I Cried

I cried today. The persecuting attorney was harsh to Tom. He yelled at him and screamed at him and treated the poor fella like he was a piece of trash. It wasn't right. I knew that was wrong. Lots of white folks treated blacks unfairly and I hated it. I couldn't help it. My emotions took over and I began cryin'. Scout had to take me out of the courtroom so I could control myself. 

I sure hope Atticus wins the trial. Tom didn't deserve to be treated like that. When I grow up, I'm gonna treat all men equal, I promise that. I won't be racist or prejudice, I'll be kind to everyone.

The Court

Jem, Scout, and I decided to go to the court today without permission. Atticus is gonna defend Tom Robinson. He's a colored man that was accused of rape, but it wasn't true. He was innocent. We avoided Atticus as much as we could, and Reverend Sykes let us go with him up to the colored balcony. Some kind folks let us have their seats. Jem was mighty excited. He was sure Atticus was gonna win the case. I hoped he would too.

Dolphus Raymond

I saw a man called Dr. Dolphus Raymond today. He was a white man, but he preferred to hang out with 'em colored folks. He married an African American woman and had mixed children. The town said all sorts of rumors 'bout him, but he seemed like a nice guy. He didn't care what people thought of him, and I liked that. I wish more people were like him. Why are others so mean to colored people?

The Jail

Jem, Scout and I went lookin' for Atticus downtown at his office. Jem said he had a feeling somethin' was wrong. When we didn't find him there, we went to see if he had visited Mr. Underwood. Mr. Underwood lived above a jail, which was mighty strange to me. We saw Atticus there, and we were 'bout to leave, when a mob of angry men arrived. They wanted to hurt Tom, a man that was inside the jail.

Atticus didn't let 'em. I was pretty sure the mob was goin' to hurt him, but Scout ran up to Atticus and greeted him. Everyone was surprised. Jem and I followed, but I stayed quiet. Scout spotted Mr. Cunningham in the crowd, and began talkin' to him about his son. She was being so kind and all, the man told the others to leave. I think it was smart of us to be there, or the men would have hurt Atticus.

Running Away

I couldn't do it. I ran away from home. My parents paid no attention to me, so I took a train back to Maycomb all by myself. It was a long journey I tell ya. I finished it walkin’ on my own feet. I snuck under Scout’s bed, but Jem found me there. I told ‘em the story, and Jem told Atticus. I was scared he would kick me out, but he let me stay the night.

He made me promise I tell Auntie Rachel what I did. I went to sleep in Jem’s room, but as soon as he was asleep, I went down yonder to Scout’s room. I told her to scoot over so I could lay in bed beside her. We talked and fell asleep after that.

My Love Scout

The summer Jem turned twelve I didn’t go back to Maycomb. Momma was sendin’ me with my father. He was a lawyer like Atticus, and he promised me we would build a fishin’ boat. I sent Scout a snapshot and told her to forgive me. I would miss her a lot, so I told her in the letter that I’d outta love her forever. I promised her we would get married when I got a job and money. Since she was now my fiancé, I asked her to please write back. Summer wouldn’t be the same without her. 

Pants

Dill and I made a new plan, to peek through a loose shutter into the Radley place. I wanted to know if Boo was alive. Scout didn’t want us to go, but she still followed us. Jem was the one to peek in through the window, but then a shadow of a man saw him. I was so scared I put my hands to my face. Jem came a runnin’ towards us. Scout and I rolled under the fence and heard ‘em nasty gun shots. 

Jem was stuck. He had a kick his pants off to escape, and was left in his shorts. We ran back to their house. Atticus asked us what was wrong. We couldn’t tell him what had happened back yonder at the Radley place. He saw Jem’s pants were missin’ and I told him I won ‘em from him playing strip poker. We didn’t get in trouble.

The Letter

I had to leave back to Meridian after summer ended, but I made sure to come back the following year. I spent most of my time with Jem, and Scout was jealous. Earlier that summer I had asked her to marry me and told her she was the only girl I’d love. I felt bad, but Jem and I were plannin’ something top secret. He told me I couldn’t tell her yet.

When she insisted on being part of our plan, we made her swear not to tell anybody. We were plannin’ to stick a letter through Boo Radley’s window beggin’ him to come out.  Jem would put the letter inside with a fishin’ pole, I’d keep watch for people passin,’ and Scout would keep watch on another part of the lot. We almost did it, but I saw Atticus comin’ and I rang a bell to let Jem know. He scolded us and told us to stop tormenting Boo.  

Boo Radley

I spent the summer with Jem and Scout working on their tree house, runnin' and acting out dramas. They made me play the boring characters, like the ape in Tarzan. We got tired of ‘em games, so I came up with the idea of making Boo Radley come out. Folks said many rumors ‘bout him. He never came out of his house, some thought the poor fella outta be dead.

I won’t admit it to Scout and Jem, but I’m a bit scared of him. Jem’s never seen him, but he described him like a horrible, ugly, monster. I dared Jem to go up and touch the house. He was being a chicken, but I convinced him. The poor boy came runnin’ back after slappin the wall. Boo Radley didn’t come out, but we saw a shutter move.

Summer Home

Momma and I live back yonder in Meridian, Mississippi, but this summer she sent me with Aunt Rachel in Maycomb, Alabama. I reckoned it would be pretty boring, but I made two new friends: Scout and Jem. They're my neighbors. Scout is a pretty girl, a year younger'n me, but she' s a bit of a tomboy. Her brother Jem is three years my senior. 

I introduced myself as Charles Baker Harris, and I told em I could read. Jem asked if I was four but he was joking. I didn't blame him though, I was small for my age but I was actually seven. Jem said my name was long, so I told him folks called me Dill. I was mighty curious to learn about the town and I hoped my new friends would tell me bout it.