Journal #6 Reading prompt B

Journal #6
Reading prompt B

B. Compare and contrast yourself to either Scout or Jem at their age. Compare and contrast your summer activities, friends, relationships with your dad, siblings, and adults.

Me and Scout are somewhat similar. Me and Jem are also somewhat similar. Both I am similar to in different ways. Scout has a unique relationship with her father. They like to read together and they would do that when she was little and they still do know. Me and my dad also would read together when I was younger. This is something that I can remember that my dad and I used to do together quite often. At night before bed my daddy would read me a story. When I was Scouts age I was also a lot like her, in terms of her style. When I was that age I didn't like to wear dresses or skirts. I grew up wearing jeans and t-shirts.

Jem and I are also alike. Jem as it has shown through the last few chapters is very strong minded and stubborn. I am also strong minded and stubborn. I also can relate to the beginning of the book when Scout first started and he didn't want her to talk to him or anything at school. This is how I was toward my brother at first when he first started at High Tech Middle Media Arts. He embarrassed me. I can also relate to Jem in being the older sibling and having to grow up, be the responsible one, and wanting the younger sibling to grow up too. Jem also has shown interest in the law case that Atticus is in. I also have an interest in law.

Summers in this book go by really fast. The summers of Jem and Scout are similar to my own summers. They hang out with their friends and play games just like I do with my friends in the summer. Something different about our summers though is that they stay at home a lot or if they do go places its only to town. During my summers I also spend a lot of time with my family at places like the beach and the water park.

Scout, Jem, and I are similar and different in many ways. The way we handle situations and the way we look at and act towards adults are also different. There are many things that I can and can't relate to in this book.

Journal #5 Chapters 14 & 15 Perspective: Tom Robinson

Journal #5
Chapters 14 & 15
Perspective: Tom Robinson

Dear Diary,

I have been sitting in this jail cell for too long. I look outside my window covered with metal bars wishing I was able to emerge from my cell and back into the world. The only good part about being here is that I don't have to work. I worry about my family though. My wife Helen and all of our children. I have become very pensive wondering of my family. How are they? Are they starving. I feel so helpless not being able to help them and provide for them.

I am glad I have Atticus as my lawyer. Unlike most white folk he actually cares about me and if I die or not. I know that there are very slim chances that I will get out of this alive even if Atticus is a good lawyer. Atticus can't save me from being a negro and that is what could kill me. Atticus' reassurance is no compensation for the fact that so many whites are against me, and because of this I could die. The racism that comes from the white folk I don't understand. I don't understand how the could accuse me of something so horrid. I don't get why they antagonize me so.

I have heard the sheriff talking. I have heard him say that I could be killed by a mob. I am scared for my life any more now. There is so much to be afraid of. I am praying to God that I will not be hurt and that he will pull me through this difficult time.

Atticus came tonight. I knew that the mob was going to come tonight. I watched Atticus as he sat outside of the jail on his desk chair with of course a newspaper in his hand. Across the street from a window high up sat Mr.Underwood with his double barrel shotgun sticking out the window. I heard cars pulling up. My whole body became ridged. I looked down out of the window and I saw A huge group of men coming toward my direction and the jail. Atticus got up and folded his paper nicely. They asked him if I was here. Atticus said yes but that I was sleeping. I listened to them say that Atticus knew what they wanted, I knew too well what they wanted. They wanted to kill me.

I stood looking out the window and listening for a while. Atticus told them to go home and that sheriff Heck was near by. All of the sudden Atticus' little girl Jean Louise Finch came bounding up the road. Hey Atticus she said. Then came son Jem and another boy who looked a bit older then Jean Louise. Atticus looked at them. He told Jem to Leave but I didn't see Jem budge. After that I couldn't hear much. I then saw a big man pick Jem up by the collar. Jean Louise kicked barefoot but the man fell back because Jean had kicked him in a very sensitive spot. I didn't hear much after that. I heard "get em outa here" but I didn't see anyone leave.

A little bit later I saw Jean Louise looking at all the men in the half circle around her father. She stopped looking when she saw a man standing in the middle of the half circle. It was Mr.Cunningham. She apparently acquired some courage and said "Hey, Mr.Cunningham." When he didn't reply the first time she said it again.After he still didn't reply she began to speak. She asked questions and talked about Mr.Cunninghams son. He never said anything. Jean Louise stopped talking and something peculiar happened. Mr.Cunningham said "I'll tell him you said hey, little lady" He was talking about saying something to his son, from what I heard was named Walter. Mr. Cunningham I'm guessing began questioning what he was doing and said something to the rest of the men and I sat down. I heard a plethora of cars leaving and I asked Atticus if they were gone. He said "They've gone. Get some sleep Tom. They wont bother you anymore." I heard Mr.Underwood yell something and Atticus walked over to talk to him. I lied down on my cot.

