Journal Entry 10

Mr. Atticus was almost fifty years old. I and Jem were talking about him. I thought he was too old to make us feel proud of him. Jem was a football crazy, he always wanted to tackle him but Mr. Atticus always said he was too old for that. On the other side, he is just a lawyer, he did not driving a dump-truck for the country, he did not farm, so his job is not very enviable. He did not do the same things like my classmates’ father, such as hunting, playing poker or fish or drinking or smoking. He only likes reading, sat in the living room.

Today, I saw Atticus shoot an old mad dog, that was surprised me. He shot the dog without glasses. No one can do it in our town. And he was called one-shot Finch, but he never told that to me. Miss Maudie said marksmanship was a gift of god, a talent. Maybe this was the reason why Mr. Atticus never boasts about himself. But I still want to boast it in the school on Monday because not everybody’s daddy is a first-class shoot; even Jem was not allowed me to do that.

I will not feel ashamed of my dad can’t do anything, I am proud of my dad!

Journal Entry 9

School started. Grade two was as boring as grade one, teachers still flashed cards at you and wouldn’t let you read or write. I want to read and write. The important thing was Jem didn’t tell me anything about that night that he went to Boo’s house getting his pants until today afternoon. We were crossing the schoolyard toward home together at three o’clock. He suddenly said he wanted to tell me about that night. I was really surprised about he was voluntary wanted to tell me. He was silent for a while, he told me when he went to Boo’s house get his pants, his pants were folded across the fence, just like they were expecting him, and his pants had been sewed up, but not like a lady sewed them. when I heard that, I was surprised of it for a while, I was thinking who could read Jem’s mind, was that Mr. Nathan sewed them up? But according to him, went to get it and gave it to dad, it was easier than sewed them up. Was that Mr. Radley? He wouldn’t do that, if he heard some voices, he would shot the gun! Was that Boo Radley? I never thought of him! He was a monster in my mind!

Journal Entry 8

After Jem’s pants still left on the Boo Radley’s wire netting, we could not have slept much anyway. Every night, I could hear sounds of Boo’s footsteps around my window outside, and every passing Negro laughing in the night was Boo Radley loose and after us, the insects splashing against the screen were Boo Radley snapped the wire to pieces. I was lulled in and out of awareness, until I heard Jem murmured.

He wanted to go outside for getting his pants, but I was afraid of what was Miss stephanie said, she said Mr. Nathan had the other barrel waiting for the next sound he heard, be it nigger, dog… Although Jem had always pushing me around, but I love him very much, I wouldn’t let him go, I didn’t want to! But it was no use, I opened back door, I saw Jem crept down the steps, the night was really dark, it must had been 2 o’clock. I was looking Jem’s back until he disappeared in the coming morning.

I was very worried about him, I was scared about Mr. Radley’s shotgun, and when I heard dad’s cough, I held my breath. I was scared of dad turned the lights on and checked on us. Luckily, dad didn’t turn the lights on, I breathed again.

When Jem came back, I rested my heart. Until he lay down, I didn’t hear him stir again. Finally I fell into a sleep.

Journal Entry 7

Yesterday, Jem asked Mr. Atticus if we could went over and sat by Miss Rachel’s fish pool with Dill, because this was the last day Dill stay in Maycomb. Mr. Atticus was allowed us to go.

When we saw Dill and talked some time, Dill came up with he wanted hanged out with Jem, I know there is nobody hang out just for walk! Finally, I got it. Dill and Jem wanted to see Boo Radley, they said if I didn’t want to go with them, I could go straight home and keep the secret, that was all!

I had no choice with that, but to join them. In fact, I am a girl, I am afraid of dark night, especially of Boo Radley, I don’t know why Dill and Jem were interested in him, because of him, Jem left his pants on the wire netting, when he ran back, he only ware the shorts.

When we back, Mr. Atticus and Miss Rachel asked Jem where his pants gone, Dill saved Jem, Dill answered that we were playing strip poker up yonder by the fish pool. Since that, I felt relax, and I thought Dill is a really smart boy, I didn’t forget he was engaged to me, and he ran back for kissed me swiftly in front of Jem. I was shy and happy for his kissing. I will wait for him come back next summer until he married me. And I am really worried about Mr. Atticus asked Jem for get the pants back.

Journal Entry 6

Today morning, I found Dill and Jem in the back yard. I wanted to join them, but they still said go away. I was very discontented with their attitude. I said the back yard is not belonging to them; I could play in it as they had. Finally, they told me what they goanna do, they were going to give a note to Boo Radley. When I heard that, I just tried to fight down the automatic terrorizing in me. I just wanted to stop them, or I wanted to get out of the plan, but Jem was not allowed me to get out. They planed to put the note on the end of a fishing pole and stick it through the shutters. If anyone came, Dill would ring the bell which was my mother’s silver dinner-bell. But Jem checked the shutter loose; they made it stick on the window. I asked Jem what he wrote to Boo, he said he wrote Boo could come out, what did Boo does in the house, and Jem said we would buy Boo an ice-cream. Boo would kill us! I believe that! I just really afraid of Boo, but I want to play with Dill and Jem, I don’t have any other choices. When Jem was giving the note, Dill and I was check if there was somebody came, then we would ring the bell. Unfortunately, Mr. Atticus discovered us were doing such a crazy thing. Mr. Atticus said we couldn’t do such an impolite thing, like going to Mr. Radley’s house without invited…

Today, I am sympathizing with Jem, I saw what color on his face when we discovered by Mr. Atticus!

Journal Entry 5

Summer is on the way, summer is our best season, because Dill will come to Maycomb for break, we can play together. I am really missing him.

