Chapter 11

The auditorium has fallen deathly silent as they wait with anticipation as to what the ham with legs on stage had to say. Even Bob looks shell shocked at Atticus' boldness and will to defend me. Atti quickly snatches the mic from Bob's frozen grip.

The crowd gasps.

Atticus faces the crowd, "I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system- that is no ideal to me, it is a living working reality. This gentleman here," he gestures towards Bob, who has backed up a bit from intimidation, "Bob Ewell, has attacked the character of my fellow student."

He's being professional. It's okay that he calls me a fellow student instead of his date. I've grown more secure in our relationship. Atticus doesn't need to always refer to me as the perfect love he has never known. I've grown. I have a character arc that will make me less reliant on affirmations.

"It is true that Tom was tragically injured during his Cotton-Ginning 101 class, resulting in a solid month in the hospi. It was a grueling experience that I witnessed firsthand. However, this accusation by Bob about the integrity of Tom's school work has no grounds. The state has not produced one iota of academic evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of one witness whose evidence I will call into serious question."

Seriously, Atti is great at debate. I don't understand half the words that are coming out of his glorious lips, but they sound smart! Almost as though they were written by a famous author. I haven't even gotten a say, but my defense looks pretty swell.

The crowd looks enraptured by Atticus' speech. Nothing like this has ever happened at the Maycomb High School: Ad Astra Per Aspera Halloween Pageant. Live trials just don't happen enough these days, but I shouldn't joke. My rep is at stake! I could be expelled, or get detention and miss hanging out with Atti during the school hours.

Atticus scans the crowd, looking for something. No, not something. Someone. He clears his throat, "I would like to call a witness to the stand. My fellow student, Mayella, would you please come up here?"

A spotlight falls on a small figure in the crowd. I recognize her, she was in my Cotton-Ginning 101 class! I didn't remember her name, but Atticus somehow knew that she was in the class despite not sharing it with the two of us. It's details like these that make him so excellent at debate. He should definitely go to the University of Bergen to become a lawyer. He'd be famous!

The crowd parts to let the girl approach the stage. Silently, she walks up the stairs and towards Atticus. He introduces her, "This is Mayella, another student who was in the classroom at the time of Tom's incident. Mayella, is it true that there is a safety function on a cotton gin?"

Mayella glances at Bob nervously. There's gotta be some history between them. Maybe they're related? Whatever it is, she sweeps it aside and takes the mic from Atticus, "No, there isn't one. I'm not quite sure what Bob was talking about earlier. There is no way to speed up the gin other than through raw talent."

The crowd gasps.

She takes a step back, and Atticus grins triumphantly. "Then, you see," he says to the awaiting crowd, "that Bob's story holds no veracity. He's lying about Tom's accident. Any student who has passed through Cotton-Ginning 101 should know about the lack of safety function. Accidents happen, and the law doesn't always care about its students and their safety in school. Sometimes tragedy strikes, and for what reason we cannot say."

It's beautiful, although I'm a tad embarrassed since the reason I got so distracted that day was because I was fantasizing about that sexy ham standing at the mic. But why should I complain? It got him to notice me.

"I would like to close this trial based on the fact that Bob Ewell is a liar and poser. He is only here because he is a bully who manipulates and scams students into doing his bidding."

The crowd gasps.

"A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men, AND women, who make it up. I trust you will do the right thing."

The auditorium erupts into applause, affirming Atticus' brilliant speech. His moral argument had all the apocryphal insight of Thurgood Marshall and the moral aplomb of Ida B. Wells. It was thoroughly impressive and utterly convincing.

The announcer of the Maycomb High School: Ad Astra Per Aspera Halloween Pageant, comes back to the stage, laughing as she takes the mic from Atticus. "I am happy to speak for the crowd, when we say that this trial is dismissed. Now, there is the business of the costume contest. I was about to announce the winner, but in light of recent events and that truly brilliant speech, I would like to award Atticus Finch with this years' Maycomb High School: Ad Astra Per Aspera Halloween Pageant Costume Contest trophy. This trophy will be added to the trophy case in the lobby of the High School, the one with the graffitied heart that was so rudely carved there. But nevermind that! Let the celebrations commence!"

A/N: Merry Christmas all! Our gift to you. Thank you for all of your support and comments, we appreciate your feedback. Threes! See you in 2022! -Dasie and May