Aunt Alexandra came and adapted to life in Maycomb with ease, almost as naturally as putting her hand in a glove, but she never entered the world of Jem and me.
Ardix got into an argument with my aunt over whether or not Kaponi was going to stay or go, and I fought with Jem because I couldn't stand to see him being condescending, and after Ardix separated us, I went back to my room and found Dill, who had fled from Meridian to Maycomb and had been lurking under the bed for two hours.
After Dill stayed, we spent a peaceful week together. However, it didn't last long, and our nightmare seemed to set in immediately.
It began one day after dinner. A group of people came to the yard outside the door, Mr. Hoke Tate. Mr. Tate, shopkeepers and tradesmen, farmers who lived in the town, Dr. Reynolds among them, surrounded Addicks, and there was a buzzing in the crowd, and they discussed it for a while, and Addicks retreated to the edge of the steps, and the crowd drew nearer to him, and it did not look good.
Jem suddenly called out at the top of his voice, "Addicks, the phone's ringing!" The people gathered outside jumped in surprise and scattered backwards.
On Sunday night, Addicks walked into the living room with a power extension cord with a light bulb attached to the end of it.
Immediately afterward, Jem, Dill, and I went looking for Addicks, and finally found him in front of the gates of Maycomb Prison, sitting in a chair he'd moved from the office reading a newspaper, oblivious to the swarms of bugs that fluttered and hovered overhead.
I was about to run over to him when Jem grabbed me, "Since he's fine, let's go home. I just want to know where he is."
We were taking a shortcut diagonally across the square when we suddenly saw four gray cars round the square and pull up in front of the prison, and out of the cars came several men one after the other, only to see several solidly built figures step closer to the prison door.
When Ardix said, "You really think so?" At those words, I shrugged off Jem and darted towards Adicus, who saw us, and a few glimmers of fear flashed in his eyes. He tried desperately to persuade Jem to take us back, and Jem didn't budge.
A burly man rudely grabbed Jem by the collar and nearly picked him up. I flew up and kicked the man, and I was surprised to find him staggering backward in pain.
I scanned the room for a familiar face, and found it in the middle of the semicircle - Mr. Cunningham, who I greeted, and talked to about the Qualified Inheritance, and our previous dealings, and his son, Walter Cunningham. I greeted him, talked to him about the Qualified Succession, about our previous dealings, about his son Walter, and Mr. Cunningham, impressed by my enthusiasm, nodded his head slightly. By the time I'd finished, I could feel the sweat starting to form on my hairline - the thing that freaks me out the most is being stared at by a large group of people.
They were all silent.
Addicks didn't say a word. I looked around the room and then up at Mr. Cunningham, who was just as expressionless. But the next thing I knew, he made a move that I didn't expect-one he crouched down and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"I'll give him your regards, little lady."
Then he straightened up and gave his big hand a wave. "Let's pull out," he said, "come on, guys."
Just as they had come, they shuffled back to the battered car in twos and threes, the door slamming shut a few times, the engine whirring and whining, and then the car was off in a cloud of dust.
Tom. Robinson's case before the court, from the south end of the county came a lot of people, they slowly passed my door, can really be said to be an endless stream. The courtroom on the second floor of the county courthouse was filled with people before the trial, and of course Jem and Dill and I were among them.
The trial began with careful and rigorous questioning by lawyers on both sides, and I got a clearer picture of what was going on from Addicks' closing arguments.
"Mayella was the victim of extreme poverty and ignorance, but I can't sympathize with her because she's white. She knew she was acting recklessly, but her desire was so strong that it caused her to knowingly insist on breaking this law ...... She acted like a child, and in this case, she was not a child who quietly hid her stolen forbidden goods, but she wanted to lay her hands on her own victim --as a last resort, she had to dispose of the man, had to make him disappear completely from her sight, from the world.
She must remove the evidence of her guilt. What is her proof of guilt? Tom. Robinson, a great living man. She must get rid of Tom Robinson. She must get rid of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson. Robinson reminds her every day of what she did.
What did she do? She seduced a black man. She's a white person and she seduced a black man. Her behavior is unspeakable in our society - she kissed a black man. Not an older black man, but a young, strong black man. She couldn't care less before she broke this social law, but afterward she was instantly devastated.
