Journal #7

Journal #7 perspective of Aunt Alexandra.

Those children of my brothers, their motives can be so OBSCURE sometimes. I don't know if I will ever understand why the ran off to see that dreadful court case. I knew, Atticus knew it, everyone in Maycomb knew it. It was INEVITABLE that that poor boy Tom was going to be pronounced guilty. 

When those kids ran off to play outside I didn't think nothing of it. but when they went missing and I no longer heard them in the front yard, I began to worry. At first I had some APPREHENSION about telling my brother with this court case going on. but then I decided that I would not be able to SUSTAIN my sanity if I had to wait. I sat down with a piece of paper and a pen and got to work. Now is is very IMPROBABLE that I get off track when writing, but I was so mad that the kids had disobeyed me and their father again that I must have gone on a rant because I filled up the page with all of the PURSUITS that I did not agree with.  I went in to the kitchen to find Cal, and have her deliver the letter, I wanted to be home when they got back. I sat in the big chair and waited, and waited and waited. I must have waited for the better part of the day thinking of what I would say to them when they got back. I went in the kitchen to get a glass of water, and saw that Cal was still there! she hadn't taken the letter yet. I near blew my head off yelling her out of there. 

When they returned I was still brooding over Cal that I forgot to give them my prepared speech. I figured that the moment had passed and that it would strike home better if I would wait for another opportunity.

Journal #5

Journal #6

Perspective of Tom Robinson

When they came to get me from the jail house, I was scared. I had been there a while and I knew that they would pass guilty on me. I also knew that they wouldn't keep me there for ever.

“Come on Tom, time for your trial.” one of Heck's deputies hauled me roughly to my feet. He led me down and out of the jail house. The car worked and even if it didn't there was a side street we could have taken, but he led me down the main street pass all of the people, like an animal on display. All the people decided to INDULGE themselves on my suffering. All of them seemingly OBLIVIOUS, to my feelings.

I was put down in my chair to the right of the jury. I was being gazed upon by all of those disdainful eyes. The only person in the room at the moment that did not want to seem me hang was Atticus finch.

“How are you feeling to day Tom? Had quite the scare last night.” , I answered, “Yes suh, but I'll be fine.” , As Mayella and Mr. Gilmer walked in all of the safe feelings that Atticus gave me were quickly COMPLACENTLYDISPELLED. All she did was look at me with a smug look of satisfaction. As if she was happy to see me up for trial for something I most certainly did not do. I BEGRUDGED all of my friends and family that would soon be on the second floor balcony. They were all just spectators to my plight, however If I were to be up there someone else would have to be down here. No matter what someone would have to be down here. I couldn't do that to, not just my friends, but anyone, even Mayella. Well maybe Mayella. Any way me and my bum arm will just have to sit through this, just like we've sat through everything else that has happened to us.

Journal #5

Journal #5 from the perspective of Dill

I never knew my father. The one who made that is. My mom find me lots of new daddies all the time but they never stay for a very long time. The one she has for me right now is the worst. He doesn't like me at all. He likes me so little that he sent me to my room. All I wanted to do was play some but he wouldn't have it. He said I was ANTAGONIZING and that I should be punished for it. I don't know what ANTAGONIZING even is. So I just sat there in my room tryin' to figure out what it meant. This is when I had a brilliant thought. I would run away. But to where? I know Scout and Jems house, they would understand. They would understand better than any of my relatives. However I needed to think about how I was going to get to Maycomb. I know I would EXTRACT money from my mother's purse. She was the one who didn't try to stop my new father from putting me in my room. I waited for them to go to sleep then I put my plan into action. I walked to the train station with my stolen tender in hand and walked to the train station. This was a familiar trip I haven't been to Maycomb in a while but, I knew that the train station was down the street from the house and I knew how to get to the street my fiancé lives on. I bought my ticket and boarded the train without the slightest resistance. However, when I saw the engineer for the train, with whom I was well acquainted, I was at first exited then, worried because he might be in on the search for me. I did my best to act casual, and hide the fact that I had forgotten my shoes. After a well mannered conversation I felt pretty sly with all of my evasions. This is when I realized if I were to impress my friends I would need a better story than I hoped the train and then walked here. I sat with the deepest look of PENSIVE thinking on my face and wove my tail. As we arrived in the station, I felt pretty good about the story. When I got off the train I realized I had to walk a good 20 miles to get to the finch home. Thankfully after not to long a grain cart came along. I hid on the back until we got close. I was in luck, the back door was unlocked, I hid in scouts room and when I heard them coming I hid under the bed. Of course I had to EMERGE, and then I had to talk with Atticus. I had ACQUIRED the idea that he would have me sent home immediately, but much to my enjoyment I would get one more summer with my love, Jean Louise.

