"Yes operator, I will accept the charges," I breathed into the phone.

I could tell by the way it rang that it was Scout. It was her second night in Maycomb and I wondered if everything was going all right. I told her from the very beginning that no news was good news so if I hadn't heard from her, I wouldn't worry. I swallowed down the lump that was already forming in my throat as the operator put me through.

"Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay?"

"I think so," she replied. I couldn't dectect any crying noises so that was a relief in of itself.

"So how's everything going? I take it your ride down went smoothly."

"It did but my emotions haven't been going smoothly. I cried the first two hours of the way because I didn't want to leave you. Please, don't say we've been through this already because I know a million times you've said it."

"Okay, I won't," I sighed. My emotions were getting conflicted now: I felt horrible that she felt so sad but at the same time I was happy to hear I was missed so soon. "So, what was your family reunion like?"

"Jem and Atticus came to pick me up. Jem and I carry on like nothing's ever happened but I don't know, there's a void between Atticus and I now. I don't know if it's him or it's me."

"Well, how does he act when he's around you?"

"It almost seems like he's trying to hard to get close to me. I know he still loves me and all but I just think it's a shame that he feels he has to go above and beyond for me. It used to be so easy between us, Dill."

"He probably feels guilty because he chose Hank over you for such a long time."

"Well," she said, shocked. I knew I was going to touch a nerve with her but someone had to say it. "I don't think I would say that."

"I would and I did," I continued. "Sweetheart, the same man who told you no more fighting turned around and said boys will be boys about the time Hank pushed you up against a tree and scarred your head. The same man who dried your tears over Tom Robinson went to these council meetings with Hank with matching grins..."

"Are you done now?"

"I'd like to be."

"I can see why you're a successful writer. I was wrong about you, though."

"What do you mean?"

She honestly scared me with that statement. Had I gone too far? I thought I was only saying the truth and I thought that's what she wanted from people now-a-days. Please, don't be mad at me, is all I could think.

"You know," she went on to explain. "When we were kids, you used to lie all the time about things like where your daddy was and what he was up to..."

"I know. It was stupid."

"I guess I just can't believe how honest you are about things these days. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, sweetheart," I said, genuinely touched and relieved. "I just can't believe you are being so truthful about your family when they are in the house with you."

"Oh, I'm not at the house. I'm on the payphone by the courthouse. I don't want your cover blown anymore than you do."

"Well, it's kind of late, isn't it?"

"It's nine o'clock in Maycomb, Dill. Everybody is in bed here unlike in New York."

"True. Hey."

"Hey what?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"I think you better go to bed yourself."

"Only if I can dream a little dream of you."

"Make it dirty."

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

"Goodnight."

God, I love that woman.