Chapter 2
The last few pages in the book are as written. I didn't want to rewrite them here. I had done that enough.
Jem was still asleep when I woke up. Atticus hadn't left his room all night. Keeping watch over Jem, most like.
I sometimes get the feeling that Atticus thinks that if he isn't there with us that we'll jus' upright and break on him. We aren't that fragile. I suppos' he has reason to considering what's been happening as of late.
I guess I was still worried about Jem, so the first thing I did when I got up was walk to his room and open the door a little so that I could peer inside. My vision was blurry from just having woke up, so I stumbled a bit as I walked. Jem was still out like a light, but Atticus was wide awake sitting in a chair beside his bed, watching over him. As soon as I opened the door, he looked up from his night long vigil and smiled at me. It was a half smile, but it was still something. I grinned back.
He motioned for me to come and sit on his lap. I did happily, and he pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and almost instantly wanted to fall asleep knowing that I had Atticus' protection. But I kept myself awake as Atticus began talking.
"Your brother is going to be just fine, Scout."
"I know, Atticus," I replied. "But when will he wake up?"
Atticus looked at Jem and thought for a moment. "Soon," he said. "Although I wish he would sleep longer. He's going to be sore when he does eventually wake up."
I looked at Jem again, this time more closely and with clear eyes.
Although it was better than last night, you could still tell he'd been attacked. The wound on his chest had been cleaned and covered with bandages, which you could only see because Dr. Reynolds had taken off his shirt. His arm had been wrapped as had his head. What was showing of his face had turned blue and purple overnight, and red marks were everywhere. He looked like he belonged in a hospital bed, not in this room where he likes to read or does his homework. Not in this place that is his sanctuary.
Atticus looked at me like he could read my thoughts. I wrapped my arms tighter around him.
"I know it doesn't seem like it right now, sweetheart," he said. "But things will get better. Jem will get better, and Mr. Tate and the police will find Mr. Ewell. He won't be bothering us after that."
"Atticus?"
"Yes?"
"Is Mr. Ewell gonna go to jail?"
"Of course, Scout. He hurt you and Jem; he tried to kill you. What he did was wrong, and he broke the law. He's going to jail."
"But what about that note you got from him?"
Atticus stiffened. "Pay no mind to that, Scout. That was just an empty threat. He got his revenge, and he knows it's over." Atticus paused. "Nevertheless, I want you and Jem to stay out of trouble for the next few weeks and don't draw attention to yourselves. The sooner we get this whole mess figured out, the better. In the meantime, you two must be extremely careful." Atticus shuddered. "Goodness knows what I would do if something like this ever happened to you again. I would lose myself."
He spoke so softly, that it would've been impossible to hear him if I wasn't leaning against him. It had never occurred to me what these dangers we had gotten ourselves in were doing to him. Now, it was easier to see. He looked much older, even though he's quite old to begin with. His clothes were ruffled, and his hair was too and in it you could see streaks of grey. His eyes looked tired and scared and relieved all at the same time.
When he saw me looking, he straightened up and tried to make himself look more presentable. He didn't want me to see him like this.
Suddenly, there was movement from Jem's bed, and Jem moaned. Atticus and I quickly turned our attention to my injured brother.
Jem's eyelids were fluttering, and he had a pained expression on his face. Atticus quickly set me down off of his lap and kissed my forehead.
"I'll be right back, honey," he explained. "I have to go make a call to Dr. Reynolds to tell him Jem is waking up. You'll wait here for me? And don't let him move in case he damages his stitches."
I nodded. "Of course Atticus," I said, proud to be entrusted with such an important job. Atticus smiled gratefully, and kissed me again.
"I won't be gone long," he said as he hastily exited the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Jem's eyes opened and he moaned loudly, his face contorting painfully. Out in the hallway, I could hear Atticus talking on the phone to Dr. Reynolds.
Jem was trying to sit up, but I put my hand on his good arm. He looked at me, his eyes confused and hazy.
"Oh no Jem, you mustn't sit up," I said sternly. "Atticus and Dr. Reynolds said you had to lie down or else you'll damage your stitches." Jem lay back down on the bed slowly.
"Scout," he said softly. "W-what happened? Why is there a bump on your forehead?"
I laughed. "I look a lot better than you do."
Jem's expression grew sour, like he'd just swallowed a lemon. I laughed harder.
"It's true," I said. Jem's frown curved deeper.
"Fetch me a mirror, Scout," he said. I shook my head.
"Atticus said not to leave this room, and to keep you from getting up while he called Dr. Reynolds."
Jem sighed, exasperated. Then he gazed around the room. His eyes lit up when he spotted what he was looking for.
"Then can you at least get me that spoon over there?" he asked, pointing at the dresser with his good arm.
I obliged and stood up, walking to the dresser to pick up the dirty spoon that was sitting in a half eaten bowl of soup. I didn't know whose it was, but I licked it clean and handed it to Jem just as Atticus walked in.
