When he was nearly thirteen my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. it healed and Jem’s fears of never being able to play football were assuaged seldom self-conscious about injury. His left somewhat shorter than right when stood or walked back hand right angles body thumb parallel thigh. He couldn’t have cared less so long as could pass punt. enough years had gone by enable us look on them we sometimes discussed events leading accident. I maintain that Ewells started all but Jem who four senior said before that. began summer Dill came us first gave idea making Boo Radley come out. if wanted take a broad view thing really with Andrew Jackson. If General Jackson hadn’t run Creeks up creek Simon Finch would paddled Alabama where be hadn’t? We far too old settle an argument fist-fight consulted Atticus. Our father both right. Being Southerners source shame some members family no recorded ancestors either side Battle Hastings. All Finch fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety exceeded only stinginess. In England irritated persecution those called themselves Methodists hands their more liberal brethren himself Methodist worked way across Atlantic Philadelphia thence Jamaica Mobile Saint Stephens. Mindful John Wesley’s strictures use many words in buying selling made pile practicing medicine this pursuit unhappy lest tempted into doing what knew not for glory God putting gold costly apparel. So Simon having forgotten teacher’s dictum possession human chattels bought three slaves aid established homestead banks Alabama River forty miles above returned Stephens once find wife her line ran high daughters. lived impressive age died rich. It customary men remain Simon’s homestead Finch’s Landing make living cotton. The place self-sufficient: modest comparison empires around it Landing nevertheless produced everything required sustain life except ice wheat flour articles clothing supplied river-boats Mobile. regarded impotent fury disturbance between North South descendants stripped land yet tradition land remained unbroken until well twentieth century father Atticus went Montgomery read law younger Boston study medicine. Their sister Alexandra Landing: she married taciturn man spent most time lying hammock river wondering trot-lines full. admitted bar Maycomb practice. Maycomb twenty east county seat County. Atticus’s office courthouse contained little hat rack spittoon checkerboard unsullied Code Alabama. two clients last persons hanged County jail. urged them accept state’s generosity allowing plead Guilty second-degree murder escape lives they Haverfords name synonymous jackass. Haverfords dispatched Maycomb’s blacksmith misunderstanding arising alleged wrongful detention mare imprudent do presence witnesses insisted the-son-of-a-bitch-had-itcoming-to-him good defense anybody. They persisted pleading Not first-degree murder there nothing much present departure occasion probably beginning father’s profound distaste practice criminal law. During five practiced economy anything several thereafter invested earnings brother’s education. Hale ten chose medicine cotton worth growing after getting Uncle Jack started derived reasonable income liked born bred people him because industry related blood marriage every town. town tired town it. rainy weather streets turned red slop grass grew sidewalks sagged square. Somehow hotter then: black dog suffered summer’s day bony mules hitched Hoover carts flicked flies sweltering shade live oaks Men’s stiff collars wilted nine morning. Ladies bathed noon three-o’clock naps nightfall like soft teacakes frostings sweat sweet talcum. People moved slowly then. ambled square shuffled out stores took everything. A day twenty-four hours seemed longer. There hurry nowhere go buy money with see outside boundaries But vague optimism people: recently been told fear itself. main residential street town— Atticus I plus Calpurnia our cook. found satisfactory: played treated courteous detachment. something else again. She all bones nearsighted squinted wide bed slat twice hard. always ordering me kitchen asking why behave older calling home wasn’t ready come. battles epic one-sided. won mainly side. ever since born felt tyrannical remember. mother two absence. Graham Montgomery met elected state legislature. middle-aged then fifteen junior. product year marriage later sudden heart attack. family. did miss her think did. remembered clearly middle game sigh length then go off behind