THE MAYCOMB TRIBUNE
Maudie House on Fire
Maudie Atkinson’s house on fire; all of
neighbourhood helps out
|By Lam Wen Hong, Senior Correspondent
L ast night, in the midst of the snowy season, the
house of Miss Maudie Atkinson caught fire. The
whole of the neighbourhood was up and about
trying to help out and put out the fire.
When interviewed, Miss Maudie Atkinson said “It
was probably the flue in the kitchen. I kept a fire in
there last night for the potted plants.” However, she
appeared quite unaffected by the incident. Overall
she maintained a calm attitude. “But now I will have
more room for my azaleas to grow!”
When reporters arrived at the scene, people were
busy removing items from the house. Others tried to
put out the fire with the use of water hoses. Many
of these people were dressed in pajamas. Children
stood about watching the action, seemingly not
knowing what was going on.
One man, Mr. Avery, made his way upstairs of the
house and threw down furniture such as mattresses
to others standing down below. However, he tried
climbing down the window when he heard that the
stairs were crashing. He struggled a bit, and by a
little slip, fell out, and luckily landed on Miss
Maudie’s shrubbery.
Later on, fire trucks appeared at the scene. The
firemen made their way into the house and tried to
put out the fire by hand-extinguishers.
Last night, there were a few unexpected
appearances.
Mr. Nathan Radley, part of the Radley family, was
helping out in removing some of the furniture from
the house.
However, more surprisingly or shockingly, the
long gossiped about Arthur Radley, more known
as Boo, was present.
According to Atticus Finch, a renowned lawyer in
Maycomb, as well as a good friend of Miss
Maudie, He left his children beside the Radley
residence while he went to help out in the fire.
He said Boo Radley appeared and put a blanket
on one of his children, Jean Louise Finch. He
deduced that, as Mr. Nathan Radley was out,
Boo Radley could have only been the one who
put the blanket on her.
Eventually, the fire consumed the house; the
house melted and crumpled down into a heap.
The house was no more.
The residents of Maycomb only started leaving
during dawn. For the biggest victim of this
incident, Miss Maudie, arrangements have been
made for her to live with her close friend, Miss
Stephanie Crawford.
Atticus Finch also said, “All of Maycomb was out
tonight, in one way or another.”
Miss Maudie commented, “It was heartwarming
to see the people of Maycomb helping me out. I
sincerely thank them for the efforts they have
put in.”
Miss Maudie’s house burned down in the wee hours
of the morning.