Journal #2

Journal #2

Chapters 4-7

Perspective of Jem

At last, the day came. Summer was here, which meant Dill was visiting. One day, we were all walking past the Radley Place while Dill told us more of his lies. He said some old lady had taught him how to smell death and proceeded to sniff Scout and tell her she was going to die in three days. Scout yelled at him to shush, and I figured I should do something before they started fighting. "You all hush," I said, "you're acting like you believe in Hot Steams."
"You're acting like you don't," Said Scout. I believed in Hot Steams from the moment I heard about them, but I didn't want Scout and Dill to think I was afraid of anything. However, Scout had told on me once more, so I explained to dill what a Hot Steam was. She then contradicted me one more time before I gave up.
"Well, are we going to play anything, or not?" I said. I was furious at Scout for disagreeing with me about the Hot Steams, and I wanted to relax with something.

"Let's roll in the tire," suggested Scout.
"You know I'm too big," I said.
"You can push."
I was thrilled to hear that. It would be a perfect opportunity to torment Scout for the way she talked to me earlier. She climbed into the tire, put her hands between her legs and chest, and yelled, "Go!" I pushed the tire down the sidewalk with all my strength, and watch as she rolled away. I realized a few seconds later I had made a big mistake. Scout and the tire had landed right in the middle of the Radley yard. I ran up to her, and yelled at her to get away from there. Scout stood up, then teetered in place as she recovered her balance.. I wondered why she wouldn't move, and yelled at her again. She ran back to Dill and I, leaving the tire behind.

"Why didn't you bring it?" I screamed at her.
"Why don't you get it?" she screamed back. I was hoping she wouldn't say that. True, I had touched the Radley Place once, but that doesn't mean I'm not terrified by it. I had no way to evade having to get the tire that didn't involve confessing to being scared. I decided I should get the it after all, since it was my malignant act that got me into this. I ran into the Radley Yard, grabbed the tire, and ran back as fast as I could. "See there? There's nothing to it," I said. The next thing I heard was Calpurnia calling us in for more lemonade. A unanimous sigh of relief was shared by all.