For once I am not scared. I know I will be OK. At least for tonight.

Till another day,

Tom Robinson

Journal #4 Chapters 10, 11, & 12 Perspective: Mrs. Dubose

Journal #4
Chapters 10, 11, & 12
Perspective: Mrs. Dubose



Dear Diary,

About a month ago two kids from down the street named Jem and Scout walked past my house like they always have to to get to town. When people walk by my house no matter who they are I always say something to them. Everyone is acquainted with my ways of saying mean things. The things I say aren't very nice but I never realize what I'm saying until it's out of my mouth. This day when Jem and Scout walked by I said some mean things. The beginning of the conversation started with me saying that I was going to call their principal and tell him that they were playing hooky. Jem replied saying that it was a Saturday. I said that it made no difference and that I wondered if Atticus knew where they were. Jem said that they had been going to town by themselves since they were very little. I told him not to lie to me and that Maudie Atkins had told me that he had broken down her scuppernong arbor that morning. He denied this and I yelled at him to not contradict me.

I then began my conversation with Scout. I tolled her that she shouldn't be wearing overalls but instead a dress with a camisole underneath. I tolled her that if she was going to dress like that, then she was going to end up waiting on tables at the O.K. cafe. They began to walk away but I said "Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!" This made Jem stiff. He stood still. I knew what I had said had really bothered him but I kept on going anyway. I said "Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Jem went scarlet in the face. He was angry. You could tell that he was very mad. Scout tugged on Jems arm and they began to walk away. This time I let them go.

I went inside my house and the next time I came outside I was surprised to see my camella bushes destroyed. All the flowers laid on the ground and there I also a baton, broken in half. I knew then that this was Jem. Jem had come when I was inside and destroyed all me camellas. That night I talked to Atticus. I had been debating on what I wanted Jem to do and I came to a conclusion. A while after I talked to Atticus there was a knock on my door. Jessie whom I have entrusted to care for me answered the door and there was Mr. Jem Finch. I had decided what I wanted him to do. He said sorry but he didn't sound very sincere. I told him that I wanted him to come to my house everyday after school and every Saturday for a full month to read to me. When I told him this he looked very perplexed, and he looked like he really didn't want to come read to me.

The first day Jem came to read to me he also brought Scout along. When they entered the house I was laying down. I know I must have looked very sickly and weak to them but still they still looked terrified. They sat a distance away from me but I told them to come nearer to me until they were adjacent to my bed. Jem then began to read. I only remember a bit of him reading then I don't remember anything. I just know that I fall asleep. I know that there is an alarm and when it goes off Jessie shoos Jem and Scout out of the house.

This went on for a month and everyday the alarm would go off a little bit later. On the last day of Jems reading I told Atticus that I just wanted Jem to read to me for one more week. I know that Jem was very upset about this but I really needed this. A week later Jem was done with his readings. I was like always asleep when they left. But these past readings had been different. I would get bored of the reading and I would begin to say mean things to them again as I had when they would walk by on their way to town. One day I said "Jeremy Finch I told you you'd live to regret tearing up my camillas. You regret it know don't you!" he said that he did. I told him that he thought he could wreck my snow on the mountains but that now my camillas were growing back. He muttered something but I couldn't tell what he was saying. Three weeks passed and I was sure I was close to dieing. I have been addicted to morphine. I am sick because of my addictions. I am about to die because of my addictions. But I am dieing old. I prepare a box for Jem. Inside I put a waxy white camilla surrounded by cotton. I wrapped it and put it away.

I am going to die. I can feel it. Its about to happen. I am calling Atticus. I tell Atticus to come over. Before I die I give him the box for Jem he takes it.

To all whom will remember me,
Mrs. Dubose

Journal #3-Chapters 8 & 9 Perspective: Uncle Jack

Journal #3-
Chapters 8 & 9
Perspective: Uncle Jack


Dear Diary,

This is the week of christmas. I as I always do have come down to have christmas with the rest of my family at Finch's landing but first on Christmas eve I arrive in Maycomb and stay with Atticus, Jem, and Scout for the night. The next day we head up to Finch's landing. I got two gifts, one for Jem and one for Scout. They are from their father but I had to go get them. The first thing Scout said when I got off the train was, whats in the packages. I told her it was none of her buisness. Jem asked me about my cat, Rose Aylmer. That cat is the only female I will ever be able to stand living with for she can not torment me.

Scout has began to cuss. It's not a good thing and I told her that she should not be using bad language like that. She used that language during dinner so I asked her to talk to me after dinner. When dinner was over we talked. I told her that young ladys should'nt use that language unless provoked.


The next morning was Christmas morning. Jem and Scout loved their air rifles but were pointing them in the house. I told Atticus he needed to teach them how to shoot. He told me this was my Job.


