Atticus Finch

Journal #3-
Chapters 8 & 9
Perspective: Atticus

Today was the first snow day in Maycomb since 1885. My children went out to play in the snow, even though there wasn't much to play in but they found their ways. They scooped all the snow from the front yard, back yard and even Miss Maudie's yard just to make a snow man and they still had to use dirt to make it complete. "Jem, I ain't ever heard of a nigger snowman," Scout said. Their snowman was filled with dirt, worms and not much snow but it still worked for them. Later, the night was cold, we had every heater on and we were still freezing, the temperature was about 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The whole neighborhood had every heater on just like us, including Miss Maudie. That night, I wake my children and take them outside, Miss Maudie's house was on fire. The neighbors, including myself, help save her furniture. Later, Scout and Jem come back inside and Scout has a blanket over her shoulders. She didn't even realize who put it on her. Jem told us that it was Boo Radley and Scout nearly threw up! Jem tells me all about their game and I have no other advice other then to keep it to themselves.

The next day Scout almost starts a fight with one of her classmates named Cecil Jacobs. While this is happening Cecil says "Scout Finch’s daddy defends niggers.” I was asked to defend a negro named Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a white woman. I feel like it's a case that I can't win but I tell Scout I believe in myself.

During winter my brother Jack comes to visit us for a week. Usually, Scout and Jack get along but not this time. On Christmas day, I take Jem, Scout, and Jack to Finch's Landing. There we find Alexandra (my sister), her husband, and Francis (their son). Scout thinks Francis it the most boring person she's ever met and she has to put up with him and Alexandra who thinks Scout should dress more lady like.

One night, Francis tells Scout that Dill is a runt and calls me a "Nigger Lover". This makes Scout very angry and she cusses Francis out and beats him up. Jack spanks her before even hearing her side of the story and Scout makes him promise not to tell me and Jack keeps his word. Later, Scout here's me telling Jack the Tom Robinson is innocent but has no chance because he is a Negro and he is in front of a jury of white people.