To Kill a MockingBird Post #4

Journal #4

Chapters 10-12

Perspective: Jem

Dear Journal,

Mrs. Dubose, a cantankerous old women who lived in Maycomb was quickly becoming the bane of my existence. Although we tried to remain inconspicuous we are still in considerably peril every time we walk by her house. She will sit on her porch in her wheelchair and shout at us every time we walk by. And when we try to contradict her she yells even louder. Atticus told me hold my head up high and not listen to anything she said. I had to be a gentlemen because she was old and sick. That has proved challenging. I am 12 now and I must be a good example for Scout and a gentlemen like Atticus but she just makes me so mad.

The only reason it took me so long to snap was because Atticus said not to, under any circumstance, get mad and retaliate. But when we were walking to town to get my train and Scout's baton with my birthday money she went too far. She has always insulted me and I have ignored her. But that is harder to do when Mrs.Dubose starts insulting the rest of my family. She said that the only thing Scout was going to do is work at the O.K. Cafe, which is next to nothing as far as job go, and then she said something really awful. She said that Atticus was no better then the “niggers and trash he works for."

I didn't so anything right then. But later when me and Scout were walking home I took her baton and chopped up all her flowers. I was just taking revenge. But when I muttered my inaudible excuse to Atticus it didn't sound so good. It was just that she made me so mad. Now I have to read to her every day for a month. A MONTH! And Atticus said I have to. I really don't want to. She has never been nice to me but when I do something mean to her I get in trouble. I wish Atticus wasn't making me do this.

-Jem