Like I said before, neighbor's bring food with death. By the time it was all over we had enough food to sink a ship. Heck Tate's wife baked a couple of her famous angel food cakes, Miss Maudie made a huge lane cake and various other people brought homemade bread, fruit baskets, and salads. I wasn't hungry for any of it.

I changed into my pajamas and hopped right into bed after everyone left. I was sad, overwhelmed, and exhausted. I felt like a big mess inside my body. How was I supposed to deal with this? First I had to learn to live without mama and now I had to learn about living without my brother. At least I was too young to remember mama, I got a chance to grow up with Jem. I hit my face against my pillow and tears of rage came over me.

"Scout," I heard someone say knocking on my door.

"What do you want?"

"Can't Uncle Jack say good night to his neice?"

"I guess so," I say wiping away my tears. He comes into my room and turns on the light. He must have known I wasn't in the mood to see anyone because he shut the door tight. He sits down beside me and takes a hankercheif out of his pocket and wipes my eyes with it.

"I'm okay."

"I know, sweetheart," he says kissing my cheek.

"I don't like to cry."

"It's good to cry," he puts away the hankercheif and takes my face in his hands. "If you never cry, you'll never know how good it feels to smile."

"I want to smile, but I just can't."

"Nobody's expecting you too."

"I want to though."

"Give it time," he envelopes me in a bear hug. He is a close second to Atticus when it comes to giving good hugs. Before I know it he suprises me with a tummy tickle. He knows I lose it everytime someone does this to me, I could laugh forever. I feel like I do. It has been so long since I laughed that way. The more I laugh, the more he keeps it up.

"See I told you to give it time!"

"Stop!" I exclaim not being able to take it any longer. I actually have a stomach ache from laughing so hard.

"Okay, truce," he says letting me go. I position myself back on the bed when he starts to rub my forehead.

"I love you, Uncle Jack."

"I love you, too, Jean Louise," he says getting up and giving me another kiss.

I roll over on my side to face the window as Uncle Jack steps out. It was a nice night out with the moon and stars. I like to think Jem and Mama are among those stars. Or maybe even in the moon. Yeah, the moon, it gives out more light. Maybe if I pray hard enough maybe the moon will shine down love onto me tonight.