I was going through a few of my things from when I was young and stumbled upon those two people that were carved into soap. Do you remember how scared we were of Boo? Remember when you found that chewing gum and I made you spit it out because I thought it was poisoned!
I also found one of my toy guns and that reminded me of Atticus. He never would play football with me. We used to think he was a boring father, not like all of the other kids fathers, but then we found out about his talent with his guns. When I found out about it I was so proud of him, him being so boring in my eyes, it made me look at him in a completely different way. Back then I didn’t understand why he didn’t want anyone to know but now I finally realise why, I guess he wanted to look civilised.
He taught us so many lessons about how to act or look at things. Like the time he told us that you never understand why someone does something until you climb into their skin and experience it for yourself, I think that was his way of saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”.
Do you remember our friend Dill? He always got us into trouble didn’t he? Remember when he ran away and stayed with us?
I walked past a yard the other day that looked just like old Ms Dubose’s yard. Do you remember when I trashed her flowers because she said that Atticus defended Niggers? Atticus made me go over there after, again he had a reason that I didn’t get as always. I didn’t understand why she wanted me to read to her, I realised after she died, I was glad that Atticus made me go over there once I realised why she made me read to her.
It wasn’t just Ms Dubose that we had to put up with though. I remember that you wouldn’t take anything off anyone, always getting into fights over it, which didn’t help Atticus. I didn’t get why he was doing it. I also didn’t understand why he claimed that if he didn’t defend Tom he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up high, I didn’t understand that if he didn’t defend him he would feel ashamed, everyone else wasn’t willing to defend him.
Yet another lesson that Atticus taught us. I was thinking about that night we snuck out to find Atticus and that mob confronted him and you made Mr Cunningham realise that he was a person and not a part of a mob and he told the mob to leave.
Everytime I have to go to court on a case I always think, “ what would Atticus do?”. Then I think about the court case with Tom Robinson, how he was the only person that had the guts to take the case and how he was the only person who could keep the jury out as long as he did on a black against white case back then. I always think about how he made people believe that Bob Ewell did it, I still cant believe he got away with it and was willing to destroy another mans life just because of the colour of his skin. I think about how he made Mr Ewell’s left handedness make him a suspect because of the bruising on Mayella’s eye. I also think about how the jury was prejudiced against Tom because he was black. I often worry that if we were as old as the judge and jury that we would be prejudiced against him.
I couldn’t understand why Tom was found guilty, especially with all of the evidence in his favour, but now I understand prejudice. I was so confused when Tom tried to escape. I couldn’t understand why he would throw away his life like that, but now I know that Bob Ewell threw it away when he accused him of raping Mayella.
I hope we can see each other soon, maybe when I have time I will come and visit. If not you could come and stay with me, I have to warn you though my apartment isn’t exactly the White House. Write back as soon as you can okay?
See you soon Scout,
JEM
