Chapter 8 and 9 - To Kill a Mockingbird

Scout and Jem grow more like their father every day. It's so sad what happened to their mother, but Atticus seems to be getting along fine. Scout may not dress like a lady, but she sure is as well-mannered as one. It was kind of odd that Scout started showin' up at my house, when we were basically just acquainted with each other before. But I understand; she's being booted out by the boys, and there are no girls she would want to play with in the neighborhood, so she comes to me.

I know what Scout wants to know about Athur is good natured, but I'm still debating on how much I should tell her. That girl has a mouth on 'er, and isn't afraid to use it. Scout's a good kid though. I think I'm gonna have to hold back on this whole sharin' time about Arthur; it's none of her business what his secrets are. I don't mean to point fingers, but I bet it's Scout and 'em that have been sneakin' around the Radley house. I heard Atticus yellin' at them about it, but I didn't want to make any assumptions; everyone seems to think it's a Negro sneaking through his yard. If it is a Negro, if I were him I'd stop snooping around the Radley place; Nathan said the next time he would shoot right at whatever was in his patch. I'm perplexed by who in their right mind would go around the Radleys at night; everyone in town is either a "Boo" fanatic or Nathan's shotgun, so it makes no sense why someone would willingly go over there.

I can't believe my house caught on fire! I wonder what happened... Thank God for it though, I hated that cow barn. I'll entrust the dirt to blend in with the ashes, so my yard doesn't look so bad. It's surprising the adjacent homes barely burned. I'm sorry about the Finch's place, but it barely took a beating. That Atticus sure is a nice man; he saved my beloved rocking chair. He's doin' all right with those kids, and that Calpurnia sure is helpful to his family. Calpurnia is the best darn Negro I gone ever met! She cooks wonderfully, she makes sure the children don't get into mischief, and she knows how to read! It's not often you come across a Negro who can read.

Jem is a good boy, but his ingenuous schemes to get Arthur out of the house tire me. I know he doesn't mean to pester him, but anyone would get tired of having children crawling around their house. If Arthur had wanted to come out, he would have done so a long time ago. I personally don't think someone should isolate themselves from the rest of humanity, but it would be hard for him if he did come out. Everyone in Maycomb is so judgemental and feet-washing religious; you can't step out of line once and have it be forgotten. Why, I remember Arthur when he was a young boy! He was quite nice to me, and was raised properly; he just made bad decisions that ended up ruining his life. Gang banging is not the ideal lifestyle his father had pictured for him; he had wanted him to pursue the profession that would provide him the money he needed to start and support a family. Evidently, that lifestyle was not fulfilled...

I absolutely do not enjoy snow. It's pretty, but it ruins my plants. I hate having to warm the plants and tryin' got revive them when I know they're long gone. I work hours on end every day on my garden, and it ends up gettin ruined by a fire, and the snow! Bless-ed!