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