Jem grabbed the spoon and stared at his reflection in the silver. As we watched, he tilted the spoon in different angles to try and see his reflection better. Finally, he sighed and put the spoon down. He looked up at Atticus.
"What happened to us, Atticus?" he asked, sounding very small and very un-Jem like.
"What do you mean, son?" he replied. "Don't you remember what happened last night?" Suddenly, Jem's eyes got wide as the realization dawned on him and he looked down at his arm.
"We were attacked," he murmured. Atticus nodded. "He broke my arm, and gave Scout that bump."
I snorted. "He did more than that, I can assure you." I was about to say more, but Atticus glared at me.
"Did you find out who-"
"It was Mr. Ewell, Jem," Atticus answered his question before he even finished asking. "Mr. Ewell was drunk and angry and so he came and took out his frustration on you." I noticed he didn't tell Jem about the threatening note. "But he's still out there, and while the police are looking for him, you and Scout have got to stay together and close to the house. I don't want you two to be walking alone, or at night from now on."
Jem looked ready to argue, but he just bowed his head and nodded.
"Yes sir," he said.
"Thank you son," Atticus said. "I'll have Mrs. Maudie keep an eye on things outside while I'm at work, and while I'm working, you best tell Cal where you are and what you're doing. Understand?" We both nodded. Atticus sighed, and pulled me over to his side. He kneeled down and gave me a hug.
"I just don't want to lose you," he said quietly, and kissed my forehead. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Don't worry Atticus," I said. "We'll be careful."
"Yeah," added Jem. "I won't let anyone hurt Scout ever again, especially not old Mr. Ewell. I won't be so weak next time."
Atticus turned and placed a hand on Jem's shoulder, but kept one arm around me. "You aren't weak Jem," he said. "Scout told me what happened. You kept your head and were very brave. I'm proud of you son."
Jem blushed scarlet. It took all the self control I had to keep from laughing. Thank goodness at that moment Aunt Alexandria came in and seeing Jem sitting up, she shrieked. She rushed over to his bedside and took his good hand. It was getting quite crowded in Jem's little room.
"Jem!" she squealed softly. "You're awake! Oh thank heavens!" She turned to Atticus.
"Dr. Reynolds is in the kitchen. He wants to talk to you, Atticus, before he sees Jem."
Atticus nodded and stood up. "I'll be back in a minute." Then he left.
Alexandria sighed and shook her head. "Poor man," she said. "So much has happened that has turned his hairs grey and given him more reason to worry. Your father worries so much about you two, you know. And now this! These kinds of things shouldn't be happening to a man his age. Not good for the heart you see. Why I wouldn't be surprised if he collapsed of a heart attack this very afternoon!"
My eyes went wide with horror. Atticus, die? It was impossible. Atticus could never die, could he? He was invincible! Nothing could ever happen to him. But here was Alexandria, talking about it like it could happen tomorrow! Jem's expression was a look of horror, and I could imagine mine looked much the same way.
When she saw this, she bit her lip, and tried to cover it up. "Of course, that won't actually happen. It's just the stress of living like this has to have taken its toll on your father, and he could really use your help once you get better. So try not to get into any trouble: for your father's sake."
If getting into trouble would hurt Atticus, then trouble would be the furthest thing from my mind. Jem and I shared a look and silently agreed that we would make sure Atticus wouldn't worry about us. We wouldn't give him cause to.
Just then, Atticus and Dr. Reynolds came in. The room was once again quite crowded. At the sight of Jem awake, Dr. Reynolds smiled. Aunt Alexandria moved out of the way and Dr. Reynolds went to sit in the chair by his bed.
"Hello, Jem," he said cheerily. "I see you're awake. Are you feeling alright?"
Jem looked quickly at Atticus and then back at Dr. Reynolds. "Yes sir. I'm feeling fine."
"That's wonderful!" exclaimed Dr. Reynolds. "I just need to check your arm and your shoulder to make sure everything is healing alright, and then I'll leave you to your business. Although I don't want you to move much- or at all really. Irritating your wounds would just cause problems, and they might not heal well. I want you to stay in bed and try not to move around too much. Then, if everything goes fine, and you're healing, then I'd say you could go back to school in a week or so with just a cast and a few bandages. How does that sound?"
Jem smiled. "That quickly? That sounds great."
Atticus nodded. "So Scout, that means you and I have to be extra thoughtful, and help Jem when he needs it." I started pouting. "Now I mean it, Scout. Your brother needs to rest. I want you to be nice and help him with things. Understand?" I frowned, but nodded.
"Yes sir," I said dejectedly. Jem grinned widely.
"A week of no school, my sister waiting on me head and foot? A guy could get used to this." Everyone laughed, except me. I stood there wanting to break his other arm.
"Yes sir, this is gonna be a good week," Jem said cheekily. I just couldn't wait for it to be over.
A/N: Not the best or the longest chapter I've ever written, but there you go. I hope you like it anyway. And don't forget to Review! I love them!
Disclaimer: I do not own To Kill a Mockingbird. This is just for pure entertainment. And because I love Atticus
