I changed into my overalls, knowing that I'd probably be reprimanded by Aunt Alexandra. I knew that Atticus wouldn't mind, though, and his word prevailed over hers any day. I hurried Jem up and eagerly bounded down the stairs and into the dining room.
"Slow down, Jean Louise," Aunt Alexandra said, as I began to eat my breakfast quickly. "You're eating like you haven't had food for days."
"Oh, Alexandra, she's just excited," Atticus said, and looked at her. She shook her head, and he continued. "Dill is coming to stay, remember?"
"Oh yes.." she said, almost disapprovingly.
"Aunty, Dill's real nice!" I exclaimed, folding my arms defensively and wishing I could kick her with all my might under the table.
Aunt Alexandra sat in stern silence; the rest of us finished eating. Soon after, Atticus and I walked over to Miss Rachel's, and we helped Dill gather up his things. Atticus drove Miss Rachel to town, and Dill and I were left to find something to do.
"Why don't we..." he started to say, then stopped. "Um, I don't know what to do."
"We could...um.." I didn't know what to do, either. Eventually, Jem came out and we decided to reenact "Tarzan", as there wasn't a blessed thing to do on this humid summer day.
That evening, after Atticus had retired to his study to read the paper, Jem, Dill, and I headed upstairs to get ready for bed. I changed into my pajamas, and Dill came back into the room. We sat on the edge of the bed, and I swung my legs back and forth. "Dill, I've been thinkin'..."
"'Bout what, Scout?" he asked.
"About you and me," I responded. "D'you think we'll still be friends in ten years? Y'know, still havin' sleepovers and you still comin' to Maycomb to visit and stuff?"
"I think so," he said, smiling. "I dunno what I'd do if I didn't come to see ya every summer, Scout!" I smiled, and hoped that he was right. Dill really was what defined our summers in Maycomb.