Today Dill had ridden the train by himself from Meridian to Maycomb. And Jem was offended by my contradicting him on the HOT STEAM, Jem was patiently awaiting an opportunity to reward me. He did, because I came up with we roll in the tire. Jem push the tire down the sidewalk with all the force in his body, my ears throbbed, I felt sick inside, I couldn’t think straight, I felt I was going to die. I could only hope that Jem would outrun the tire and me, or that I would be stopped by a bump in the sidewalk. I only heard Jem behind me, chasing and shouting.

  The tire bumped on gravel, I lay on the cement and shook me head still, pounded my ears to silence, only heard Jem’s voice, he shouted me to got away from there. I was confused, then I raised my head, and I saw the

Radley Place

steps in front of me, I froze. I was too scared to forgot run away. When I ran away, I forgot to bring the tire, then Jem back to there got it. And there was another bid secret that I didn’t tell Jem, when Jem shouting, I heard another voice from Radley house, somebody laughed! Today such an awful day!

Journal Entry 4

I caught Walter in schoolyard, rubbed his nose in the dirt, it gave me some pleasure, because of him, Miss Caroline patted the palm of my hand, he made me start off on the wrong foot. But Jem invited him have a lunch in our home. Calpurnia set an extra plate to Walter, Walter piled food on his plate, he and dad talked like two men, I was wondering what exactly they talked about.

After a moment, Walter asked if there was any molasses in house, Calpurnia gave him the syrup, Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and meat with a generous hand. I think he must forgot he was a Cunningham! How could he can be that much impolite? I protested dad shook his head at me again when I said Walter had poured syrup all over. Then Calpurnia requested my presence in the kitchen. She told me don’t matter who they are, they are company who are in the house, she told me don’t let her catch I remarking on their ways like I was so high and mighty, I was just might be better than Cunninghams, but I can’t put Walter to shame in this way. I was so angry with Calpurnia said that. I will let dad fire Calpurnia!

Journal Entry 3

Dill returned to Meridian in early September. I was miserable without him until it occurred to me that I would be starting to school in one week. I was very exciting of starting to school, that was my dream. I could know new friends in the school, learning their games and playing with them, I really wanted to join them.

Jem took me to school the first day, and he showed where my classroom was, I thought father might give him some money. Jem warned me, I need to leave him alone. I was upset when I heard I couldn’t play with him in the school. The first day in school is an unfavorable day. Miss Caroline Fisher, she is my teacher, a very beautiful young woman, she hauled me up to the front of the classroom and patted the palm of my hand with ruler, then made me stand in the corner until noon, the reason one was I could read, she told me to tell father not to teach me anymore, but in fact, Mr. Atticus didn’t teach me, in class, I told Miss Caroline Jem said I was. Miss Caroline thought I was lying. Then, when she taught the Dewey Decimal System, I was bored, I wrote a letter to Dill, but she caught me writing and told me to tell father to stop teaching me, that is belong to grade three, I am just grade one. Miss Caroline blamed me again, I felt really unhappy. The last reason is I was told Miss Caroline do not shame Walter anymore that she gave Walter a quarter to buy lunch, but Walter refused her, because Walter’s home was poor, they couldn’t pay Miss Caroline a quarter ever. Miss Caroline thought I made troubles, and then she patted the palm of my hand with ruler. But the lucky thing is I saved by the bell that I stood in the corner for short time.

Journal Entry 2

Three days ago, Jem described Boo Radley’s look to Dill, because Dill was curious about Boo’s everything. Jem said Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks, he ate any cats and birds that he could catch, there was a long jagged scar that ran across his face, he had yellow teeth and rotten, his eyes popped. Maybe Jem was just scared Dill, But even though, I was afraid of Boo and that old house. Unfortunately Dill was still curious about Boo, he wanted to make Boo come out. Dill bet Jem wouldn’t get any farther than the Radley gate. Jem had never declined dare in all his life. Jem thought about it for three days.

 I knew Jem was very scared about close to Boo Radly’s house, he always used a lame excuse that he had a little sister to think of, actually he doesn’t have the responsibility. Today, Dill said he will give Jem The Gray Ghost if he just touch the house. Then Jem opened the gate and touched the wall, when he finished actions, we escaped from that house, the house was the same, but we saw an inside shutter move, the house still. It was a pity that we still didn’t see Boo Radley looks like. Actually, I am curious about Boo, too.

Journal Entry 1

I am Scout in the journal.

Today morning, Jem and I knew a new friend, he named Charles Baker Harris, and he was older than me 1 year old, he asked Jem and me call him Dill, because his name is a little bit longer. Dill said he can read, but Jem doesn’t think it is a thing that can be proud.

Dill was from Meridian, Mississippi, was spending the summer with his aunt, Miss Rachel, and would be spending every summer in Maycomb County originally. So, I can see him every summer. His mother had entered his picture in a Beautiful Child contest, he won five dollars, and I think it is bravo! Dill used money to watched picture show twenty times, when he said that, I really want to join the Beautiful Child contest too, maybe I would win five dollars too then I can buy everything that I want. I asked him where his father was, because he didn’t say anything about his father, he told us that he hasn’t got one, I thought his father was dead, but he said no, so I am not sure if he has a father or not.

After that, we went to the tree house between chinaberry trees. When we got into the house, we played some dramas such as the works of Oliver Optic, Victor Appleton… He played the character parts formerly thrust upon me—the ape in Tarzen, Mr. Crabtree in The Rover Boys, Mr. Damon in Tom Swift. And it was really funny.

I am very excited to have a new friend today.