"I don't think it's a good idea to go see her."

That was what Aunty said the moment I opened my eyes again. The sun had come up and the clock read 8:04. I slept through the night and I would surely spend all day wondering how I did it. I got out of bed even though there was no need to; I had taken these next few weeks off as vacation. Atticus agreed that it would be good for me considering that Jean might kill Aunty if it were just the two of them all day everyday. I throw on a clean t-shirt and a pair of jeans; I can always shower at night time, especially if the forecast calls for a scorcher just like today.

"I want to see her though," I heard Jean say as I made my way down the stairs.

"Who do you want to see, sweet?" I asked as I rounded the corner. Aunty scowled at me as soon as she saw me.

"Jeremy," Aunty said in disgust. "Nice young men shouldn't be going out looking like that."

"Like what?" I was getting annoyed with her already.

"Like that horrible man in that picture show. You know that Streetcar one..."

"Marlon Brando?" Jean answered correctly.

"Yes, him. What a disgrace his image is to the motion picture industry."

"Aunty, you think the motion picture in of itself is a disgrace," Jean retorted.

"That's not true; there was this wonderful picture with that new lady what's her name?"

"Grace Kelly?" I tried to answer.

"No."

"Audrey Hepburn?" Jean answered.

"Yes! I thought she was wonderful with Gregory Peck."

"I like Gregory Peck," I said.

"Me too," Jean agreed. It was nice to agree on something. "Anyway, I want to go see Calpurnia."

The sound of that woman's name alone makes me cringe. Why, oh why, was my sister trying so hard to cling to her past? Didn't last night with Atticus get through to her how much things have changed? My sister was expieriencing major denial now.

"Jean, I agree that seeing Cal is not a good idea," I had to say it.

"Thank you, Jeremy."

"I don't care," Jean said getting up from the table. "I want to see her. Can I have the keys to the car, please?"

"I won't give them to you."

"So you'll drive?"

"Yes," I said. Shit; she tricked me! "I mean no."

"Hey, you're the man of your word," she said, pinching my cheek. "Let's go, sweet."

I looked at Aunty who now looked like a deer in the headlights. I just shrug my shoulders at her and follow Jean out of the kitchen.

"I wouldn't do it..." Aunty's voice followed through the house. Too bad, Aunty, we're gonna. I guess the hard way was the only my sister was ever going to learn anything. I hope my shoulder can handle the weight of her big head because guess whose there when Jean gets herself in a jam?

The car ride was as quiet as our walk yesterday afternoon. I'm beginning to not like the quiet times because they now seem to be the calm before the storm. I had to say something even if it was wrong.

"Why are we doing this?"

"Because I love Calpurnia and I want to see her. Don't you?"

"I don't think she could have made it any more clear that she doesn't want anything to do with us anymore."

"She just got scared, that's all."

"No, that's not all."

"Have you talked to her since you got out of the hospital?"

"No."

"Well, how do you know?"

"Phones work both ways, Jean."

"Who says it has to be though the telephone?"

"Jean," I said firmly as we headed for Cal's neighborhood. "I just don't need to see you get hurt again."

"She wouldn't hurt me; I'm her little baby girl, don't you remember?"

"Atticus calls you "baby", too."

That shut her up. Her nerves must have kicked in because I could see her start to shake a little as we pulled into her long driveway. I was in awe of the pitiful little house she lived in.

"There she is!" Jean said all excited as she ran out of the car. I had to peer in closer just to get a glimpse of her but there she was. I get out of the car and never let my eyes leave the sight of Calpurnia. The only thing that was more pitiful than her house was the person who lived there. For the first time, Cal looked her old age and she had pretty much wasted away to nothing. Then it hit me: She looked like a negro Mrs. Dubose; blanket and scowl and all.

"Hey, Cal," Jean said as she walked up to hug her. Cal let her but she never returned the favor.

"Hello, Jean Louise," she said. I could tell just by the way she greeted her that this was going to go as I thought which was not good.

"Look, here's Jem," Jean introduced. Cal looked at me like she had seen a ghost.

"Hello, Calpurnia," I said.

"Hello."

"How have you been?" Jean asked, her smile not leaving her face.

"Fine, thank you."

"I'm here for a visit and I though I would come by and see you."

"Why?"

"Because I love you and I wanted to see you."

"Oh."

The smile finally did run away from her face. She jumped at Cal's sharpness and indifference. Oh God, here we go.

"Calpurnia," I say, taking Jean by the hand. "I'm awfully sorry we imposed on you like this. We will be going now."

"That's all right."

That was when I began to lead Jean down the stairs. Jean wasn't ready to budge as she kept looking at Cal who in turn looked away from us.

"Hey, Cal," Jean called out for her.

"Come on," I said, literally twisting her arm.

"No," Jean said, resisting me. "I love you, Cal."

"Thank you, baby."

It broke my heart to see the look my sister flashed at me when she called her that. Why did I have to be right about this? We finally went down the stairs, down the long driveway and back to the car. Jean didn't start crying until I opened the passenger seat. As she got in the car, I saw Cal look up at the sky with a big smirk on her face.

"You are a cunt," I sneered before I climbed in behind the wheel.

"Why am I so stupid?" Jean asked me.

"Because you think with your heart and not with your head," I said as we got the hell out of there.