"I knew that trip would have done you good."
That was what I said when we finally woke up and got out of bed. We slept right through to the afternoon and I don't know about her but this day does not feel wasted to me. The first thing we did was go into the kitchen to fix ourselves something to eat and to make some coffee. There seemed to be a glow about Scout and I couldn't make out if it was happiness or the fact that the sun still shines down in Alabama. Then again, maybe it was a little of both.
"Well," Scout said as she looked down at her cup that she was pouring coffee in. "The only really bad thing that happened was when I began to bleed on Thanksgiving, so I guess you can say my trip was successful."
"Your voice sounds like something more happened than what you are telling me."
I was incredibly close to her now and I can tell when she wants to hide things from me. Scout has always been honest; lying wasn't in her blood but man, she sure tries to hide when she feels like it. I knew I called her out on something when she wouldn't even look at me and kept on spreading mayonnaise on her toast. I watched her in relative silence as she loaded the smeared bread with hot bacon, lettuce and tomato. She took a big bite and moaned at how good it was.
"Okay," she spoke up while she was still chewing her food. "You win."
I was stunned that she caved in so easily. She picked up her sandwich and coffee walked into the kitchen to have a seat at the table. I followed her to the table, remaining silent and trying to stay that way until she was ready to spill her guts.
"It's Aunty," she said as she ripped off another bite of her sandwich.
"What'd she do now?"
"The same stupid shit she always does."
"Oh, so she just belittled you to death?"
"I wouldn't say that," she retorted as she slurped her coffee. "I'm not dead yet. Aren't you going to eat?"
"When we're done talking about this."
"I don't think there's really anything to talk about. I shouldn't have even brought it up."
"Yes, you should. You're obviously bothered by her."
"She's been bothering me since I came screaming out of my mother's uterus."
"She was there for that?"
"She was, actually. She went to Maycomb to help take care of Jem while mama was having me."
"I think it's a shame your mother died so young."
"You and everybody else."
"I think your mother would have protected you more."
"From what?"
"From your aunt and from Hank."
"How?"
"What I'm trying to say is that Atticus has a bad habit of letting other people treat you like shit. He makes a living defending other people but can't stand up to someone who likes to think his daughter of all people should be treated as sub-human."
My words stung her and her face turned red. I knew I had gone too far and I would understand if she wanted to slap me. I was about to tell her to go ahead when I saw tears fall from her eyes. It wasn't long before her shoulders began to shake and her lips quivered. Crying turned into sobbing in seconds and I felt horrible. Me and my big mouth.
"You're right," she sobbed as she put her face in her hands.
"You don't know how much I wish it wasn't true. I know it's not right that I came right out and said that to you."
"Well, somebody needs to tell me the truth once in a while. You're the only one who can see through Atticus' bullshit, you know."
"Lucky me," I said, sarcastically. She looked up at me and tried to smile but then she went right back crying. She was embarrassed by that and she once again buried her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"You're okay," I said as I went to her, kissed her hair and rubbed her still shaking shoulders. "Cry for as long as you need."
I looked at the food on the bar and felt like vomiting. I definitely wasn't hungry anymore.