Post #2 Ch 4-7 perspective of Dill

Dill’s Diary

 

Dear Diary,

 

I am riding the train to Maycomb for the summer, as I will every summer, until I go off to college. My back is sore from the seat, and my mind aches from boredom. I often find myself just quibbling about random things, getting odd looks from the other passengers on the train.  I hear the conductor coming through to collect tickets now. I will pick up this Journal entry again as soon as I have further things to discuss.

Here I am once again in Maycomb, staying in Auntie’s house. Jem, Scout and I have been playing a game where we pretend that we are the Radley’s, and it entertains us for hours on end. Jem imitates a malignant Boo Radley, while I play the owner of Radley Place.  Most evenings, Scout will spend with that old chameleon Miss Maudie Atkinson, talking about lady things. Jem and I overheard them once however, while we were hiding underneath her front porch. They were talking about Boo Radley, and why he never came out of his house. Miss Maudie says that his real name is Arthur Radley, but I think he got the name “Boo” for a reason. I’m sure that all the stories of Boo Radley are true, maybe even worse. I think Boo did horrible things to people when he was allowed out of the house, so they have him chained up in the basement somewhere, and feed him live squirrels and cats and things.  I try to convince Jem that he should go up and look in the windows of Radley place, but he is too afraid. I told him I would go with him, but he is still scared. These Maycomb folks are scared of everything. I will talk to Jem about maybe writing a letter to Mister Boo Radley too see if he would come talk to us. I think he would find us quite interesting, and then we could tell all the other kids in Maycomb that we have met THE Boo Radley.

Atticus caught us with the letter as we were on our way to put it in the Radley’s mailbox. He scolded us and said, “I am going to tell you something, and tell you one time. Stop tormenting that man.” I am truly surprised that Jem didn’t get a beating for that. If it was my father, he would have me pinker than a baby’s cheeks. That’s why I always seem out of control to the Maycomb folks. Especially Jem and Scout. They are so easy to talk into things.  I convinced both Jem to come look in the windows of Radley Place tonight, and boy did we have a great time! Scout of course was trying to tell Jem it was a bad idea, but eventually he persuaded Scout to come along too. Anyway, I will tell you the story best as I can recall. We walked up to the gate of Radley Place, trembling from fear. Jem and I went first, slowly walking up the creaky steps. Jem put his foot on the staircase, and winced as the step groaned under his weight. He kept moving, quiet as he could, along the side of the house. Inside, we could see white curtains, and a sowing machine. The house was dimly lit, but we were sure we saw a faint silhouette of a person walking to the front door. Suddenly, a loud noise in the cabbage patch. “Scout!” whispered Jem in a menacing tone. We heard a loud creak, then a bang, and then, “get off my property!” We sprinted for the fence that lead to the school yard, but Jem lost his pants underneath it while crawling through! Scout and I teetered on the edge of the fence, and as soon as Jem was over, we sprinted for home. Atticus saw us walking in the door and said, “heard Mr. Radley just shot at someone over in his cabbage patch. Where were you kids?” I told him we were playing poker, and told him that Jem had lost his pants to me in a bet. “With cards?” Atticus inquired. “No, with matches.” Replied Jem in a calm manner. Playing with matches was bad, but playing with cards was deadly.

            It’s time for me to get back on the train and head home. I will write again in this summer journal next time I get the chance. Until then,

 

-Charles Baker Harris