When we all arrived at the Landing my sister Alexandra her husband Jimmy and thier grandson Francis greeted us. Alexandra complained a lot about Scouts clothing and ways to Atticus and told him he wasn't doing a very good job. I was tired of all her tiranny. Scout said that she couldn't do anything in a dress and Alexandra said that anything she couldn't do in a dress, she shouldn't be doing. That night at Christmas dinner Scout was placed at the little table in the dining room while all the rest of us were seated at the dining table. Alexandras coooking was absalutly amazing that night.


I heard a commotion outside a little wile after dinner. I came outside and saw Scout and Francis. Scouts left hand was bleeding and so was Francis's face. I ran up and grabbed both of Scouts hands just as she began to swing her left arm at Francis. I yelled at Scout to stand still and then at both children "who started this." Francis said that Scout had called him a whore lady and jumped on him. Scout said that this statment was correct and I told her that she wasn't sapposed to use that language and that now she was in trouble. It was unanimous. between me and Alexandra she was deffinantly in trouble. She told me she wouldn't speak to me ever again and that she hated me, despised me and hoped that I would die tomorrow.


We went back to Atticus's home and Scout went strait to her room. Scout was very upset she desguised herself not wanting to be seen in her room like a chameleon. I wanted to talk to her so I knocked on her door. At first all she said was go away. She ket me come in and when I did she told me I wasnt fair. I asked her how I wasn't fair. She said "Your real nice Uncle Jack, an' I recon I still love you after what you did, but you don't understand children much. I told her "And why do I not understand children, Miss Jean Louise? Such conduct as yours required little understanding. It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive-" She Then asked if I was going to give her a chance to tell me what she thought. She began telling me that I didn't let her tell her side of the tory and that this was not fair. She then said that I said she should only use bad words under extreme provocation and that Francis provoked her enough to where she knocked his block off. I asked her what her side of the story was.

I asked her what her side of the story was and she began to tell me what happend. She said that Francis called Atticus something and that she didn't like it and wasn't about to take that. I wanted to know hat he called Atticus so I asked. She sais that Francis called Atticus a "nigger-lover" I was shocked that Francis called him that. Scout said that she wasn't about to let him talk about Atticus like that. She also told me that Francis said other things about Atticus too. Like that he was the ruinin of the family and that he let Jem and her run wild. This made me very angry. Scout looked scared for a minute until i said "we'll see about this, I have a good mind to go out there tonight." Scout told me to just drop the subject and not to tell Atticus. I told her that I was upset that Francis could get away with something like that but she tolfd me he didn't and mentioned her hand. This made me remember that he got his. She asked me to tie up her hand and I did. Before I left the room she asked me what a "whore lady" was. I just went into a story about an old prime minister. I didn't want to tell her. I left the room.

Later that night when the children were asleep I was talking to Atticus. I told him that I didn't want to have childrem and that Scout gave me a lesson on children. I apoligized for how i treated her and Atticus just said that she earned it and not to feel to remorsefull. I felt weird knowing that she did what she did for Atticus and yet he was the one saying she deserved my malignant behavior. I wanted to tell him about what Francis said but I had made a promise and I needed to keep it. We talked about his case and how he was defending a negro and how hard this would be. Atticus spoted Scout listening in and told her to go to bed. I was proud of myself for not spilling Scouts secret. Especially since she would have heard if I had. This was the end of my christmas.

Well I will write again soon, till then,

Jack

Journal #2- Chapters 4-7 Persperctive: Miss Maudie Atkins

Journal #2-
Chapters 4-7
Persperctive: Miss Maudie Atkins

Dear Diary,

Its summer and the children are all out of school. I have noticed Atticus's children and one of their friends playing in their yard. Jem, Scout, and Dill have been, I think, acting. Its real odd. I was looking at them one day when I was trimming my hedges and I think that Scout saw me looking.

As the summer has gone on I see Dill and Jem hanging out together a lot more without Scout. Scout has become my main company. She sits with me on my front porch. We would watch the twilight together most nights. Before we began doing this I had an agreement with the kids. I would let them use my front and back yard, and eat my scuppernogs if they would'nt jump on the arbor.

One day I had a very interesting conversation with scout. She mentioned Boo Radley whom I like to call Arthur. Scout had asked me if Arthur was alive. I told her I knew he was because he hadn't been taken out of the house yet. She suggested the idea that they stuffed him up a chiminey when he died. I thought that was crazy. She told me that Jem told her he was up the chiminey. Jem was getting more and more like their uncle Jack Finch every day.

Jack is my age. I've known him since we were kids. He has asked me to marry him every time he comes down to visit Atticus and the kids, but I allways say the same thing "Call a little louder, Jack Finch, and they'll hear you at the post office. I havn't heard you yet!" Jack is the last person in the world I would want to marry. But I love teasing him.

