“You know what we want” one of the men said in villainous voice, “get aside from the door”. I was terrified, I thought these men were going to use any force necessary to get to Tom. One of the men at the back walked further in to the light I could see it was Walter Cunningham
“You can turn around and go home again, Walter” I said to him pleasantly, to try and get rid of them with out angering him. I told them Heck Tate is about some were so they best be going and they told me he’s in the woods somewhere and won’t be back till morning. Now I knew I was on my own.
Suddenly I saw a figure come into the light. As they got closer I saw it was my daughter.
“Hey atticus” to my surprise said scout. I was filled with mixed emotions, I was angry and shocked that my child had not stayed at home where she was supposed to be and scared because I didn’t know how these men would react to her being there. Before I could speak I could see Jem and Dill come into the light and stood next to scout. I was even more shocked than I was with scout because Jem should of known better. I stood up slowly and put my newspaper on the chair. I was so scared for my children’s safety I was trembling.
I looked at my son and asked him to go home and to take Scout and Dill with him. I couldn’t believe my son just stood there and disobeyed
Me. I think he understood that I was in danger and that’s why he stayed but I was a little disappointed that he didn’t do as I had asked. I told him again to go home and he shook his head. I was stunned that he still was disobeying me. Now I started to get very displeased with him so I told him once again but in a firmer voice so he knew I was not joking. He again shook his head.
“I’ll send him home” one of the men ranted as he grabbed Jem by the collar and tugged him, almost of his feet. My heart was pounding I was so afraid that the man was going to hurt him.
“Don’t you touch him!” Scout shouted as she kicked the man in the groin area. The man fell to the floor in agony, to Scout’s surprise she actually hurt the man. I was still very afraid but I was also feeling proud that Scout had tried to protect her brother, but she didn’t know what kind of trouble she had got her self into.
“Don’t kick folks,” I said to her as I put my hands on her shoulders.
“Ain’t nobody gonna do Jem that way” Scout replied
“Alright Mr Finch” one of the men growled, “get em outa here. You got fifteen seconds to get em outa here”. Finally I pleaded
“Please Jem, take them home”. It looked like Jem was just about to go when Scout started to talk to Walter. She started a conversation with him about his entailments. He didn’t seem to hear her. I couldn’t believe even after one of the men tried to hurt Jem she still was being nice and didn’t understand what was going on. She told him that she went to school with his son and the about fight incident and then asked him to say hello for her. Walter still did not answer her so she started talking about his entailments again. I was shocked to see Scout completely un afraid and still talking to Walter.
Scout looked at me and asked me what’s the matter. I was so speechless, I could only stare at her. As Scout turned to Walter he lent down and said
“I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady” he finally replied. Then he stood up and shouted, “Lets clear out, lets get going boys”.
As they started getting back into their cars I felt myself starting to cry. I felt relief and I felt proud of my children. I was glad it was over. I tried to hide my teas from the children, so I walked up to the jail wall and lent on it. Scout came over to me and asked
“can we go home now”. I nodded and wiped my eyes and blew my nose. I was so glad nothing bad had happened.
As we started to walk back to the car Scout and Dill were behind Jem and me.
“I’m proud of you son” I said to Jem and ruffled his hair. I didn’t look him in the eyes because I felt myself crying again.