The incident was discovered by her father, and what her father did is not known, but there is some circumstantial evidence that Mayella? Ewell had been severely beaten by a man who used his left hand almost exclusively. We still know something about the action taken by Mr. Ewell: it was what any God-fearing, tough, bold, dignified white man would have done in such a situation - one in which he made the accusation under oath, prompted the police to issue a warrant for his arrest, and which he undoubtedly signed with his left hand.
Now, Tom Robinson sits before you, the quiet, decent, humble black man who, out of sheer recklessness, actually sympathized with a white woman and as a result had to be confronted in court by two white men.
Addicks also said in court that the case shouldn't have been tried in court at all, because it was as plain and simple as black and white.
Kaponi came to the courtroom to see Jem and I, and at our request, Ardix allowed us to have dinner and come back to hear the verdict.
Rev. Sykes reserved seats for us. We were surprised to find the courtroom exactly as we had left it.
Reverend Sykes told Jem he couldn't be overconfident now, that he had never seen any jury rule in favor of blacks and against whites. Jem takes Reverend Sykes' words at face value, so we are all forced to listen to another long speech from Jem.
After a long wait. I closed my eyes. Judge Taylor asked each juror individually for their opinion of the verdict: "Guilty ...... guilty ...... guilty ...... guilty ...... guilty "I peeked at Jaime: his hands were white as he gripped the railing, and his shoulders shrugged as if each "guilty" had stabbed him like a knife. Someone poked me, but I wouldn't take my eyes off the crowd downstairs, off the figure of Addicks walking alone down the aisle.
It was Jem's turn to cry, and as we made our way through the laughing crowd, a trail of angry tears was running down his face.
The next morning, Addicks thundered out of bed early, as usual, and by the time we stumbled into the living room, he was already watching the Mobile Chronicles.
A question hung on Jem's sleepy face, one that struggled on his lips to get out.
"It's not time to worry about it yet," Addicks said as he saw us heading toward the dining room. Relieving Jem, he said, "It's not over yet, we can still appeal, you can hope for the best."
In the morning, we learned from Miss Stephanie's lips that this morning, Bob. Mr. Ewell stopped Addicks at the corner near the post-office, spat in his face, and threatened that he would not let him go even if he had to take the rest of his life.
"I wish Bob Ewell would stop chewing tobacco." That's all Addicks said about the incident. According to Ms. Stephanie, who witnessed the whole thing - and was just coming out of the Five Points Jungle supermarket chain ...... - she says that Addicks didn't even blink, but simply took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his face, and stood there while Ewell cursed ...... After that, Adicus put his hands in his pockets and continued to walk unhurriedly.
Adicus still noticed that we were always wandering around the house listlessly, had no appetite for food, and couldn't take any interest in the things we usually liked to do, and he thus knew how deep the fear in our hearts was.
One evening Jem talked to Addicks about Mr. Ewell.
Jem nodded.
One night we talked about the Tom Robinson case, and Addicks answered our many questions, especially about the jury, and why women can't be on a jury, and Walter. Mr. Cunningham.
Jem and I also talked separately about people, and how I think there is only one kind of person in the world, and that's a human being.
While Aunt Alexandra invited the women of the neighborhood to refreshments and chat, Tom . Robinson was shot and killed by the guards of Enfield Prison, he tried to escape, it was during the release time, it is said that he suddenly went mad as a madman, shouting and screaming wildly, rushed to the fence, desperately trying to climb up, the guards fired a few shots and then shot at Tom, the bullets hit him as he was about to go over the fence.
Tom's death was noticed in Maycomb for probably only two days, and to the people of Maycomb it was a typical incident - a typical nigger escapade.
Addicks pulls out all the stops a free man can to save Tom Robinson. Robinson, but in the secret courts of the people's hearts, there is no lawsuit at all. From the moment Majella Ewell screams. From the moment Mayella Ewell screams, Tom is dead.
School started, and we started passing the Radley house every day again; Jem went to high school, right behind the elementary school, and I was now in third grade.
