The sound of the train tracks was all too familiar to him, and they didn't bother him as he laid down on the metal bottom of the boxcar.

He heard frightening news one night, while his mother was on the phone with a friend from Maycomb, and the first thing he did was pack his small suitcase and get on the next train to Maycomb Junction, which was a train carrying fresh corn from Indiana, as stated on the sides if the closed boxcars.

Fresh Indiana Corn! Delicious, Nutritious, and Fabulous!

The boy figured it was a stupid slogan for stupid food. He thought that nobody really liked anything from Indiana, *especially* the corn.

One thing that he didn't fib about was the fact he had been up to Indiana. His stepfather was from Fort Wayne and he spent Christmas there, in the real snow and cold, and saw numerous cornfields when he went up there earlier for Thanksgiving.

Indiana was unpredictable. He hated the weather. He hated how people called things by different names and joked about his accent. He hated how they wore thick, puffy coats in the winter. He thought the citizens looked like monkeys.

He knew exactly when he'd arrive at Maycomb Junction. He'd taken this ride, in a boxcar and first class seat many times before.

His eyes were growing tired, and he fell asleep, dreaming of the possible scenarios of what could have happened to Scout.

All he knew was that she was hurt. And all he understood was that Boo Radley had something to do with it. He had no idea whether to bless or curse the mysterious man across the street.

It was the crack of dawn when he woke, only a few minutes away from the train station.

He stretched his arms and legs and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

The first thing he thought of was not his reason for arriving back to Maycomb, but his mother's nasty reaction letter to his Aunt Rachel. It had gotten to the point where she decided to stop addressing her son properly, and instead cut straight to the chase.

"Charles Baker Harris what did you think you we're doing going on that train? You've ought to be ashamed of yourself! Your stepfather and I we're worried sick about you!"

He then remembered Scout, and how he needed to try his best to care for her. And treat her the way a man *should* treat her.

Like a gentleman and with love. After all, he was her fiance! It was his job, and just about nobody else's.

When the train arrived at that station, he jumped out of the boxcar, and began to take the hike down the road.

He was about a mile from the Finch house when he heard a horn coming from behind.

It was Atticus driving down the road , and he stopped his car.

"Charles Baker Harris, what brings you out here at this hour?"

Dill looked up at the tall lawyer. "I came to see Scout, sir. What are *you* trying to do out here, now?"

Atticus sighed, "To clear my head. I need to clear my head. "

"I do too, Atticus."

Atticus ruffled the young boy's hair, "How about we do that together?"

"Yeah, that sounds great, sir."

For about a mile, they drove in silence until they arrived at the house. Atticus parked his car in the carhouse, and both of them got out and walked inside.

"Scout? Jem?" Atticus called the children's names, "I'm home!"

The children were eating at the kitchen table, or what they assumed 'eating' was. Actually, they were just being fed breakfast, a bit earlier than normal.

Scout was silent, and so was her brother.

"Scout, you have a guest!" Atticus tells his daughter.

"What?" She asked. Lately, she only had one guest, Miss Maudie. She usually came in unannounced, and Scout always knew when she was coming.

"Dill came from Meridian to see you, sweetheart."

Scout began to smile and laugh, "Really?ΔΊ

"Yes!" Dill shouted, and up to Scout and hugged her tightly.

There was laughter all around; Jem was excited his friend came home, and the adults were laughing because of the reactions of the children.

Scout laughed when Dill held her, and she kissed his cheek almost instinctively.

"Thanks for coming, Dill!"

Dill nodded his head, "You're welcome. I had to Scout, I've gotta take care you."

Scout was thrilled to have her friend with her in her time of need, so was Jem, but knew Scout needed more time with Dill. He knew if Dill was around, he'd see him again later.

"I'm not sure I like that idea too much.. But I'll let you do it. I've only got one arm!"

With Dill around, it felt like summer, though the wind deemed it to be winter. With Dill, things were becoming brighter.

Scout's support system was finally complete.

Things were going to turn around, she thought.

Atticus watched Dill and Scout interact, and for the first time in a long time, he let out a real, true laugh.

We can get through this. I know we can.