Scout came home from town.  Jem was very angry and Scout looked like she had just been crying.  What’s wrong Scout.  Scout walked over to me and whispered in my ear what Jem had done.

“What? Why would you do that to ms. Dubose’s property? And why did you do that to Scout’s Baton?” I asked rhetorically.

“I just lost my temp-”Jem said.

“Get out of this house now!” I exclaimed.

Later that day I over heard Atticus come in with a broken baton and a white flower bud.  Atticus almost never raised his voice to the children and always confronted the children in a nice way even if they did something bad.  I liked this about Atticus and I would hopefully acquire that skill in the future.  Atticus did however give Jem a great punishment.  He would have to go read to Ms. Dubose for two hours each day for a month.  Scout being the good sister that she was volunteered to go with him.  Scout told me that she was worried that something would happen to Jem.

While they were gone so much I had a lot of time to think.  It seemed as though Jem and Scout had lost interest in Boo Radley and had stopped antagonizing him.

 

                                    Chapter 12

“Cal?” asked Scout.

“yeah Scout?” I answered

“ Why is Jem being so difficult?  We used to be such good friends.” She asked in a low tone.

            I explained to her that it was part of Jem growing up.  I could feel that Scout and I were becoming friends and growing closer together all of a sudden.  I can’t just stop getting her in trouble so that she will like me but if I can just maybe tone it down that she will be easier to deal with.

            I decided that I was going to take Jem and Scout to my church. When we got there, since everyone was black, everyone gave nice gestures to Jem and Scout.  This was because Tom Robinson who was Atticus’s client.  Everyone was giving nice greetings till Lu Lu came up.  She looked seven feet tall.

            “What you be bringin lil white chillren in her.  This isa nigga church,” she said.

            We went back and forth but I could see that the children were confused by the way I was talking.  The church was embarrassed so the church members cut off the conversation by just walking in front of Lu Lu.  Other than that everyone was very welcoming to the kids.

We listened to the service.  Scout and Jem were wondering why we didn’t have books.  Not only did we not have enough money but we couldn’t read so it would just be a waste.  That’s why we have one person say the prayer and than everyone says it after them.

Scout later asked my why I was talking bad if she knew better.  The best example that I could come up with was that it would be like talking how I had talked at your house.  I would just be incorrect.  Also I told them that people don’t like it when there are smart people around them.

 

Acquire: To receive, get or obtain.

Antagonize: To torment.

Contradicted: To disagree

Preoccupied: To be busy with something else

chapter 8 and 9

" Scout, Scout, wake up now," I said.

"huh? what?" asked Scout as she sleepily woke up.

" here just put this robe on and lets walk outside," I told Scout.

Scout, Jem and I went outside to see what all the commotion was.  Ms. Maudie's house was burning to the ground.  The Neighbors were doing the best they could but that wasn't enough.  Ms. Maudie was a very nice lady.  She would always talk to Jem and Scout.  It was a tragedy that it happened to her out of all people. 

I could see that Scout and Jem wanted to do something about it in return for the kindness that Ms. Maudie brought to them but they couldn't.  Scout and Jem just stood there in the cold.  I looked over at Scout and she was very cold so I put my coat on her.  A little bit later I saw someone come up right behind Scout.  it was Boo Radley.  At first I was going to do something about his approach but than I saw that he was holding a blanket to put on Scout.  I thought it was Boo Radley who was lighting the houses on fire but my thoughts changed when he did this.  I looked over and I could see a fire truck being pushed my many men.  I knew that it wouldn't get to the burning house in time to save anything.  

Thank God that Ms. Maudie came out alright.  Soon the fire truck that was being pushed made it.  They turned out the fire hydrant and started trying to put out the fire.  

The other day  I was talking to Scout about how kids were treating her at school.  She said that there was one kid who would tease Scout about her father defending a nigger.  She said that a boy tormented her in front of a lot of people that I was defending a nigger.  At first I was shocked that such little kid had the potential of digging into their deepest sources to rip out information that they could use against a child that they didn't like.  But I knew that now I would have to explain to Scout about my client.  I explained to Scout that there would be a lot of talk around town about me defending a negro.  I told her that even though I though we were going to lose I had this feeling that told me that the right thing to do was represent the man.  I felt that if I was in the position where I would most likely be killed for something I didn't do, that I would want someone to help me out.  This case was very important to me because I knew that if I didn't take the case than no one would.  I knew that at some point Scout would hit her high point and engage in fighting.