TKAM #4: Jem

A lot has been going on lately here in Maycomb.  The other day Scout and I realized that Atticus isn't like the other dad's around here, to start off Atticus is a lot older than other dad's.  While all the other dads in town are hunting and fishing, Atticus likes to sit and read.  I've always kind of been okay with this because that's just the way Atticus has always been for as long as I can remember; but the other day I learned something completely new about Atticus that completely surprised Scout and I.  It started with a dog, a crazy dog just wandering on the main street towards our house.  Calpurnia calls Atticus and he shows up with the sheriff, the sheriff has a riffle and hands it to Atticus and tells Atticus to shoot the dog.  Scout and I thought for sure that Atticus wasn't going to but to our huge surprise and amazement he took the riffle from the sheriff and shot the dog, hitting it with the first shot. Later Scout and I were talking to Miss Maudie and she told us that when Atticus was younger he was the best shot in Maycomb and everyone called him 'one shot Finch'.  Hearing this about Atticus was very surprising and so unexpected, I mean I thought Atticus hated guns, it seems like he didn't used to, I wonder what made him start hating guns, I mean he's so good at shooting.  That day flooded my mind with questions.  Scout and I were so proud of Atticus, and Scout of course wanted to brag and tell everyone school.  I stopped her, it just wouldn't be right to tell everyone at school, if Atticus didn't want us to know he obviously doesn't want the entire town to know.

Alright so a few days later it was finally my twelfth birthday.  The day after my birthday Scout and I went to town to spend my birthday money.  On our way we passed by Mrs. Dubose's house and there she was sitting  on her porch like on every Saturday afternoon.  Scout and I tried not to make eye contact but as usual she started yelling at us for no reason at all.  She started off with insulting Scout, Scout just stood there just like how Atticus taught her.  Next she started talking about Atticus, she always talked about Atticus in a bad way even thought Atticus was so nice to her, she would't stop going on about Atticus and eventually I couldn't take it anymore; we left.  When we were in town I finally bought the miniature steam engine and I bought Scout that baton she had been wanting.  We started walking home and I was still very mad about our encounter with Mrs. Dubose earlier, I came up with an idea.  As we were passing by her house I took Scout baton and I destroyed all of Mrs. Dubose's Camilla bushes.  I knew I would get in trouble but I didn't care, I hated that lady and after hearing about what she said about Atticus she deserved it.  We got home, ate dinner, and waited for Atticus to get home.  When I finally heard him walk up to the front porch and open the door I wondered anxiously if he knew what I had done.  He walked in caring the baton and one of the flowers, the expression on his face said it all. "Jem Finch, did you have anything to do with this?" he asked. 

"Yes sir" I answered proudly, maybe he would be proud after hearing what she said about him.  He wasen't, he made me go back to back to Mrs. Dubose's house to apologize, which was something I could not do.  I thought about just hiding outside for about half an hour and not go to her house, but Atticus would find out.  When I finally got to her house I forced my hand to knock at her door and  Jessie opened the door, she let me in.  I walked in and the house was exactly as I pictured it, very creepy.  I apologized, even thought I didn't mean it and now she wants me to read to her every day for 2 hours for a month. Atticus said I had to, I am not looking forward to that.