I had to leave Maycomb, and go back to Meridian. On the way back, I never once took my Dad's hat or watch off. To be honest, I thought I was just going to have to wait a few more boring months, but when I got home, I got more than what I bargained for.
I opened the door to my house, and I noticed that Mom was staring at me with disgust.
"If you don't like looking at me, you don't have too." I said, bitter.
"Where did you get the hat?" She asked.
"Why do you care?" I asked, rhetorically.
"Answer her, now!" My Stepdad ordered.
"A friend gave it to me for Christmas." I lied.
"Don't lie to me, boy!" Mom ordered.
"You know what, screw you!" I yelled, and I went to my room, and slammed it.
"Where did you get the watch?" I heard Mom asked.
"A friend gave that to me as well, now stop bothering me, and do whatever you two do!" I yelled.
I had no idea how they would react if I told them it belonged to my Dad, and I didn't want to test them, so I stayed quiet for a good few months, until finally spring rolled by.
Spring felt nice, I decided to spend most of my days outside, instead of at my folks, it was a hell of a lot more enjoyable than reading a book, or playing with those toys.
I would usually hang around the train station, run around the fields, or write to my friends in Maycomb. It wasn't my idea of having a good time, at it at least killed the boredom.
As I was about to write another note, I realized that I never told Sam about how my parents reacted, so I decided to write to him about that. "Sam, I realized I never told you how my parents reacted when I got back home, my mom asked me where I got my hat and watch from, I lied to them, and they just started pressing me. Needless to say, I ran to my room and I left it at that. I think its best I don't tell them about Dad, let me know what you think."
A week went by, and April was about to start, the month of Scout's birthday. I decided to take a picture of what I looked like now, and mail it to her a week before her birthday, and if she got early, then that would be fine too.
"Sir, how much is single photo?" I asked the photographer.
"$2" he answered.
I gave him the money, I tipped my hat up, and I smiled widely.
"Say Cheese." He said.
My picture was now taken, I grabbed the photo, and tell him, "Thank you."
I then walked to the post office, got Sam's letter, and I read it on the way home.
"Dill, you're right in not telling them about where you got those from, it could make them do more than just neglect you. Look, just say the word, and I'll come running by your side, besides, all we need now is time, but until then, don't tell them that you got your hat and watch from your Dad, if I don't hear back from you, I'll be over in a week."
Sam.
The moment I got home, I noticed my folks reading the newspaper, I just ignored them, and I went back to my room to write a letter back to Sam. "Sam, thanks for replying back, I think if you came and visit before Scout's birthday that would be great, I want to get out of this place as soon as possible."
It was now April 19th, and I was heading to the post office to send Scout my present. Once I did that, I just hanged around the area till it was evening, and then I headed home, but as soon as I got home, I was in for trouble.
"So you did get those from your father!" My Mom yelled.
"How did you-?" I began to ask.
"What do you mean, "get out of this place"? Are you going to run away from us, after all the stuff we gave you?!" Stepdad asked, furious.
I was holding this back for so long, and I was now finally able to tell them how I really thought of them. "Just getting a kid nice things, doesn't make them want to stay! You have to love, care, and nurture them, and you did none of that! You assholes neglected me!"
"Then what about your real father, he neglected you?!" Mom asked, furiously.
"Bullshit! You threw him out because you thought that he was contagious, even though he wasn't!" I defended him; I wasn't going to have this son of a bitch talk like that about him, even if she was my Mom.
"So, you side with an invalid over your family?" Stepdad asked.
"Family?! Don't make me laugh, you were never my family, my real family is back in Maycomb, in fact, just make it easy on yourselves, and just have me stay with Aunt Rachel. I mean, let's be real here, you'd be better off without me!" I said, smirking,
"You little shit!" Mom yelled.
I then felt something hit me, and I was knocked unconscious; by the time I woke up, I was in my room and my folks were gone. I went to open my door, but it was locked on the outside.
"Hey, what's going on!?" I yelled, I banged on the door, and I realize that I'm alone in my room, I tried opening my window, but to no avail. I was trapped in my own room, with no way out, and at that moment, I reverted back to the weak child I was a year ago, and I start crying, till my voice was hoarse.
I was by myself in a lonely room, and even though I knew no one could hear me, I kept saying, "Save me."
"Help me"
"I don't want to be alone."
Three days went by, I was hungry and thirsty, and I all I could hear was the clock going,
Tick tock
Tick tock
Tick tock
Tick tock
It was enough to drive me insane, and I just felt like dying, but I held on, and I hoped and prayed that someone would rescue me. Then I start hearing footsteps, and a familiar voice, it was Sam's. "Dill? If you're in there, answer me!"
"Help me…" I said weakly.
Sam kicked down the door, and ran to my side; I didn't hear what he was saying, as I was losing consciousness, but I knew one thing for sure...
My folks were in for it.