journal #4

Example: Journal #1- Chapters 10-12 from the perspective of Jem

Sometimes I wish that Atticus was like the other fathers. All of Scout's and my CONTEMPORARIES all had fathers who did interesting things or had fascinating jobs. All Atticus could do was be a lawyer. He likes to play keep-away with me, but when I want to practice tackling he is always to tired or he tells me he's to old. for that stuff. As you can imagine it is very disheartening for a boy my age to have a largely sedentary and useless father.
One day as I was walking with Scout, air rifles in hand, and looking for birds to shoot, we saw a dog way off in the distance. "What you reckon that is out yonder?", Scout said pointing at the figure. "I don't know." I said scratching my head. Then as we looked at it I had the strangest feeling that we should go. Scout beat me to it and we marched off. When we got home Cal's reaction to our story practically made me jump out of my skin. I had learned about mad dogs in school. That probably gave me my sense of PERIL when we first spotted it. Scout usually loves to CONTRADICT Cal but she said no words and if she did it was INAUDIBLE. I was confused when the sheriff and Atticus showed up. I understood that he may want to help us but then when he just stood there. Then when the sheriff Heck Tate tried to hand Atticus the rifle I had thought that he had gone mad to. After Atticus took the rifle I was even more surprised. I thought that he would try to be all INCONSPICUOUS and sneak up on the dog. Then as I watch in dumbstruck awe, he takes of his glasses and lets them fall to the ground. He raises the rifle and hits the dog dead center. That dog was so far away I could hardly see him and atticus just hit him like he was nothing. I was so thrilled that he could do this. I would be able to brag for years before this got old. Then I realized, if he hadn't told us about this amazing talent by now, he must not want us to know. I then thought it best that we not brag. Even though I would have to face scouts CANTANKEROUS objections.

Journal #3

Journal #3 from the perspective of Miss Maudie.

It was a quite enough evening, cold, bone chillingly cold. The whole night I was fearful for my flowers well being. However, I was able to finally get to sleep after lighting a fire in the kitchen for my potted plants. I slept without interruption until I was awoken by a bright flickering light coming in my door. I immediately disregarded it as just the kitchen fire, but then I realized that I can't see the kitchen from my bed room. With the fanatical quickness of a woman who cares more for her flowers than her own life, I lept from my bed, threw on my robe and was out side of my house faster than you can say "Help my house is on fire!", and that is exactly what i said as I ran outside. when I was on the other side of the street, I was only to house. It seemed that either my cries or the fire had already awoken many other people on the street. Before long Atticus Finch and his two children emerged from their house and because I did not want to isolate myself I went to his side. As I watched my house burn, I debated with myself how I should go about finding a place to stay for the time being. I was fairly well acquainted with Miss Stephanie and i know she wants my Lane Cake recipe but I would never give it to her. I was entrusted with it by my grand mother and I would never give it up. After I thought of that All I could think of was what my flowers would do. Will they be OK? This thought consumed me so much I don't remember anything else till morning when I asked Miss Stephanie and she agreed to let me stay, and I thought that she may be worthy to know my recipe, if she can make any sense of it.

