Title: Of Darkness and Light, of Good and Bad
Author: Emily92
Pairing/Character: Boo Radley
Rating: K
Summary: A look into Boo's head during the events of the last few chapters of Mockingbird. Something of a character study.
Spoilers: A few for the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, but I'm assuming since you're reading fic for Mockingbird, you've read the book, so you're good.
Disclaimer: It belongs to Harper Lee, not me.
Of Darkness and Light, Of Bad and Good
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
-- To Kill a Mockingbird
Darkness. That is what defines this night air. No porch lights or stars in the sky, just dark. So dark a person can hardly see anything.
This is when I come out. This is when I roam the streets. Only on such dark nights.
If Mr. Robinson had tried to escape on a night like this, he would've made it. Yes, he wasn't thinking clearly. He ran away in the middle of afternoon. He shouldn't have done that. If had had run away on a dark night, he would have made it. He should have waited until tonight to do it. Then he might have made it, would've escaped into the dark night unnoticed, would've escaped to a faraway place.
Mr. Robinson was a good man. I wish he would have escaped.
I escape. I escape but come I back every time.
Am I bad? Father locked me up. Nathan still does. It makes sense: I must have done something terrible. I don't remember what, but I trust their judgment. Why would they lock me away otherwise, if I was good? They wouldn't, if I was good.
I don't deserve freedom. I don't deserve it, so I come back every time. Every time. I don't deserve otherwise. Mr. Robinson did. Mr. Robinson was good, and so he deserved to be a free man.
But Mr. Robinson is nothing more than a dead man.
Mr. Robinson was innocent of the crimes he was accused of. I hear the neighbors talking. There was no way he could have done such a thing even if he wanted do. His arm would've right prevented him committing from such acts.
Why would they hurt an innocent man like that? The world is divided into good, and bad. That's what Father said. Mr. Robinson was not part of that second half. Why did they charge him, find him guilty? He was dead because of it. He was dead an innocent man. Because of that.
If this is what the world is coming to, than I do not like the world.
A noise. A sudden noise. I do not like such sudden noises. Quick, quick, hide. In the comforts of safety. That's better.
I can see. Perhaps this would not have been such a good night for Mr. Robinson.
What's that?
Atticus Finch's son and some other undistinguishable figure, most likely his sister. They are good children, nothing much for me to worry about. Wait for them to pass and then resume walking.
Someone behind them, following. Creeping in a very suspicious manner.
Bob Ewell.
I don't like this. I don't like this at all. He is a bad man. Being one myself, I think I would know one when I see one. He is a bad man and he is following those children. This won't end well, I can feel it.
He picks up his pace, following close behind them.
He is about to pounce.
Jeremy and his little sister. Innocence. Good people. Would've saved Mr. Robinson if they could have.
The only good that's left in the town of Maycomb, the state of Alabama, the country of America.
He is about to hurt them.
No.
Run. Run as fast as you can. Take him down. Don't let him hurt the children. Don't let him, don't let him, don't
He is dead.
I just killed him. I just took a man's life, and for that I am bad. Horribly, terribly, bad. But…he was going to hurt Jeremy and Scout. Cause them great harm. Now he won't.
Perhaps the line that distinguishes light and darkness, and good and bad isn't quite set in stone.