We discussed a lot of current events in Ms. Gates' lecture and assessment class, where Ms. Gates expressed her hatred of Hitler. But what puzzled me was that when we came out of the courtroom that night, on the way down the steps, she was walking in front of us ...... She was talking to Miss Stephanie, and I heard her say that it was time to teach them a lesson, that the niggers were getting so out of touch with the world that the next thing you know, they will have to think they can intermarry with us. When I asked Jem, "How does a man who hates fascism so much turn his face and be so vicious to the people of his own homeland"?
Jem was suddenly furious, all of a sudden jumped up from the bed, grabbed me by the collar and shook me vigorously: "I never want to hear about the courtroom again ...... Never mention a word to me again, do you hear me? Get out!"
Addicks said that Jem is not good in his heart these days, and so after a while, he will rethink it all, think things through, and when he can calmly think about the problem, it is back to restore their original appearance.
As Adicus had said, things were finally settling down slowly, and by mid-October, only three small, unusual things had happened.
The first of these concerns Mr. Bob Ewell. The first was about Mr. Bob Ewell, who got and then lost a job in a matter of days, and who, as far as I know, is the only person who has ever been fired by the Public ******* Business Revitalization Agency for laziness.
The second incident happened to Judge Taylor when Bob Taylor was enjoying an evening alone. Taylor was enjoying an evening alone when he caught a glimpse of a figure flashing in the corner of the house.
The third incident is about Helen Robinson, also known as Tom Kennedy. The third is about Helen Robinson, Tom's widow. Tom's original employer, Mr. Link Deeds, had made special arrangements for his widow. Mr. Link Deeds, Tom's original employer, has arranged a job for his wife, Helen. He didn't really need Helen's help, but he said that it made him feel bad that things had ended this way.
By the end of October, our lives were back to the same old familiar routine: school, play, study.
Halloween was different this year, as the auditorium at Maycomb High School would be open to the public for adults to watch the show and kids to play games, plus there would be a prize for the best homemade Halloween costume. Mrs. Crenshaw crafted my prosciutto costume. On Halloween, I thought my whole family would be there to see me perform, but I was disappointed, and only Jaime offered to take me, so we both went on the longest journey I can remember.
It was the last day of October, but the weather was surprisingly warm, and there was no moon in the sky that night. We were about to finish our walk in the pitch black when Cecil popped up and startled us.
I fell asleep just before the show was about to start, and thankfully didn't get on too late. Mrs. Mayweather seemed to be a huge success and out of her element, as everyone was cheering enthusiastically, but she caught me backstage and told me that I had messed up the show, which put me in a foul mood.
Jaime promised to stay backstage with me until the audience had cleared out, and I didn't want to take off my costume, which at least hid my shame.
The night was surprisingly quiet as we walked through the darkened playground, a rustling sound appearing as soon as we walked and inaudible as soon as we stopped. We thought it was Cecil again, but when we got to the road, "that fellow traveler" shuffled along behind us as if he was wearing heavy shoes. This unidentified guy is wearing thick cotton pants, I thought it was the sound of the wind blowing the leaves, but in fact it is the sound of cotton rubbing out of the sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, one step at a time.
Suddenly the sound stopped, the man was running, coming straight at us, Jem screamed at the top of his voice for me to run, but I couldn't run fast enough at all, something was hitting and squeezing the barbed wire around me, and I fell to the ground at once, and did my best to keep myself rolling off into the distance, and from a short distance there came the sounds of grappling, and kicking and punching, and shoes and flesh rubbing against the dirt and roots of the trees.
As Jem yanked me up off the ground and almost to the curb, I felt Jem's grip suddenly loosen, as if I'd been yanked violently backward, and fell to the ground. There was another writhing, and with a muffled click, Jem screamed in agony. Then a man's iron-clad arms strangled me as I gradually lost my breath, and suddenly he was yanked violently from behind and flopped to the ground, nearly bringing me down with him.
Sometimes people are slow to react. I stood there dumbfounded, like a mute, as the tearing and beating slowly stopped, someone huffed and puffed, and the night returned to its previous silence.
Ardix appeared, darting down the steps and carrying Jem inside with the man. Aunt Alexandra called Dr. Reynolds, and Ardix called Sheriff Hoke Tate. Sheriff Tate called.