Journal #2

Journal #2 from the perspective of dill.I was so sad to leave my friends in Maycomb, but school
was starting and I had no choice but to leave and go home to my mother. I endured the school year being ridiculed by the other students for my size and mistaken for a kindergarten. The Tyranny of the bullies at my school never ceased. All I heard in class was "Shorty!", and "Pip-Squeak". I was infinitely relieved to finally be back in Maycomb. I was even happier when Jem proposed that we play a new game,"Lets play Boo Radley" he said, and so we did. Of course the aim of all of this was to draw Boo Radley out from hiding. This was our one goal while we re-enacted all of Boo's lore and legends. We thought that Boo would see this and decide to come out and play. Secretly, I was terrified of Boo Radley coming out side because I thought he might be mad for disturbing us and then he would eat us. However I must stay resolute to impress my love, Scout. I wasn't to keen, however, on stopping when anyone walked by, but it made me feel sorta like a villain from one of our other stories. All powerful, devious and mysterious. I wasn't ashamed with our game but I understood that if anyone got wise to us we would have to stop and we would never come out and then I don't know how I would win over Scout's true love or Jem's respect. I was sad when scout nagged Jem into stopping the game but I don't think that I could out nag Scout, after all we were supposed to be married and I have noticed that all of the husbands on my street at home don't win any arguments with their wives so I didn't want to upset the status quo. So I just went with it, like I go with the insults I get at school.

Journal #1- Chapters 1-3 from the perspective of Walter Cuningham 

I hate the first day of school. I have always felt that it was a colossal waste of time. I have been held back more times than I can count, which is not very high since I haven't finished the first grade.  Every year I am irked by my father that I need to go to school. I have never had a reason to distrust my father so I concede. I'm sure that I would like it more if I could actually finish the year. Just once I would like to compromise  with my father. I would get to finish the first grade but then I would work twice as hard the next year.  However, every year I put on my clean shirt, and overalls and walk barefoot to school. I had heard that there is a new teacher there, but it never occurred to me that she was not from Macomb. When I sat down, in the same room, same desk even, I began to feel indigenous to this place.

I never have valued myself as smart. I am in the first grade and I am almost as old as some of the fifth graders.  I have on the other hand always admired that that Scout girl. She was the smartest person I had ever met. When the new teacher Miss Caroline walked into the class room and introduced herself I realized instantly even before she said were she was from, that she was not from these parts.  I had known for a long time now that Scout could read and write. I would have thought that Miss Caroline would have praised her for it, but instead she scolded Scout with pronouncements of how here father was teaching her incorrectly.    

I was astounded at the way they were able to argue for so long, but when they finished, I was able to simply endure the day. Until dinner came along. This was my least favorite time of day. I knew that because Miss Caroline was new she wouldn't know about me. 

"Now class if you have your food with you please put it on your desk.", all I could do was sit there like a nimrod.  "You there did you forget your lunch?", "Yess'um" I lied. When Miss Caroline pulled out a quarter and tried to hand it to me, I was so full of shame I almost started to cry. This shame consumed me so much, I was all but unable to hear the ensuing conversation between Miss Caroline and Scout. All I remember is looking up and seeing Scout getting hit on the hand with a ruler and being sent to the corner. After we were dismissed, Scout jumped on me and started rubbing my nose in the dirt. I couldn't fight back, because boys can't hit girls, so I would just have to persevere. 

I could not have been more thankful when Jem came along, and saved me from his evil sister. When he invited me over I, at first wanted to say no but then decided that it couldn't hurt. While at the Finch home I got to have the most delicious dinner I had had in a long time. However Scout ruined it when she made fun of me for putting syrup all over my food. The food lifted my sprits and I was chipper as could be on my way back to school though. 

Miss Caroline's reaction to the cootie in one of the Ewell boy's hair was entertaining but not really anything special. At least nothing I haven't seen before.