Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Journal #9- Chapters 28-31 from the perspective of Aunt Alexandra

Jem and Jean Louise left, they were going to the pageant. I was sorry I couldn’t go but I had inconveniences and was too tired to go. I hope she does well on the pageant.

I was home; I began listening to the radio as well as Atticus. It was dark outside.

I was sitting down quietly when suddenly I heard a noise outside. I went to look at what was going on and I saw Atticus and I man, I had never seen, bring Jem inside the house. Jem was unconscious. Jean Louise was in the front door. I was running to meet her.

Call Dr. Reynolds!” Atticus’s voice came sharply from Jem’s room. “Where is Scout?”

“Here she is,” I called, pulling Jean Louise along with me to the telephone. I tugged at Jean Louise anxiously. “I’m all right, Aunty,” she said, “you better call.”

I pulled the receiver from the hook and said, “Eula May, get Dr. Reynolds, quick!”

“Agnes, is your father home? Oh God, where is he? Please tell him to come over here as soon as he comes in. Please it’s urgent!”

Atticus came out of Jem’s room. The moment I broke the connection, Atticus took the receiver from me. He rattled the hook, then said, “Eula May, get me the sheriff, please.”

“Heck? Atticus Finch. Someone’s been after my children. Jem’s hurt. Between here and the schoolhouse. I can’t leave my boy. Run out there for me, please, and see if he’s still around. Doubt if you’ll find him now, but I’d like to see him if you do. Got to go now. Thanks, Heck.”

“Atticus, is Jem dead?”

“No, Scout. Look after her, sister,” he called, as he went down the hall.

My fingers trembled as I unwound the crushed fabric and wire from Jean Louise.

“Aunty, is Jem dead?”

I guess Jean Louise was so scared she allegedly thought Jem was dead.

“No-no, darling, he’s unconscious. We won’t know how badly he’s hurt until Dr. Reynolds gets here. Jean Louise, what happened?”

“I don’t know.”

I consented to leave it at that. I brought Jean Louise something to put on.

“Put these on, darling,” I said.

Dr. Reynolds then arrived. He went into Jem's room. When he emerged, he informed Scout that Jem had a broken arm and a bump on his head, but that he will be all right.

Later, Heck Tate arrived. As he came in he said, “You all right, Scout?”

“Yes sir, I’m goin’ in to see Jem. Atticus’n’them’s in there.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Heck.

Heck and Jean Louise came in to see Jem.

“Jem…..?”

“He can’t hear you, Scout, he’s out like a light. He was coming around, but Dr. Reynolds put him out again,” said Atticus.

I was sitting in a rocking-chair by the fireplace. Atticus was standing by Jem’s bed. Heck stood in the doorway. His hat was in his hand, and a flashlight bulged from his pants pocket.

“Come in, Heck,” said Atticus. “Did you find anything? I can’t conceive of anyone low-down enough to do a thing like this, but I hope you found him.”

“Sit down, Mr. Finch,” he said pleasantly.

“Let’s all sit down. Have that chair, Heck. I’ll get another one from the livingroom.”

“Mr. Finch,” said Heck, “tell you what I found. I found a little girl’s dress-it’s out there in my car. That your dress, Scout?”

“Yes sir, if it’s a pink one with smockin’,” she said.

“I found some funny-looking pieces of muddy-colored cloth-”

“That’s m’costume, Mr. Tate.”

“What is it Heck?” said Atticus.

“Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. He’s dead, Mr. Finch.”

By what Heck said I believed Jem and Jean Louise were persecuted by Bob Ewell.

We stayed in Jem’s room and as Heck Tate began looking at Jem’s injuries, Jean Louise started telling us what happened. Later, Heck Tate showed Jean Louise her costume with a mark on it where a knife slashed and was stopped by the wire.

After a while, Scout took the man that brought Jem inside the house down to the porch and they sat by Atticus and Heck Tate. Atticus and Heck were arguing about who had killed Bob Ewell. Atticus thought it was Jem and Heck said that Bob Ewell’s death was an accident. The argument ended when Heck told Atticus: “Let the dead bury the dead.”

Jean Louise and the country-man went upstairs to say goodnight to Jem. Then Jean Louise walked the man to his house.

As I was in my room I thought about everything that had happened tonight. My assessment to these events were to be surprised to think of how mean Bob Ewell was to try to kill two innocent children because of a trial. I sometimes couldn’t understand people and the way they behave. Before falling asleep, I heard Atticus reading a book to Jean Louise and telling her something about nice people that caught my attention: “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”