Me and Scout continued our conversation about the Radleys. I told her that all Arthur wanted to do was stay inside so thats what he did. I did'nt tell her this but really Arthur is the opposit of me. He likes to stay inside and I never want to be inside. I like to be outside enjoying Gods outdoors.

I told Scout about old Mr. Radley. How he was a foot-washing baptist. She thought thats what I was but I corrected her. I am just a baptist. Old Mr. Radley is the kind of baptist that believes anything thats pleasure is a sin. I told her that one time a few foot-washing baptists came out of the woods one day and told me that me and my flowers were going to hell. They believed that I shouldnt be spending so much time with Gods outdoors and more time inside reading the bible. Scout was real kind to me and told me that this was wrong and I was the kindest lady she knew. I told her thankyou but that to foot-washers women were a sin by definition. Our conversation about religion went on for a little while longer and then we came back to the topic of the Radleys.

She asked me if I thought that the things people said about Mr. Arthur were true. I told her that 3/4 of those things were made up by colored folk and the last 1/4 by Stephanie Crawford. I to,d her that I did't believe the things that people said about him. That is a sad house I told her. I told her about how I knew him when he was a kid. I told Scout all about how Arthur used to talk very nicely just as about nicely as he could to me. He wasn't rude. He was a very polite young boy. The last question scout asked me about him was if I thought he was crazy. I said that if he's not, he should be by now.

I was done with the conversation so I asked Scout if she wanted some pondcake and of course she said yes. My baking is the best on the block.

Sincerely,
Miss Maudie Atkins

Journal #1 Chapters 1-3 Perspective of Ms. Caroline

Journal #1
Chapters 1-3
Perspective of Ms. Caroline

Dear Diary,
Today was the first day of school. I came in feeling a bit Intimidated. I didn't know what to expect. I first began the day with a book. I read them a book about cats. After this I wrote down the alphabet and had one of the students read it. The students i had read the alphabet is named Jean Louise. She was not taught properly. I think her father has been teaching her at home and what he has taught her is not good. If he teaches her anymore it will interfere with my teachings. I told Jean Louise this and I am really hoping that she tells him not to teach her any more. She annoyed me with a ridiculous story of her brother and I could not stand to hear another word so I told her not to let her imagination run away with her. Her actions irked me but thankfully she did not bother me once more up to recess.

After recess we had lunch. I asked the children who had a lunch with them and who would be going home to get lunch. The was one child named Walter who didn't have a lunch so I tolled him I would lend him a quarter to buy one and he could pay me back tomorrow. He refused to take my quarter. I was becoming impatient and then Jean Louise stood up. She told me about how Walter was a Cunningham. I had no idea what a Cunningham was so I was very baffled on what this little girl was talking about. She began to explain saying that the Cunningham's wont take anything because they can't pay you back. She then told me that I was shaming Walter and that he didn't have a quarter to pay me back with.

I had heard enough of Jean Louise that morning and was getting tired of her. I became very irritated with her so I pat her hands about a dozen times with a ruler then made her go stand in the corner. I found later that when I made her stick out her hand she thought we were going to make a compromise. Jean Louise was not off to a good start of the school year.

After lunch we came back to the classroom. I screamed as I saw what the children call a cootie in Burris Ewell's hair. At first when I screamed I screamed its alive. I was so grossed out and I could not believe what I had just seen. The children thought I had seen a mouse.

The children asked me where it went and I pointed to Burris's head. A little boy named Chuck asked me why I was so afraid of a cootie. I had walked by and just saw the thing crawling out of his hair. Chuck tolled me there was nothing to fear and ran to fetch me a cold cup of water. I tolled Burris that he needed to go home and he needed to take a shower and wash his hair with lye soap then he needed to treat his hair with kerosene to get rid of the cooties. I also told him to make sure he bathed before he came back tomorrow. Burris was filthy. He was dirty and gross. H
e told me that he wasn't coming back tomorrow and that he had done his time for this year.

I was confused. One of the older children in the class began to explain that the Ewell's only came to school the first day of school each year and for the rest of the year I was just supposed to mark them absent. This shocked me. I didn't get why this was allowed to happen. I wasn't going to let Burris go that easily so I tolled him to stay. This made him angry and Chuck stood up again and tolled me just to let him go because Burris was a mean one. So I tolled Burris to leave. I was becoming very exhausted and tired. He called me a slut. He called me a snot-nosed slut of a school teacher. That's when I broke down and began to cry. The students came up and comforted me and tolled me to read them another story. So I did. By the end of the day I was exhausted and surprised at how many eccentric families there were in this town. Even though i have had so many challenges i need to keep going and persevere in my career as a teacher.

Till next time,
Ms. Caroline