car-house. that better bother him. almost six ten summertime (within distance Calpurnia) Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose’s house doors north Place south. break them. inhabited unknown entity mere description whom days end Dubose plain hell. That us. Early one morning day’s yard heard next door Miss Rachel Haverford’s collard patch. wire fence puppy— Rachel’s rat terrier expecting— instead someone sitting looking Sitting down higher collards. stared him spoke: “Hey.” “Hey yourself” pleasantly. “I’m Charles Baker Harris” said. “I can read.” “So what?” just thought you’d know read. You anything needs readin‘ it…” “How are you” asked “four-and-a-half?” “Goin‘ seven.” “Shoot wonder then” jerking me. “Scout yonder’s ain’t even school yet. puny goin’ I’m old” brushed hair get look. “Why don’t you over Harris?” “Lord name.” “‘s any funnier’n yours. Aunt says your name’s Jeremy Finch.” scowled. big fit mine” “Your longer’n are. Bet it’s foot longer.” “Folks call Dill” Dill struggling under fence. “Do over it” “Where’d from?” Meridian Mississippi spending aunt Rachel now on. originally photographer entered picture Beautiful Child contest won dollars. show times “Don’t shows here Jesus ones sometimes” Jem. “Ever good?” seen Dracula revelation eye respect. “Tell us” curiosity. wore blue linen shorts buttoned shirt snow white stuck head duckfluff senior towered As tale eyes lighten darken laugh happy habitually pulled cowlick center forehead. reduced Dracula dust sounded book was: “You him.” haven’t one.” “Is dead?” “No…” “Then he’s dead you’ve one you?” blushed hush sure sign studied acceptable. Thereafter passed routine contentment. Routine contentment improving treehouse rested giant twin chinaberry trees fussing running through list dramas based works Oliver Optic Victor Appleton Edgar Rice Burroughs. matter lucky Dill. character parts formerly thrust upon me— ape Tarzan Mr. Crabtree Rover Boys Damon Tom Swift. Thus pocket Merlin teemed eccentric plans strange longings quaint fancies. end August repertoire vapid countless reproductions fascinated spite warnings explanations drew moon draws water nearer light-pole corner safe gate. stand fat pole staring wondering. jutted sharp curve beyond house. Walking south faced its porch sidewalk beside lot. low once deep front porch green shutters ago darkened color slate-gray yard Rain-rotted shingles drooped eaves veranda oak kept sun away. remains picket drunkenly guarded yard— “swept” swept— johnson rabbit-tobacco abundance. Inside malevolent phantom. existed night peeped windows. people’s azaleas froze cold snap breathed Any stealthy small crimes committed work. Once terrorized series morbid nocturnal events: chickens household pets mutilated although culprit Crazy Addie eventually drowned Barker’s Eddy people still looked Place unwilling discard initial suspicions. Negro night cut opposite whistle walked. grounds adjoined lot chickenyard tall pecan shook fruit schoolyard nuts lay untouched children: pecans kill you. baseball hit lost ball questions asked. misery born. Radleys welcome anywhere themselves predilection unforgivable Maycomb. church principal recreation worshiped home crossed mid-morning coffee neighbors certainly joined missionary circle. walked eleven-thirty promptly twelve carrying brown paper bag neighborhood assumed groceries. how living— “bought cotton” polite term nothing—but wife sons anybody shutters closed Sundays another thing alien ways: meant illness only. Of Sunday formal afternoon visiting: ladies corsets coats children shoes. climb steps call “He-y” neighbors screen doors. any yes According legend boy teens became acquainted Cunninghams Old Sarum enormous confusing tribe domiciled northern part county formed nearest gang little publicly warned pulpits: hung barbershop rode bus Abbottsville Sundays show attended dances county’s riverside gambling hell Dew-Drop Inn & Fishing Camp experimented stumphole whiskey. Nobody nerve tell wrong crowd. One excessive spurt spirits boys backed square borrowed flivver resisted arrest ancient beadle Conner locked outhouse. decided done Conner each was bound determined wouldn’t away probate judge charges disorderly conduct disturbing peace assault battery using abusive profane language hearing female. included charge cussed loud lady send industrial school sent other reason provide food decent shelter: prison disgrace. was. released Arthur Arthur further trouble. Knowing Radley’s word bond glad so.