TKAM # 3 ~ ch 8-9 from the perspective of Jem

Jem’s Journal

Dear Journal,


It has been an extremely eventful week. So many things have been going on, both good and bad. Starting on a lighter note, I saw snow for the first time. Scout awoke screaming about how the world was ending, but of course Atticus told her it was just snow. Atticus told us that we could make a snowman outside with the snow, but he didn’t think there was enough. As soon as the snow looked deep enough, Scout and I set out to prove him wrong. We went over to Miss Atkinson’s and asked if we could borrow some of her snow. She said we should take the lot, because it would hurt her precious azaleas. She was putting burlap bags over them! She is fanatical about those plants! Anyway, we gathered up all the snow from her front lawn and brought it to ours. I went to the backyard to dig up some earth from the frozen yard. I formed the body for our snowman, then the head, and we covered the dirtman with snow. I added two branches on the sides for arms, and the snowman was complete. Atticus came out to admire our work. He was a little shocked to see that some of the back yard was now in the front yard, but he seemed to be okay with it, and said that we had done a jim-dandy job.
In the middle of that night, cold and dark, Atticus awoke Scout and me with a jolt. Scout asked “is it morning yet?” and Atticus replied that it was a little after one. Scout asked what was wrong, but didn’t quite get to finish her sentence as the fire bell rang. A look of perplexity filled Scout’s face. “Whose is it?” she asked. Atticus replied softly that it was Miss Maudie’s house that had been set ablaze, and we were ordered to go sit in the isolated street by the Radley Place. The house looked like a pumpkin, as I stared blankly into the flames that silently engulfed the house. Sparks rained down on the adjacent houses, as the second floor of Miss Maudie’s house collapsed. Scout buried her head underneath my arm, sobbing. As the firefighters settled the blaze after a long. Long morning of nerves and sorrow, we walked over to the smoldering, charred black crater where Miss Maudie’s house had once stood. Scout and I went over to Miss Maudie, standing in the street in front of where her house once stood. “I always hated that old barn.” She said, turning to us. “Thought about settin’ fire to it a few times myself, except they’d have me locked up for bein’ crazy.” “I want a smaller house, with more room to garden. Reckon those Bellingraths’ll look plain puny when I get started.” Atticus motioned to us that it was time to go home.
The remainder of the week was spent at Finch Landing, where the family gathered for Christmastime. Of course, we always met with Cousin Francis while staying at Finch landing. Reckon Scout really hates that boy, and I think she’s got a right to. He hates all of Scout’s funny ingenious ideas. Scout always tries to avoid him. This time though, those two got in a big fight. I heard Francis sayin’ some mighty bad things about Atticus, how he would be the damnation of the family if he let us run wild like he does. Scout licked him good for that one, cut her knuckle on his tooth! I reckon he got what he deserved, even though Scout took all the blame and a lickin’ from Uncle Jack. I sure hope she tells him what really happened.
I suppose I have nothing further to say about this week, so I bid you farewell. Until next time, Jeremy Atticus Finch