The summer was already flying by and I was disgusted by the idea of that. Disregarding Cal, this summer was going wonderfully. Not only was mine and Dill's relationship growing stonger but mine and Atticus' as well. Having a boy love a girl is an amazing thing but a girl who has a wonderful relationship with her father is even more amazing. I was always aware, even as a little girl that my father had some peculiarities which grew into moodiness at times, but as I grow older the more I have come to appreciate that. Atticus was and is human and he is open to showing me that even he is not perfect, but he is okay. I'm still trying hard to not cry sometimes but I remember Atticus and then I can remember that I'm okay, too.

It's funny how a front porch makes you think. Some of the best conversations I've had with other people or even by myself in my own head have taken place here. Then again, it's a good place to not think about anything at all. It's also a good place to come feel at peace at. Right now I'm looking at Miss Maudie tending to her geraniums and thinking about the other night. I still cannot believe she did what she did to Atticus. I always knew Miss Maudie was a spitfire but wow! That's probably why me and her always connected so well together...

"Jean Louise," she calls over to me. "What are you staring at?"

"You," I admit. I wasn't going to lie to her.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"I'll come over there," I say getting off the swing. There is no need for the whole neighborhood to hear our upcoming conversation. I cross the street while giggling all the while. The closer I got the more her considerable sized rump was in my face and I can only recall the time I aimed my little BB gun at her while she was bent over. Atticus was furious to think I would ever do such a thing but I could only laugh at the memory now.

"What's on your mind?" She asked me, still plugging away at her garden. I could now face her front end and I could see the she was completely covered up.

"Undo a few of those," I say pointing to her dress. That made her pause and look up at me.

"I beg your pardon?" She asked.

"I'll take a picture of you and send it to Uncle Jack," I say.

"What in the world are you talking about?" She was starting to blush and then I felt like a jerk for acting the way I was.

"I'm sorry, Miss Maudie," I apologized.

"For what?" She was so confused.

"The other night when you were on our front porch with Atticus. When you unbuttoned your dress..."

"Jean Louise, you saw that?" Her confusion had definitely turned to mortification.

"Oh don't be ashamed, I thought it was funny."

"I did too until you just told me you knew about that!"

"I know you were just kidding. Don't be upset."

"Your father, your uncle and I have been friends for a lifetime..."

"I know, that's why I'm not upset. I was just surprised you did that."

That was when I noticed some white come back to her face with a smile. I smiled back, knowing that I had calmed her down made me feel good. She walked up to the porch to meet me with a kiss on my cheek. I kiss her back as she puts down her sheers and her water jug. She takes my face in her hands and then tells me something I will never forget:

"Remember the day I told you this," she began. "Thank your lucky stars you are a woman. Women have power that no other man could possess. Why do you think Atticus and Uncle Jack still want me around? You have power, use it."

Truth be told, I didn't quite know what she was talking about at the time. I stewed over it while she went inside to bring me a piece of cake she just baked. That was when I looked down the street and saw Dill pull into the driveway of his Aunt's house. I snuck down on Miss Maudie's porch to see what Dill brought home; he had been out of town shopping. I realized then that he looked at my house, on the porch and then back to my bedroom window. He was looking for me before he walked back into Miss Rachel's. Seeing that made me feel breathless.

"Jean Louise," I heard Miss Maudie come back out with my cake in hand.

"Shhh," I wasn't sure who I was trying to quiet, her or the butterflies loudly flapping their wings in my stomach. "I just found out that I do have power..."