The next day, Atticus tried to be extra nice to the kids.
"Guess what Jem! I'm replacin dat TV you like so much! Ain't dat good news?!," Atticus said.
Jem just stared at the floor, completely ignoring Atticus! Atticus then turned to Scout.
"So Scout, you wanna go down to tha candy sto again? You can get whateva da hell you want. Or what bout tha toy sto."
Scout looked up at Atticus and frowned then turned away. Atticus felt totally hurt by their actions. Love has ruined his life!!!!! Now his kids kinda hated him! But he still missed Bob and longed to see him. Two days passed by, and Bob still didn't call! Atticus was totally sad, and angry and was just a wreck! The kids still weren't really talking to him. Atticus' life now seemed so meaningless. But on that evening, at six PM, the phone rang. Atticus ran over to the phone and picked it up. It was Bob Ewell!!
"Dayum! I didn't think you was gon call anymo!" Atticus told him.
"Of course I would call you. I just wanted to let things simmer down some before callin and stirrin the pot," Bob replied.
"Oh aiight. I got cha."
"Sooo Attie…. I was wonderin if you wanted to maybe get out of the house and meet me at the Olive Garden tonight?!"
"Hm… I want to. But I don know what I'mma do bout dem kids! Dey might suspect summin!"
"It'll be fine, just say you are meetin with the secratary!!!"
"Uh, I don wan dem thinking I'm friends wit dat bitch!"
"Atticus! Come on now!"
"Aw aight. Jus as long as I get to see ya."
"Great, see you at 8. Love you."
"Love you too boo."
And then they hung up!!!!! Later, at 8, Atticus grabbed his coat and started down for the restaurant! The kids weren't there, because they were over baking cookies with Mrs. Dubois. So he didn't have to any explaining to them. Thank God!
Atticus opened the door to Olive Gardens and saw Bob at a quiet corner booth with sensual lighting and went over to him. He sat on the opposite side.
Bob said, "Atticus. It is so great to see you!"
"I know. I was goin crazy witout cha," Atticus said.
Bob stared into Atticus' deep brown pools of eye. He reached under the table and grabbed his hand. Atticus sat up and jerked away. THIS PLACE WAS PUBLIC!
Atticus leaned over and whispered to Bob, "Yo, we can't be doin dis here. People's is gon talk!"
Bob looked down and pulled the menu up to his face. He sighed. "FINE!", he said.
Then the waiter came over. "Hi, I'm Billy and I'll be your waiter this evening. What would you like to drink!?!?"
They wanted to order an expensive whine, since it was a special occasion! And then they ordered the pasta that they were seeing on the commercials, since it looked soooo good. They kept chatting and having a good time, but Atticus couldn't help but notice all of the people staring, and whispering, about them!!! Atticus got nervous and started focusing on them instead of dear Bob Ewell. He gulped and loosened his tie.
He asked Bob, "Dayum, is it hot up in here to you?!" and was sweating nervously.
"Not really," said Bob, "Um, Atticus! Are you ok?"
"Uh, yeah! I straight!"
And they went on talking. But the people were still talking, and Atticus was still bothered by them. It got so bad that he just couldn't stand it anymore! He jumped up, knocking the table and all of the food over in the process, and ran out of the door. He sat on a quiet bench in an empty part of the street, and wondered, what they were saying! Did they know about Bob and his relationship? Was word getting around town? WOULD HE BE SCORNED? AND REJECTED? Then, Bob came walking out and sat next to him.
"You made the pasta spill right in my lap!! The sauce is now like, all over my pants!" Bob said.
Atticus felt kinda bad then. He was just like, sorry! Shit!
"It's all right. Why don't you lick it off?" Bob said and laughed.
But Atticus wasn't in that kind of mood.
"Bob… dem people in dere was starin at us! Dey was talkin. Bout us. I know it!"
"I didn't notice. I was just focusin on you and how sexy you looked tonight!!"
"But…What if dey know? Dey gon fire you from yo job! Dey can't have a school teacha who in love wit anotha man. Dey hate people like dat. Dey gon say you a bad influence on dem kids. And ain't nobody gon come to be defended by me either. Dey don't like folks who's different like us. We gon be outcasts fo real! Mah kids already hate me since dey found it. Shiiiiiiit."
"Oh Attie. Let's not worry about that!!! Please! I love you so much. And I can't stand to be without you. But…. I don't want your life ruined because of me. Soo…"
"No no no noo. It's aiight. Uh, maybe I was jus bein paranoid and dey was talkin bout somethin else. I jus love you too damn much. Foget bout dem fuckas."
"That's what I'm sayin baby!"
And they kissed in the darkness. But Atticus just couldn't stop thinkingabout those people! In the back of his mind, he somehow knew, that they knew.