Dr. Reynolds came and made sure Jem wasn't dead. The man who took Jem home stood in a corner with his back against the wall, he looked like a redneck I'd never seen before.
Hoke. Mr. Taylor came back from his tour of the scene and told Addicks, "Bob Ewell is lying over there in the big room. Bob Ewell is lying under that big tree over there with a kitchen knife stuck in his ribs. He's dead, Mr. Finch."
Hoke. Mr. Tate questioned me about the whole affair, and when I spoke of "someone staggering to and fro, gasping for breath," he asked me, "Who was that man?"
"Mr. Tate, he was right there, and he can tell you what his name is."
"He was still leaning against the wall ...... It was a pale hand, a sickly hand that had never been bathed in sunlight, and in the dim light of Jem's room the hands were so blindingly white against the cream-colored walls... ...an inexplicable slight spasm swept over him abruptly, as if he had heard fingernails scraping the stone floor. However, under my curious gaze, the tense look on his face slowly dissipated. His lips parted in a shy smile. My eyes suddenly filled with tears as this neighbor's face instantly became a blurry mess."
"Hello, weirdo." I said
Chapter 30
"Baby, it's supposed to be Mr. Arthur," Addicks corrected me gently "Joan. Louise, this is Arthur. Mr. Radley. I think he already knows you."
How can Addicks introduce me to the odd man out so gently at a time like this - this is Addicks.
Next, the question arises: who killed Bob. Ewell? In fact, there is no longer any doubt that Arthur Radley, who saved my life and Jem's. Mr. Radley.
But Mr. Hoke Tate and Mr. Adickus are not alone. Mr. Tate and Ardix had an argument about the facts.
Addicks turned his back and said, "If we cover up the truth of the matter, it would be a complete violation of the principles I have always taught Jem how to behave ...... In this world, the first person Jem looks at is me before anyone else, and I have always tried to live a life that is honorable and able to see him straight. upright and able to look him straight in the eye ...... If they hear me telling a different story in town ...... I can never have one thing at home and another outside."
"Mr. Finch, I don't want to argue with you at a time like this ......And the matter must be settled tonight, for it will be too late to wait until tomorrow ......It's not for you to decide, Mr. Finch, everything depends on me ...... I'm not a perfectly good man, but I'm the sheriff of Maycomb, and I've lived in this town all my life, and I know everything that's ever happened here ...... There's a negro boy who has lost his life for no reason, and the fellow who's responsible for it is dead. The fellow who was responsible for it is dead too. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch ...... Bob. Ewell fell on his own sword and died ...... Do you realize what this entails? ...... In my opinion, this man did a great job for you, for the whole town, and if people ignore his reclusive habits and insist on pulling him into the spotlight - that, in my opinion, is a crime ... ."
Hoke. Sheriff Tate had won, and Addicks looked like he needed someone to help cheer him up. I ran over to him and hugged him hard. I relieved him and said, "Mr. Tate was right."
Addicks broke away and looked at me seriously. "What do you mean by that?"
"How do you mean, it's like killing a mockingbird, isn't it?"
Adicus buried his face in my hair and rubbed it gently for a moment. He resumed his usual light footsteps as he got up and walked through the hallway into the shadows.
Before he entered the room, he paused in front of Odd Radley. "Arthur, thank you for saving my child," he said.
If Miss Stephanie happened to be looking down from an upstairs window, she would have seen Arthur Radley. Mr. Radley walked me down the sidewalk like a gentleman.
As we came to the streetlight on the corner, I could not help remembering how many times Dill had stood here, hugging this thick post, watchful, waiting, expectant; and how many times Jem and I had passed by, but this was really the second time in my life that I had set foot in the gates of the Radley house.
I stepped up the steps onto the front porch with Odd. His hand fumbled to find the doorknob, then gently released my arm, opened the door, stepped inside, and casually closed it again.
I never saw him again after that.
As I fell asleep, Adicus told me, "Scout, most people are good, you'll realize that when you finally get to know them."
He turned off the light and went back to Jem'de's room. He's going to guard there all night, and he'll still be by the bedside when Jem wakes up in the morning.